Japanese White Bread, #TwelveLoaves

French style patisseries line Tokyo’s Omotesando and rival any found in Paris cafés. Omotesando Hills is adjacent to the long catwalk of fashion boutiques of Harajuku. (Remember fashionista singer Gwen Stefani’s Japanese backup dancers named the Harajuku Girls?) Beyond the high-end patisseries are mom-and-pop coffee shops where huge hunks of Japanese white bread are served with butter and jam. Or topped with skinny strips of melted cheese and called pizza toast.



What kind of bread brings you back home?

As I’m the #TwelveLoaves bread bakers host for the Happy New Year Challenge, I thought it best to live up to the theme. My intention was to conquer braided bread and replicate Japanese white bread. The baking bread filled our apartment with divine aromas. Plus, the crust was nice and crunchy and provided a wonderful contrast to the soft bread...As for the bread braiding... Following the instructions from other blogs, pre-bake, I attempted to braid the dough. But, I guess the dough was a bit soft. Perhaps, the bread-maker machine’s box was a bit too small. Next time I may try the oven and dough with less butter. The good news is three-fold: I’ve still got scrumptious, aromatic bread, which reminds me of home! Oh! One more thing in my favor: I’ve got the whole of 2015 to take on bread braiding.



Toast or sandwich bread?

If baking bread is your pride and joy and/or passion, please scroll down for details on how to participate.  Also, all tips on creating super fluffy bread are welcome.

Japanese White Bread

A crunchy golden crust gives way to soft bread. This white bread is very enjoyable with butter, a dollop of jam and coffee. If you want to replicate Japanese pizza toast, melt a few strips of white cheese and a fresh tomato slice or two. 

Adapted from Cuisinart's Basic White Bread-Machine Bread

Ingredients: 
  • 1½ cups warm water, 80 to 90 degrees
  • 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3½ teaspoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups bread flour
  • ¼ cup nonfat dry milk
  • 2 teaspoons yeast (active dry, instant or bread machine)
Directions: 

Directions:
Pour the water into the baking well of a bread making machine. Drop teaspoonfuls of butter into the water. Add the sugar, salt, bread flour and dry milk. Sprinkle in the yeast.

Ninja Note: Please mind the order of the ingredients. It’s important to place them into the bread machine maker as listed.

Select the white bread option…And enjoy as breakfast toast or sandwich lunch bread.

 

#TwelveLoaves is a monthly bread baking party created by Lora from Cake Duchess and run with the help of Heather of girlichef, which runs smoothly with the help of our bakers. Our host this month is Kim from NinjaBaker.com, and our theme is Happy New Year. For more bread recipes, visit the #TwelveLoaves Pinterest board, or check out last month's tempting selection of #TwelveLoaves Holiday Breads!

If you'd like to bake along with us this month, share your New Year Challenge bread using hashtag #TwelveLoaves!



Wishing you fluffy bread, hot coffee and all the comforts of simple joys.

 

The Ninja Baker

© ™ Watkinson 2012

The Ninja Baker has guest blogged and contributed recipes to numerous food sites. These additional recipes can be found here.

 

 

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Tags: 
#Japan #Bread #TwelveLoaves #recipe