Review: Cinnamon-Bun Bread Jan/Feb 99

[anna]

Yum - there's nothing like the smell of homemade bread baking -- you've inspired me to try this especially in these winter months when the outdoors is not appealing. I love to bake bread and haven't in so long.

[BethR]

This was the first bread recipe I tried after getting a KitchenAid stand mixer last spring. It is so awesome! I'm going to make some of this again soon, although two loaves are too much for us to eat. Has anyone tried freezing this after it's baked but before the glazes go on? Or would it be better to freeze half the dough at some point? I'd love to hear from people if they've discovered a method that works well for them with this and other big bread recipes.
Beth

[Colleen]

This is funny that you are all talking about baking bread. I just got back from planning at school, and we are going to be doing the little red hen story with our four year olds. I need to bake bread for the class. How fun!!!

[ElinorC]

I put one loaf in the freezer but I had already glazed it. I'll let you know how it turns out. I think it would probably freeze better unglazed but we'll see.

[junietoo]

BethR: Although I haven't tried this particular bread recipe, I make all the bread for our family, so I bake about every other weekend. I make two or three loaves at a time and freeze whatever we won't use right away. IMO, thawed homemade bread is a bit drier that freshly made. The same is true for cinnamon rolls and other sweeter breads. They're still great, but I think not identical to freshly made. And, make sure you wrap well (I double bag with the air sucked out of each.) I ususally slice the bread first, too, so I can take out whatever I need and leave the rest frozen.

As for icings or glazes, those that dry with an unsticky crust seem to freeze better than those that dry sticky.

I'm going to look up this recipe and give it a try this weekend.

[This message has been edited by junietoo (edited 01-11-2001).]

[ElinorC]

Encouraged by the folks that said bread machine recipes could be made by hand with no changes, I went back to the J/F 99 magazine which had a Cooking Class for conventional yeast breads and thought I'd try the above recipe to get a feel of bread making. It turned out to be relatively easy (though time-consuming) and is really delicious! It turned out really light and very tasty with an apricot jam topping plus the sugar glaze. I hadn't made bread in many years and now am enthused and will try other recipes. Thanks for the encouragement!

[Pat]

I just tried the Homemade White bread from that same article and we enjoyed it very much. It makes great toast in the oven for breakfast.

[ElinorC]

Pat,
The homemade bread is next! Thanks for the good review.