White Chocolate Chip Bread

This is me in beautiful Dominican Republic.  I was 20 years old, in college and babysitting for a family who took me with them on their family vacation.  This was my first trip to the Caribbean (but it most certainly will not be my last!).  We stayed at one of those all inclusive resorts where they have lots of activities to do there and restaurants so you don't even need to leave!  I loved the ocean kayaks... I think I went on these a few times that week.  I tried snorkeling, but the water was too rough that day so it didn't work out too well.  

I can't remember if it was at a certain restaurant or just somewhere you can get snacks during the day, but they had the most amazing bread!  White Chocolate Chip Bread!  We all loved it.  It was just so delicious and I had never had bread like it before.  And if you haven't figured out yet, I love love love my bread!  I could eat bread and butter for a  meal!  And it must be good bread!  

I can't remember exactly how I got it, because it was 6 years ago, but I somehow got a copy of the recipe to bring home with me.  It must be very popular with other people too, not just me, because they had the recipes printed out for the guests.   

After I got back, I remember trying to make the recipe in my boyfriend at the time (now husband)'s college house.  This is before I went to Culinary School and lets just say it didn't work out too well!  

Fast forward 6 years, I was going through a box of old things and there it was!  The recipe.  Now that I had experience from school and working at a bread bakery, I knew things would turn out better this time around.  I made it one night that my husband was out, and I probably ate almost half the loaf before he even got home.  So good!  So naturally, I want to share it with all of you!  

White Chocolate Chip Bread

*recipe adapted from Club Med

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp. yeast
• 1 1/4 cup warm water
• 1 tsp. honey
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 egg for eggwash

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°.
2. In mixer bowl, place yeast and warm water and let sit for 3-4 minutes, until the yeast has dissolved.
3. Add the honey, salt and flour to the bowl and mix on low until everything is incorporated.  
4. Mix on medium for about 5-7 minutes until the dough forms a smooth ball.  
5. Add the chocolate chips and mix until the chips are evenly distributed.  
6. Proof the dough in a warm place with a towel covering the bowl for 30 minutes.  
7. Shape the dough into a round and place on silpat lined baking sheet to proof.  Eggwash.
8. Let proof for 15-20 minutes.  Eggwash one more time right before it goes into the oven.
9. Bake 20-25 minutes.  It will be nicely browned and have an internal temperature of 190°.  
10. Let cool, then slice and enjoy!  

* It may look like the chips on the outside are burning, don't worry about this.  I find you can't even taste them, but if they do taste burnt, just scrape them off!  

I think this bread is delicious just on its own.  But you can add jam for some extra flavor!  Or some peanut butter, or ham to make a sandwich!  The white chocolate chips just give the bread a little sweetness, but don't have an overpowering taste so you can put just about anything on this!  

  I can't wait till I make this again!  Out of all the bread I make, this one just may take the cake!  

I hope you enjoy!

Cinnamon & Sugar Bread

Hi there!  I know I have not been posting very much lately.  I managed to leave the battery and charger for my camera somewhere, and luckily was able to have it sent to me but it took awhile to get here.  So I have not been able to take pictures for almost 2 weeks!  But I am back and have lots of pictures now.  So today I wanted to share with you some bread that I made.  

Cinnamon and Sugar Bread!  YUM!  We made this bread at the bakery that I used to work at.  And there is this restaurant by my house that I love their cinnamon french toast!  So many different ways to enjoy this bread too!  I eat it just sliced while it is still warm out of the oven, toasted with butter, as french toast and especially as bread pudding!  

Cinnamon & Sugar Bread

Use this bread recipe.  

For the cinnamon sugar mixture, I mixed 3 tbsp. sugar and 1 tbsp. cinnamon together in a bowl and set aside.

Directions:

• Follow the directions for mixing the dough. 
• Proof in a bowl for 1 hour in a warm spot. 
• Turn the dough out onto the counter and press the dough into a rectangle.  (Picture below)  I use a 9"x5" loaf pan and I make the dough line up with however wide my pan is.  I just use my hands to press the dough into a rectangle, but you can use a rolling pin too!
• Sprinkle all the cinnamon sugar mixture onto the dough and spread out.  Leave an inch at the top without any cinnamon sugar so it will stick together once you roll it up.  
• Start rolling the dough from the opposite end, tucking and rolling tightly into a log.  
• Once you have rolled it all the way up, pinch the dough together at the seam.  
• Place the dough seam side down in the cooking sprayed pan.  Eggwash the dough.
• Preheat oven to 400 °.
• Let the dough proof for 30 minutes.  
• Bake for 30 minutes or until the internal temperature is 190°. 

Cinnamon & Sugar mixture

Dough pressed into a rectangle.

Cinnamon mixture on the dough leaving the inch border at the top.

Start rolling up the dough.

Pinch the dough together so it stays together while baking.

All set to go in the pan.

Dough placed seam side down.

After 30 minutes of proofing.

Once the top of the bread has started to brown, I insert the thermometer into the side and continue baking until it reaches 190°.

Actual temp 178°, Set temp 190°... not quite done!

Cooling on a rack.  

Mmm... ready to enjoy!  Use this bread to make Bananas Foster Bread Pudding... amazing!

And I had to throw in a couple of dog pictures!  Bailey just turned 1 year old on Monday.  The card we got her was made out of raw hide and had edible ink on it!  What a great idea.  And she LOVED it!  I got it from Walmart and it was only $1.50!  She doesn't seem to like too many kinds of treats, but she loved this!  

Birthday girl :-)

Oh and by the way... I only took the picture of her with the ribbon bow.  I took it away from her right away because I knew she would want to eat it!  She liked to try and eat everything these days.  

We went to the dog park yesterday and she had a blast!  I think she is still tired today because she isn't her normal crazy self.  Just moving a little bit slower today.  But I don't mind considering she normally has a TON of energy!