Golden Salt Bread
Recipe for Making Fluffy and Buttery Salt Bread at Home
I made some incredibly easy and satisfying baking after a long time! This recipe allows anyone to create bakery-quality salt bread at home without needing any special skills. The soft texture and the rich, buttery flavor that fills your mouth are exceptional. The fun pop of salty salt crystals on the warm bread is delightful. It makes a wonderful snack to pair with a beer, and it’s also perfect as a simple meal replacement.
Dough Ingredients- 10g room temperature butter, softened (for mixing with dry ingredients)
- 6 frozen butter sticks, each 8g (for laminating into the dough)
- 150g bread flour
- 50g cake flour
- 15g baking powder
- 10g sugar
- 2.5g salt
- 27g fresh egg (about half an egg)
- 100ml fresh milk
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, take the 10g of butter for mixing into the dough and leave it at room temperature until softened. This will help it incorporate better with the dry ingredients.
Step 2
Prepare the cold butter for laminating. Cut 6 sticks of butter, each 8g, into rectangular shapes. These should remain firm, so store them in the freezer until you’re ready to use them.
Step 3
Now, it’s time to measure out the ‘dry ingredients’ for the bread. Accurately weigh out 150g of bread flour, 50g of cake flour, 15g of baking powder, 10g of sugar, and 2.5g of salt.
Step 4
Combine all the measured dry ingredients in a bowl and sift them together 2-3 times. Sifting ensures the dry ingredients are evenly mixed without clumps, leading to a softer bread.
Step 5
Measure out 27g of fresh egg for the dough. This is usually about half an egg, and precise measurement is important.
Step 6
In 100ml of cold milk, add the measured egg and whisk well with a fork until fully combined. Ensure the milk and egg are thoroughly blended.
Step 7
Gradually pour the mixed milk-egg mixture into the bowl of sifted dry ingredients. Use a spatula or your hands to mix until just combined and no dry flour is visible. Be careful not to overmix at this stage.
Step 8
Once the ingredients form a cohesive dough, it’s time to knead. Place the dough on a clean work surface and knead vigorously for at least 10 minutes. Push and fold the dough repeatedly with the palm of your hand until it becomes smooth and elastic. (Tip: Developing a good gluten structure will make the bread chewy.)
Step 9
After kneading and developing elasticity, add the 10g of softened room-temperature butter to the dough. Knead again strongly until the butter is completely incorporated and the dough is smooth and no longer sticky.
Step 10
Transfer the finished dough to a bowl, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and let it rest at room temperature for 10 minutes. This short resting period allows the gluten in the dough to relax, making it easier to shape in the next steps.
Step 11
After the rest, gently deflate the dough and divide it equally into 6 portions. Each portion should weigh approximately 40-45g.
Step 12
Shape each portion of dough into a round ball. Tuck the edges underneath to create a smooth surface on top.
Step 13
Using a rolling pin, flatten each dough ball into an isosceles triangle shape. Make the top point narrow and the bottom wider, creating an elongated shape. (Tip: Be careful not to roll it too thin.)
Step 14
Now it’s time to insert the cold butter for creating layers. Place one of the frozen 8g butter sticks onto the wide base of each triangular dough piece. Work quickly to prevent the butter from melting, and then roll up the dough tightly to enclose the butter, similar to making a Swiss roll.
Step 15
Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the surface of the shaped dough with egg wash for a golden sheen. Avoid applying too much, as it can make the crust too dark. Sprinkle a pinch of coarse salt over the egg wash to add the signature salty flavor and attractive appearance of salt bread.
Step 16
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the shaped dough pieces onto it. Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C (390°F) for 15 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and puffed up. Enjoy your delicious homemade salt bread!
