Halloween Harvest Bread 🎃🍂

Halloween or Fall Porcupine Bread Recipe 🎃🍂

Cook Time: 41 minutes
Prep Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 41 minutes
Yield: 2 loaves

Description:

This Halloween or Fall Porcupine Bread earns its name from its delightfully eerie appearance, reminiscent of the spiky creature it’s named after. With a texture as intriguing as its look, this bread is perfect for any autumn gathering, whether it’s a Halloween party or a cozy fall brunch. Thanks to the generosity of Barbaja W. for introducing us to this unique recipe featuring Red Star yeast!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups bread flour
• 5 to 5 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 packet fast-rising yeast
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup oil
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon water
• Additional sunflower and sesame seeds for topping

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Dough:

   • In a large mixer bowl, combine 2 cups of bread flour, rolled oats, fast-rising yeast, sugar, and salt. Mix well.
   • Heat buttermilk, water, and oil until very warm (120-130°F), then add to the flour mixture.
   • Blend at low speed until moistened, then beat for 3 minutes at medium speed.

2. Incorporate Ingredients:

   • Gradually stir in sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, raisins, and enough remaining flour to make a firm dough.

3. Knead the Dough:

   • Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 5-8 minutes. The dough may be slightly sticky.

4. First Rise:

   • Place the dough in a greased bowl, rotating to grease the top.
   • Cover the bowl with a cloth and let the dough rise until double in size, about 1 hour and 30 minutes (or 30 minutes if using quick-rise yeast).

5. Shape the Loaves:

   • Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down and divide it into two parts. Shape each part into a loaf and place them in greased 9×5-inch bread or loaf pans.

6. Second Rise:

   • Cover the pans and let the dough rise in a warm place until double in size again, about 1 hour (or 30 minutes if using quick-rise yeast).

7. Preheat and Prepare for Baking:

   • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
   • In a small bowl, beat an egg with 1 tablespoon of water to make an egg wash.
   • Brush the tops of the loaves with the egg wash and sprinkle additional sunflower and sesame seeds on top.

8. Bake:

   • Place the pans in the preheated oven and bake until the loaves are golden brown.

9. Cool and Serve:

   • Once baked, remove the loaves from the pans while still warm and transfer them to a cooling rack.
   • Allow the bread to cool slightly before slicing and serving.

Nutritional Information (per serving):

• Calories: 957.8
• Fat: 36.4g
  • Saturated Fat: 6g
• Cholesterol: 113.1mg
• Sodium: 4320mg
• Carbohydrates: 130.7g
  • Fiber: 12.6g
  • Sugar: 50.1g
• Protein: 34.3g

Enjoy the whimsical charm and delightful flavor of this Halloween or Fall Porcupine Bread with friends and family this season! 🍁🥖