English Cottage Bread Recipes

BRITISH COTTAGE LOAF

Steps:

• Add the flour into a large bowl and add the yeast on one side and the salt on the other. Add the softened butter pieces and pour in about 1 cup of lukewarm water. Mix using one hand, then add a further 1/3 of water (you may not need it all, or you may need a little more), a little at a time, until all the flour is incorporated and the dough is soft but not soggy.
• Pour the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead for 5-10 minutes, until it is smooth and silky.
• Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a clean tea towel and leave to rise until doubled in size. This will take at least 1 hour and can take 2-3 hours, or longer, depending on the room temperature.
• Remove the dough onto a lightly floured surface and fold it inwards repeatedly to knock out the air and ensure that it rises upwards, rather than outwards. This is especially important in a freestanding loaf without a tin to support it.
• Tear off one third of the dough and set aside. Shape the larger piece into a ball by first flattening the dough into a rough rectangle, then rolling it into a thick oblong. Turn the dough so that the longer edge is running away from you and flatten it slightly. Now fold in the two ends to the centre and press them down, so you end up with a chunky, squarish shape. Turn the dough over, so that the join is underneath.
• With your palms turned upwards, put your hands on each side, slightly under the dough. Move the cob around, tucking the dough neatly under itself as it turns. You are gently forcing the sides of the dough down and underneath, to create a smooth, taut top and a rough underside. Avoid using too much extra flour during shaping. Place the ball of dough on the prepared baking tray.
• Repeat the rolling and shaping for the smaller piece of dough, then place the smaller ball on top of the larger ball. Flatten the top slightly, then dust your middle finger and forefinger with flour and push them through the centre of the loaf all the way to the bottom. Use a sharp knife to make 8 slashes in the surface of both the top and larger lower part of the loaf.
• Place the tray inside a large, clean plastic bag and leave to prove for 1 hour, or until well risen, and springy when prodded. Meanwhile, heat the oven to 415°F and put a roasting tray in the bottom of the oven to heat up.
• Remove the risen loaf from the bag and dust with flour. Fill the roasting tray with cold water to create steam and put the bread in the oven. Bake for 15 minutes, then lower the oven to 375°F and bake for a further 20-25 minutes, until crusty, golden brown and the base sounds hollow when tapped. (If not, put it back into the oven for another 5 minutes.)
• Transfer the baked loaf to a wire rack to cool.

TRADITIONAL COTTAGE LOAF - OLD FASHIONED RUSTIC ENGLISH BREAD

Steps:

• Sift flour and salt into a bowl, stir in sugar and yeast. Make a well in the centre, stir in the tepid milk and water to make the dough. (If using fresh yeast - put the yeast in a jug with a little of the milk and water mixture, and allow it to dissolve and become frothy - mixing thoroughly, then add it to the flour.).
• Tip the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 to 15 minutes until smooth and elastic.
• Put the dough in a large, clean, oiled bowl. Cover with oiled clingfilm and leave in a warm place until it has doubled in size.Then knead the dough for 1 minute and divide it into two-thirds and a third. Shape the pieces into rounds. Cover them and leave for 5 minutes.
• Put the smaller round on top of the larger one. Push a floured wooden spoon (or your fingers) through the centre of both rounds, to join them together. Take a very sharp knife and make cuts all around the top round and the bottom round - see my photos. Put the cottage loaf on a lightly floured baking tray, cover and leave for about 45 minutes, or until it has doubled in size. Meanwhile preheat the oven to 220C/440F/Gas 7.
• Beat the egg with a tablespoon of water and a pinch of salt. Brush the glaze over the cottage loaf and bake for about 35 to 45 minutes, until dark golden brown and hollow sounding when tapped beneath.
• Cool before slicing. Delicious served with butter, jam, cheese, cold meats or make sandwiches or toast for picnics and breakfast!

