English Muffin Bread

I have made this English Muffin Bread many times, and can't believe I never posted it! This bread, sliced, is kind of the equivalent to English muffins, without the griddle. The bread pan is dusted with corn meal to mimic traditional English muffins. This bread is delicious toasted and spread with butter and jam. The combination of yeast and baking powder produces the "nooks and crannies" that one would expect from English muffins.

This bread is just perfect for those who are intimidated by baking bread. In fact, it's a gateway bread! Once you bake it, you will be ready for breads that require shaping and two proofings. This is how we bread baking Pied Pipers get you hooked!

To make this bread, all you have to do is mix the ingredients for one minute, scrape the dough into a bread pan, and let it rise for about an hour. You end up with an amazing loaf that is perfect for slicing and toasting.

My oven was occupied when I made this loaf, so I actually baked it in my toaster oven. I should have tented the top of the loaf toward the end of baking, but otherwise, it turned out great! (P.S., my toaster oven is big and kind of pricey, but it has been a fantastic substitute for a full sized oven.)

English Muffin Bread

Ingredients

12 3/4 ounces (3 cups) unbleached all purpose flour

1 tbsp sugar

1 1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 tbsp instant yeast

1 cup milk

1/4 cup water

2 tbsp vegetable oil

Cornmeal, for sprinkling into the pan

Instructions

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together the dry ingredients.
2. In a microwave save bowl, mix the milk, water, and vegetable oil. Heat to approximately 120 degrees F. 
3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, and beat with the paddle attachment on medium high. The dough will be very sticky. 
4. Lightly oil a 4 1/2 inch by 8 inch bread pan and sprinkle the sides and bottom with cornmeal. 
5. Scrape the dough into the prepared pan, and smooth the top with wet fingers. 
6. Cover the pan with oiled plastic wrap and preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. 
7. Let the dough rise until it just crowns about 1/4 inch above the top of the pan from eye level, about 45 to 60 minutes. 
8. Bake the loaf for 20 to 22 minutes, until it reaches an interior temperature of about 190 degrees F. and is golden brown. 
9. Cool in the pan for five minutes, and then remove it from the pan. Cool completely on a wire rack. 

Slightly adapted from King Arthur Flour