Spiced Sesame Bread

Total Time: 2 hrs 15 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr 30 mins Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients

• 1 package active dry yeast
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/3 cup butter, cut into small pieces
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 3 3/4 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds

Recipe

• 1 in a large bowl, pour 1/4 cup warm (110 degree f) water and sprinkle on the yeast.
• 2 let mixture stand for 5 minutes until slightly foamy.
• 3 heat milk and butter over low heat until butter is melted, but do not boil.
• 4 add milk mixture, sugar and salt to the yeast mixture.
• 5 in a small bowl, beat the eggs.
• 6 reserve 1 tablespoon of the egg at this time in another small bowl; cover and chill.
• 7 add remaining eggs and vanilla to yeast mixture and stir until blended.
• 8 add 2 1/2 cups flour, nutmeg and cinnamon to yeast mixture and stir.
• 9 in the bowl of your stand mixer, mix with a dough hook on medium high speed until the dough is elastic (about 6 minutes).
• 10 add in 3/4 cup flour to the mixing bowl and knead on medium high speed until the dough forms a nice ball and pulls away from the side of the bowl cleanly.
• 11 the dough should not feel sticky to the touch.
• 12 if it does, knead in flour, 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough is no longer sticky.
• 13 (note: if kneading by hand, the process takes about 15 minutes to get a nice elastic dough that is not sticky.) place dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover.
• 14 allow to rise until doubled in a warm, draft free location-- usually about 1 1/2 hours.
• 15 when dough has proofed, punch it down and turn it onto a lightly floured surface.
• 16 knead it into a 7 inch round and place it on a large baking sheet.
• 17 cover lightly with a piece of plastic wrap that's been sprayed with nonstick spray.
• 18 allow dough to rise again until puffy; about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• 19 preheat the oven to 350 degrees f.
• 20 uncover the dough and brush it with the reserved egg.
• 21 while the loaf is still wet with egg, sprinkle on the sesame seeds.
• 22 using a sharp serrated knife, make a single slash across the middle of the loaf that is about 1/2 inch deep.
• 23 bake loaf in a preheated 350 degree f oven for 35-40 minutes or until browned.
• 24 serve warm or cool.
• 25 loaf can be frozen for up to 3 months if wrapped tightly.