Best Earls Homemade Bread Recipes

EARL'S HOMEMADE BREAD

Steps:

• Place all dry ingredients in the mixer bowl but don't turn on mixer. In a separate container, place the warm water and add the oil first and then the honey, using the same measuring spoon, as the oil will keep the honey from sticking to the spoon.
• Stir the liquids together and stir them, then turn on the mixer with dough hook installed to low speed for 15 seconds. Then add the liquid mixture all at once and turn the mixer to its lowest speed for about a minute and a half-until ingredients are pretty well together and shut it off. Let it rest this way for 10 minutes.
• Turn the mixer to the second speed and let it run 3 minutes. Remove the dough hook and turn the dough onto a floured board or table. Knead 3 or 4 times to get the air bubbles out.
• Place it in an oiled bowl (you can put it back in the mixer bowl) and put it in a warm place, like your oven with a cloth draped over it for 1 hour. At the end of the hour, punch it down and turn it onto the floured surface and knead another three or four times. Form loaves and put into 2 loaf pans.
• Put them in the same warm place with a cloth draped over them and let them rise 45 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until crust is the color you like. If you put a small pan of water on the rack below the bread, it will make the crust softer and chewier. Remove from pans and let cool at least 30 minutes on a wire rack.
• I usually brush the tops with olive oil because it softens the crust a bit and makes the loaves look nice.
• This bread has a wonderful flavor and keeps very well.

EARL'S HOMEMADE BREAD FOR THE KITCHENAID

Steps:

• When measuring the flour, fluff it with a spoon and then spoon it into the measuring cup and level but DO NOT PACK. This is the most important thing for getting consistency.
• Place flour, salt and yeast in the mixer bowl but don't turn on mixer. In a separate container, place the warm water and add the oil first and then the honey, using the same measuring spoon, as the oil will keep the honey from sticking to the spoon.
• Stir the liquids together and stir them, then turn on the mixer with dough hook installed to low speed for 15 seconds. Then add the liquid mixture all at once and turn the mixer to its lowest speed for about a minute and a half-until ingredients are pretty well together and shut it off. Let it rest this way for 10 minutes.
• Turn the mixer to the second speed and let it run 3 minutes. Remove the dough hook and turn the dough onto a floured board or table. Knead 3 or 4 times to get the air bubbles out.
• Place it in an oiled bowl (you can put it back in the mixer bowl) and put it in a warm place, like your oven with a cloth draped over it for 1 hour. At the end of the hour, punch it down and turn it onto the floured surface and knead another three or four times. Form loaves and put into 2 loaf pans.
• Put them in the same warm place with a cloth draped over them and let them rise 45 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until crust is the color you like. If you put a small pan of water on the rack below the bread, it will make the crust softer and chewier. Remove from pans and let cool at least 30 minutes on a wire rack.
• I usually brush the tops with olive oil because it softens the crust a bit and makes the loaves look nice.
• This bread has a wonderful flavor and keeps very well.

HOMEMADE BREAD

Steps:

• Prepare the dough: In a large bowl or stand mixer add the yeast, water and a pinch of the sugar or honey. Allow to rest for 5-10 minutes until foaming and bubbly. (This is called "proofing" the yeast, to make sure it is active. If it doesn't foam, the yeast is no good, and you need to start over with fresh yeast).
• Add remaining sugar or honey, salt, oil, and 3 cups of flour. Mix to combine.
• Add another cup of flour and mix to combine. With the mixer running add more flour, ½ cup at a time, until the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl. The dough should be smooth and elastic, and slightly stick to a clean finger, but not be overly sticky. Add a little more flour, if needed.
• Knead the dough: Mix the dough for 4-5 minutes on medium speed (or knead with your hands on a lightly floured surface, for 5-8 minutes).
• First Rise: Grease a large bowl with oil or cooking spray and place the dough inside, turning to coat. Cover with a dish towel or plastic wrap and allow to rise in a warm place* until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Spray two 9x5'' bread pans generously with cooking spray on all sides. (I also like to line the bottom of the pans with a small piece of parchment or wax paper, but this is optional.)
• Punch the dough down well to remove air bubbles. Divide into two equal portions. Shape each ball into long logs and place into greased loaf pans.
• Second rise: Spray two pieces of plastic wrap with cooking spray and lay them gently over the pans. Allow dough to rise again for about 45 minutes to one hour, or until risen about 1 inch above the loaf pans. Gently removing covering.
• Bake: Preheat oven to 350 F. Bake bread for about 30-33 minutes, or until golden brown on top. Give the top of a loaf a gentle tap; it should sound hollow.
• Invert the loaves onto a wire cooling rack. Brush the tops with butter and allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing.
• Once cool, store in an airtight container or bag for 2-3 days at room temperature, or up to 5 days in the refrigerator.

EARL GREY SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides. Pulse the tea leaves briefly in a spice grinder until ground but not powdery. Transfer to a medium bowl and whisk in the flour and salt.
• Beat the butter in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add 2 1/2 cups confectioners¿ sugar and the vanilla and beat until incorporated, then increase the speed to medium high and beat until smooth, about 1 more minute. Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in the flour mixture, then increase the speed to medium and beat until just combined.
• Scrape the dough into the prepared pan. Lay a piece of plastic wrap on top and press the dough evenly into the pan; remove the plastic wrap. Bake until the shortbread is firm and the edges are just light golden, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool 20 minutes in the pan. Gently lift the shortbread out of the pan using the foil overhang. Slice into 1 1/2-inch squares. Transfer to racks to cool completely.
• Make the glaze: Whisk the remaining 1 cup confectioners¿ sugar and the milk in a bowl until smooth; drizzle over the shortbread. Sprinkle with coarse sugar and let set, 20 to 30 minutes.

GRANDMA'S PERFECT HOMEMADE BREAD

Steps:

• In a stand mixer add the warm water, sugar, salt and yeast. Let the yeast proof until it bubbles for about 5 minutes. Using the dough hook start adding the flour one cup at a time until the dough combines and forms a soft dough.
• On a floured surface knead the dough until smooth and elastic and form a ball. Add the oil to the large bowl and add the dough to the bowl and cover. Let rise until it has doubled 1- 1 1/2 hours.
• Grease and flour 2 9x5 inch pans. Punch the dough to release the air. Lay the dough onto a flat surface and cut into two loaves. Roll each loaf up and place into the loaf pans. Let rise until it doubles another 1-1 1/2 hours.
• Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown on the tops. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes before slicing.

BASIC HOMEMADE BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and 1/2 teaspoon sugar in warm water; let stand until bubbles form on surface. Whisk together remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, salt and 3 cups flour. Stir oil into yeast mixture; pour into flour mixture and beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 8-10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, 1-1/2 to 2 hours., Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide dough in half. Shape each into a loaf. Place in 2 greased 9x5-in. loaf pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, 1 to 1-1/2 hours., Bake at 375° until golden brown and bread sounds hollow when tapped or has reached an internal temperature of 200°, 30-35 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

EARL GREY BREAD

Steps:

• Cut open tea bags and place leaves in a tea strainer. Steep in boiling water for 10 minutes. Let tea cool.
• Pour cooled tea into a bread machine. Add bread flour, sugar, yeast, and salt in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Run White Bread cycle. Add the butter when the machine beeps, about 15 minutes into the kneading stage.
• Remove loaf from the machine after the cycle is done, about 3 hours.