Viennese Bread

Along with their pastries, Viennese bakers are world renowned for their classic breads. Viennese bread, with its light crumb and crisp crust, is the perfect dinner loaf.

THIS RECIPE MAKES 1 LOAF

Ingredients

Small

·         1+1/4 cups Water

·         3 cups Bread Flour

·         2 TBSP White cornmeal

·         1 tsp Salt

·         1+1/2 tsp Sugar

·         2+1/4 tsp Active Dry Yeast

·          

Medium

·         1+1/4 cups Water

·         3+3/4 cups Bread Flour

·         3 TBSP White cornmeal

·         1 tsp Salt

·         1+1/2 tsp Sugar

·         2+1/4 tsp Active Dry Yeast

·          

Large

·         1+1/2 cups Water

·         4+3/4 cups Bread Flour

·         ¼ cup White cornmeal

·         1+1/4 tsp Salt

·         2 tsp Sugar

·         1 TBSP Active Dry Yeast

Instructions

BREAD MACHINE METHOD

1.      

2.     Have water at 80°F and all other ingredients at room temperature. Place ingredients in pan in the order specified in your owner’s manual. Select basic cycle and medium/normal crust. Check dough consistency after 5 minutes of kneading. The dough should be in a soft, tacky ball. If it is dry and stiff, add water, ½ to 1 TBSP at a time. If it is too wet and sticky, add 1 TBSP of flour at a time. See our Bread Machine section for more helpful tips and information.

3.      

MIXER METHODS

1.      

2.     Use ingredient amounts listed for medium loaf, combine yeast, 1 cup flour, and other dry ingredients. Heat water to 120-130°F.

3.      

4.     Hand-Held Mixer Method: Combine dry mixture and water in mixing bowl on low speed. Beat 2 to 3 minutes on medium speed. By hand, stir in enough remaining flour to make a firm dough. Knead on floured surface 5 to 7 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Use additional flour if necessary.

5.      

6.     Stand Mixer Method: Combine dry mixture and water in mixing bowl with paddle or beaters for 4 minutes on medium speed. Gradually add remaining flour and knead with dough hook(s) 5 to 7 minutes until smooth and elastic.

7.      

FOOD PROCESSOR METHOD

1.      

2.     Put dry mixture in processing bowl with steel blade. While motor is running, add water. Process until mixed. Continue processing, adding remaining flour until dough forms a ball.

3.      

RISING, SHAPING AND BAKING

1.      

2.     Place dough in lightly oiled bowl and turn to grease top. Cover; let rise until dough tests ripe. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface; punch down to remove air bubbles. Roll or pat into a 14 x 7- inch rectangle. Starting with shorter side, roll up tightly, pressing dough into roll. Pinch edges and taper ends to seal. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet sprinkled with cornmeal. Cover; let rise until indentation remains after touching. With very sharp knife, make 2 or 3 diagonal slashes across top of loaf. Brush with cold water. Bake in preheated 425°F oven 30 to 40 minutes. Spray or brush loaf with cold water several times during first 10 minutes of baking for a crispier crust. Remove from cookie sheet; cool.

3.      

4.     You can substitute Instant (fast-rising) yeast for Active Dry Yeast. Traditional methods- replace 1:1. Expect your dough to rise faster; always let your dough rise until ‘ripe’. Bread Machines- use ½ tsp Instant yeast (or ¾ tsp Active Dry yeast) per cup of flour in your recipe. Visit our Lessons in Yeast & Baking for more information.