How to Bake Spiced Sweet Bread

This is quite an easy recipe to make if you don't mind spending a couple of pleasant hours in the kitchen. The end result is a pleasantly unusual bread that tastes great with a slice of ham or even just spread with soft butter. The recipe was inspired by, and similar to, a recipe found on www.greneboke.com and is believed to have originated in the 16th Century. Here is how I made my spiced sweet bread.

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons dried yeast
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 3 cups plain flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 3 egg yolks
• Spice

Preparation

• Dissolve the yeast in the warm water and leave in a warm place to activate the yeast
• Warm the egg yolks, milk, butter and spice in a small saucepan until the mix just begins to thicken. Be sure to remove from the heat before the egg sets in the liquid
• Mix the flour and sugar together and beat in the yeast, then add the egg mixture
• Knead to form a stiff dough, adding water or flour as necessary to make a dry, stiff dough
• Leave in a warm place for about an hour until the dough has doubled in size
• Knead the dough again and shape into a loaf or cut into rolls and leave the dough for a little longer to rise again
• Bake at 350F for about 20 minutes

John's Notes
What spice to use? I used cardamom because it has a delicate, sweet flavour but cinnamon, nutmeg or even mace would work well too. I have the advantage of an electronically controlled range with a bread proofing oven and a "Bread" setting for the main oven. I am sure the same fine result could be obtained, with a little care, using a regular oven.