EASY COTTAGE BREAD

Steps:

• 1. Put water and yeast into a large bowl and let dissolve.
• 2. Once they are dissolved stir in sugar, salt, and melted butter.
• 3. Add half of the flour beat until smooth, add remaining flour. It will be very sticky and thick.
• 4. Cover bowl ( oil the bowl first )and let rise for 30 minutes - beat down
• 5. Spoon into 2 greased break loaf pans, let ride covered with plastic or a wet towel.
• 6. Bake at 375 degreed for 35 minutes.

ENGLISH COTTAGE LOAF

Steps:

• Sprinkle dry yeast and sugar over warm milk (105 to 115 degrees F) in large bowl and stir to dissolve. Stir in sugar and lukewarm milk (95 degrees F). Let stand until foamy. Add salt and 2 cups flour. Whisk in until smooth. Using a spoon, mix in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Knead on a floured surface until smooth and elastic, kneading in more flour is sticky, about 10 minutes. Grease a large bowl. Add dough, turning to coat entire surface. Cover bowl with plastic. Let rise in a warm draft-free area until tripled, about 2 hours. Gently knead dough in bowl until deflated. Cover and let rise again until doubled in volume, about 1 hour. Cover baking sheets with oats. Gently turn dough out on lightly floured surface and divide in half. Cut off 2/3 of 1 piece of dough and gently knead into round. Place on the prepared sheet and form a well in center. Gently knead the remaining 1/3 of dough piece into round and set in well atop first piece. With floured finger, make a hole down center of both rounds to baking sheet. Repeat with remaining dough half. Cover with waxed paper or towel. Let rise in warm draft-free area until doubled in volume, abut 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Brush loaves with glaze. Bake until golden brown and loaves sound hollow when tapped on bottom, about 35 minutes. Immediately transfer to rack and cool.

PAUL HOLLYWOOD'S CLASSIC COTTAGE LOAF

Steps:

• Tip the flour into a large bowl and add the yeast to one side and the salt to the other. Add the lard and pour in about 225-250ml of water. Mix using one hand, then add a further 75-100ml of water (you may not need it all, or you may need a little more), a little at a time, until all the flour is incorporated and the dough is soft but not soggy.
• Tip the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead for 5-10 minutes, until it is smooth and silky.
• Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a clean tea towel and leave to rise until doubled in size. This will take at least 1 hour and can take 2-3 hours, or longer, depending on the room temperature.
• Tip the dough onto a lightly floured surface and fold it inwards repeatedly to knock out the air and ensure that it rises upwards, rather than outwards. This is especially important in a freestanding loaf without a tin to support it.
• Tear off one third of the dough and set aside. Shape the larger piece into a ball by first flattening the dough into a rough rectangle, then rolling it into a thick oblong. Turn the dough so that the longer edge is running away from you and flatten it slightly. Now fold in the two ends to the centre and press them down, so you end up with a chunky, squarish shape. Turn the dough over, so that the join is underneath.
• With your palms turned upwards, put your hands on each side, slightly under the dough. Move the cob around, tucking the dough neatly under itself as it turns. You are gently forcing the sides of the dough down and underneath, to create a smooth, taut top and a rough underside. Avoid using too much extra flour during shaping. Place the ball of dough on the prepared baking tray.
• Repeat the rolling and shaping for the smaller piece of dough, then place the smaller ball on top of the larger ball. Flatten the top slightly, then dust your middle finger and forefinger with flour and push them through the centre of the loaf all the way to the bottom. Use a sharp knife to make 8 slashes in the surface of both the top and larger lower part of the loaf.
• Place the tray inside a large, clean plastic bag and leave to prove for 1 hour, or until well risen, and springy when prodded. Meanwhile, heat the oven to 230°C/210°C fan/450°F/Gas 8 and put a roasting tray in the bottom of the oven to heat up.
• Remove the risen loaf from the bag and dust with flour. Fill the roasting tray with cold water to create steam and put the bread in the oven. Bake for 15 minutes, then lower the oven to 190°C/170°C fan/375°F/Gas 5 and bake for a further 20-25 minutes, until crusty, golden brown and the base sounds hollow when tapped. (If not, put it back into the oven for another 5 minutes.)
• Transfer the baked loaf to a wire rack to cool.