Portuguese Sweet Bread

Portuguese Sweet Bread

Makes 2 Round Loaves

1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

1 cup whole milk, room temperature

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon pure lemon extract

grated zest from 2 lemons

6 eggs, room temperature

6 cups bread flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled to room temperature

2/3 cup granulated sugar

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

6 teaspoons instant yeast  or  7 1/2 teaspoons Active yeast

Glaze

1 egg white beaten with a slash of whole milk

If using instant yeast no need to proof otherwise Active yeast must be proofed.

I used instant yeast.

To proof Active yeast , place yeast in bowl. Heat milk to slightly warm and add to yeast along with the sugar. When yeast has bloomed ready to continue on with recipe.

Place the yeast whether instant or proofed Active into bowl of stand mixer fitted with beater attachment. Add to the bowl with the yeast,  the sugar, sweetened condensed milk. whole milk, vanilla and lemon extracts, lemon zest, and butter. Of course if using Active yeast , the sugar and whole milk are already in the bowl.

Beat this mixture until combined and add eggs one at a time until combined.

Switch out beater attachment for bread hook attachment. With mixer on low speed add the remaining ingredients and beat/knead until smooth. The dough will be slightly sticky.

Place the dough into a greased bowl and allow to rise , covered until doubled in bulk.

Grease two pie tins and set aside.

Once doubled in bulk, punch down dough and divide in half. Shape each half in rounds; add just enough flour to allow you to work with the dough. Place each round in a greased pie tin, cover and allow to rise once more until doubled in bulk.

Once doubled in bulk, lightly brush tops with the egg white/milk mixture.

Place in 325 degree preheated oven . Bake for about 55-60 minutes until done. If thermometer is placed in bottom of bread and reads 200 degrees loaves are finished.

Turn out bread on to a rack to cool, cover with a tea towel as they cool. Once cool, store in airtight container.

Cinnamon Almond Bread

Cinnamon Almond Bread

Dough:

3/8 cup whole milk

3/8 cup water

1 egg

3 cups all-purpose flour

4 tablespoons butter, melted

1/3 cup sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons active yeast

Glaze:

1 tablespoon heavy cream

5 tablespoons butter, melted

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

Filling:

1 lb. almond paste

1 tablespoon butter, melted

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

2 tablespoons packed brown sugar

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1/2 cup sliced almonds

Drizzle:

powdered sugar

heavy cream

Have water at lukewarm temperature. Proof the yeast in the water. In the bowl of a stand mixer beat the egg, milk and proofed yeast until blended. Add the sugar and melted butter; blend. Add flour and knead until smooth. Place the smooth kneaded dough into a greased bowl and cover; place in warm spot to rise until doubled in volume. Punch down and let rise one more time. Roll dough out into about a 9×18 inch rectangle. Brush the melted butter for the filling onto the rolled out dough. In a bowl combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon and almonds. Sprinkle evenly over the top of the butter. Roll out the almond paste to fit the size of the rectangle and place over the top of the cinnamon filling. Roll up the dough cinnamon roll fashion from long side; seal.  Cut into 10-12 rolls. Mix together the glaze ingredients until smooth. Butter well a large loaf pan and randomly place the half of the rolls in different directions in one layer into pan. Spread half of the glaze mixture over the top of the rolls . Place randomly the remaining rolls and spread remaining glaze over the top. Cover and let rise until puffy. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the risen loaf onto a sheet pan and bake for about 30-40 minutes until done. Invert  from pan onto a baking sheet or small platter. Combine a drizzle using the powdered sugar and a small amount of heavy cream . Drizzle over top of loaf.