Make Ahead Sweet Dough Recipes

BASIC SWEET DOUGH

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine 2 cups flour, sugar, yeast and salt. In a saucepan, heat milk, butter and water to 120°-130°. Add to dry ingredients; beat just until moistened. Add egg and remaining flour; beat until smooth. Shape into a ball. Do not knead. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes. Use for Braided Coffee Cake or Coffee Cake Ring.

MASTER SWEET DOUGH RECIPE

Steps:

• Warm milk to 110ºF. Add in 1 Tablespoon of your sugar and then the yeast and whisk to combine. Set aside for 5 minutes.
• Add your flour to your mixing bowl and then add in your milk/yeast mixture. Stir on low to combine
• While mixing on low, add in your sugar, eggs, butter and salt until combined
• Increase the speed to medium and let mix until the dough cleans the sides of the bowls and feels elastic and smooth. The dough should bounce back when you touch it with your finger. This can take 8 - 12 minutes *do the window test - see blog post for details*
• Shape the dough into a smooth ball and then place it into a greased bowl. Cover with a tea towel and let rise for 90 minutes in a warm place ***optional***(I pre-heat my oven to 170ºF for five minutes then TURN THE OVEN OFF. It should be barely warm inside. Place a bowl of warm water in the back of the oven and your covered bowl of dough into the oven and shut the door)
• You can now shape the dough into rolls, make cinnamon rolls, sticky buns etc. See the blog post above for links to other recipes.

MAKE AHEAD SWEET DOUGH

Steps:

• 1. Warm the milks, not too much. Not over 110 degrees. Whisk in the melted butter and eggs.
• 2. Whisk together the flour, salt, yeast and sugar, then add to the liquid ingredients. You will probably have to add flour a tablespoon at a time if it is too sticky. I sometimes use my Kitchen Aid mixer to pull it all together, adding flour until it is tacky, not sticky.
• 3. Pull out of the bowl and put into a large food grade plastic bag like an old loaf bag (or two doubled up). Ziploc bags do not allow enough room to raise. Or put it into a large bowl and cover well. Set it in the fridge until morning.
• 4. Take the dough out. You do not have to wait until it is room temp to start working it. Your hands will help warm it up. So, deflate and either start rolling it out or cut into portions to make whatever you want to with it. It may take about an hour to rise. Just remember, sweet dough does not have to rise as much as bread dough to be ready to bake. Just as long as it looks puffy.

BASIC SWEET DOUGH

Steps:

• Scald milk in a medium saucepan. Add cold water to scalded milk. Remove 1/4 cup liquid; mix yeast into liquid when cooled to lukewarm. To liquid in saucepan, add salt, sugar, shortening, and eggs. Add dissolved yeast to saucepan. Mix well.
• Sift and measure the flour into a large bowl. Make a well in the flour, and pour the liquids into the well. Stir with a large wooden spoon until liquid disappears.
• With one hand, mix dough in bowl using swinging rotary motion. Gradually form dough into smooth ball, then knead in bowl for 2 minutes. Brush top with melted shortening. Cover, and allow dough to rise at room temperature until doubled in bulk, about 2 hours.
• Punch down dough. Use dough for any sweet bread recipe.

BASIC RICH SWEET YEAST DOUGH

Steps:

• (Icing may be doubled and used for any cake or bun icing).
• Dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water and set aside until foamy.
• Heat milk, shortening, sugar and salt to melt shortening.
• Cool to warm and add yeast mixture, egg yolks and whole eggs.
• Beat well by hand.
• Gradually beat in by hand 6 cups of flour and the cardamom.
• Knead well on a floured surface only adding additional flour to make a smooth and elastic dough.
• Place dough in an oiled bowl, turn to coat with oil and cover and let rise double in volume.
• Punch down and cover dough and refrigerate overnight in large bowl.
• When ready to use, punch down and knead briefly to warm up dough.
• Use dough as you wish for coffee cakes, sweet breads, buns, etc.
• You may divide dough into 6 buns, or 4 equal pieces to make 4 small loaves or braids.
• If braiding, divide each piece into 3 loose strands and braid and tuck under ends.
• Brush with melted butter.
• Place on baking sheets/pans and let rise double in volume.
• Bake in a 350F oven about 30 minutes or golden and tested done.
• Remove from pans/baking sheet to cool on rack.
• Mix icing ingredients and drizzle over warm cake/bread.
• Yield: approx.
• 6 buns, 4 small braids, or 2 large loaves.