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DIY Wreath Bread (VIDEO)

How to Make a Wreath Bread with DIY video! Wreath bread has a crisp crackly crust and super soft center. Surprisingly easy and impressive for Christmas!

Prep Time
4 hrs 40 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Total Time
5 hrs
Servings: 12 Makes 2 wreaths
Calories: 184 kcal
Course: Bread
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cups (14 oz) warm water (100˚F)
  • 1/2 tsp molasses
  • 2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, measured correctly*
  • 2 1/3 cups unbleached bread flour, measured correctly,* plus more for dusting
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/4 tsp instant yeast quick rise

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a large measuring cup, combine 1 3/4 cups warm water (100˚F) and 1/2 tsp molasses and stir to dissolve.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, add 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 1/3 cups bread flour, 2 tsp salt, and 1 1/4 tsp yeast, whisking until combined. Add water-molasses mixture and stir with spatula until it comes together. Knead by hand 4 min. Dough should be soft and sticky to the touch but won't stick to clean fingertips. If dough is too sticky, add flour 1 Tbsp at a time (I usually add 2-3 Tbsp extra flour while kneading).
  3. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise at room temp (69˚F - 75˚F) 4 hours. Every hour, punch down dough with wet hand and fold it onto itself a few times.
  4. After the 4 hours of rising time, punch down dough one last time and pinch it in the center to divide into two even pieces. Generously dust 2 pieces of parchment paper with flour. Place dough on parchment, turning it to coat in flour. Poke a hole in the center of each the dough piece and stretch dough into a ring 5-6" diameter in the center and 9-10" diameter on the outside. Let the rings rest on parchment at room temp 30 min.
  5. Meanwhile, place an upside-down large baking sheet in the center of your oven with a cast iron or broiler pan** set to one side of the bottom rack. With pans in place, preheat oven to 450˚F.
  6. Sprinkle the top of dough ring with flour. Holding scissors at a 45˚ angle to the parchment paper, cut deep slits into the dough about 1 1/2" apart, pulling the points away from the ring as you cut them. Rotate the parchment paper as you slice to maintain correct cutting angle.
  7. Transfer 1 ring (with the parchment paper) to the preheated oven onto the hot baking sheet and immediately pour 1 cup ice cubes into the hot cast iron pan below (be careful not to drip on glass surfaces!). Bake at 450˚F for 20 min or until top is golden brown. Repeat step 7 with second ring.

Notes

  • *To measure flour correctly, spoon into a dry ingredients measuring cup and level the top with the blunt edge of a knife. **CAUTION: Do not use glass or ceramic on the bottom rack - you will add ice cubes once the pan is fully preheated which can cause glass to shatter.

Nutrition Information

Calories 184kcal (9%) Carbs 37g Protein 5g (10%) Sodium 390mg (16%) Potassium 60mg (2%) Fiber 1g (4%) Calcium 9mg (1%) Iron 1.4mg (8%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12Makes 2 wreaths

Amount Per Serving

Calories 184

% Daily Value*

Calories 184kcal 9%
Carbs 37g
Protein 5g 10%
Sodium 390mg 16%
Potassium 60mg 1%
Fiber 1g 4%
Calcium 9mg 1%
Iron 1.4mg 8%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.