Valentine's Bread
A delightful heart-shaped bread that combines sweet buttery flavor and beautiful color, perfect for expressing love on Valentine's Day.
Ingredients
Dough Ingredients
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast Ensure the yeast is fresh.
- ½ cup warm milk Temperature should be around 110°F (43°C).
- ¼ cup sugar Granulated white sugar.
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened Use at room temperature.
- ½ teaspoon salt Enhances flavor.
- 1 large egg At room temperature.
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour For best results, spoon and level the flour.
- ¼ cup red food coloring Optional for color.
Glaze Ingredients
- ½ cup icing sugar Powdered sugar for glaze.
- 1-2 tablespoons milk Add until desired consistency is reached.
Instructions
Preparation
- Gather all your ingredients.
- In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm milk and let it sit for about 5 minutes.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar, softened butter, salt, egg, and the yeast mixture.
- Mix well until everything is blended smoothly.
- Gradually add flour, mixing until a dough forms. If using, mix in red food coloring.
- Transfer the dough onto a floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Rising
- Place the kneaded dough in a greased bowl, cover with a cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
- After it rises, punch the dough down, shape into a heart, and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Cover lightly and allow it to rise for another 30 minutes.
Baking
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake the bread for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
- For the glaze, mix icing sugar with milk until smooth and drizzle over the cooled bread.
Notes
Store leftovers wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container. Can be frozen for longer storage.