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Vampire Bread Recipe

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★★★★★

4.4 from 101 reviews

Vampire Bread is a visually striking and delicious loaf with swirls of bold red and black coloring, perfect for Halloween or themed parties. This soft yeast bread is made with simple ingredients and colored with food dye to create a fun and festive appearance. The bread is kneaded, allowed to rise twice, and baked to golden perfection for a unique, colorful treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 cup HOT Reduced Fat Milk
  • 1 Egg Yolk
  • 1 1/2 tbsp Butter

Dry Ingredients

  • 3 cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 2 1/2 tbsp Sugar
  • 2 1/4 tsp Active Dry Yeast
  • 1 tsp Salt (Note: 2 tsp salt mentioned, choose 2 tsp for mixing)

Coloring

  • Black Food Coloring
  • Red Food Coloring

Instructions

  1. Prepare Milk and Egg Mixture: In a small bowl, whisk together 1 cup of hot reduced fat milk and 1 egg yolk. Microwave the mixture for 25-30 seconds, then set it aside to cool slightly.
  2. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl or stand mixer base, whisk together 3 cups of all-purpose flour, 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar, and 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast.
  3. Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients: Add the warmed milk and egg yolk mixture, 1 1/2 tablespoons butter, and 2 teaspoons salt to the flour mixture. Stir until the dough starts coming together.
  4. Knead the Dough: Knead the dough by hand for about 10 minutes or use a stand mixer with the dough hook for about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
  5. Divide and Color the Dough: Divide the dough evenly into 2-3 pieces and place each piece in a separate small bowl. Cover with a tea towel. Remove one piece at a time and knead in black or red food coloring as desired for the swirl effect. Cover again with the towel.
  6. First Rise: Let the colored dough pieces rise, covered, until doubled in size, which takes approximately 1.5 hours.
  7. Prepare Dough Layers: Punch down the risen dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough evenly into four portions. Drop a small amount of food coloring onto each portion, then roll each into an 8×4 inch rectangle. Layer the differently colored dough rectangles on top of each other in your preferred color order.
  8. Shape and Second Rise: Lightly grease the inside of a 9×5 inch loaf pan with non-stick spray or line with parchment paper. Roll the layered dough tightly from the short end into a loaf shape and place it in the prepared pan. Cover with a tea towel and let it rise again until doubled, about 1 hour.
  9. Bake: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Remove the towel and bake the loaf for about 30 minutes or until fully cooked and golden brown on top.
  10. Cool and Serve: Remove the bread from the oven and cool completely in the pan before slicing into 12 pieces. Enjoy your colorful Vampire Bread!

Notes

  • Use food-grade coloring suitable for baking to ensure safe consumption and vibrant color.
  • Make sure the milk is warm but not too hot when mixed with yeast to avoid killing the yeast.
  • If dough is sticky, lightly flour the surface when kneading but avoid adding too much flour to keep the bread soft.
  • This bread stores well in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days.
  • For a vegan version, substitute milk with plant-based milk and egg yolk with a flax egg or commercial egg replacer.

Keywords: Vampire Bread, Halloween Bread, Colored Bread, Yeast Bread, Swirled Bread, Festive Bread

Find it online: https://spiceupwithsophie.com/vampire-bread-recipe/