Brown Butter Pull Apart Bread Food

BROWN BUTTER PULL-APART BREAD

Steps:

• Dough: In a small bowl, sprinkle yeast over milk; stir until dissolved. Let sit until foamy, about 5 minutes. Stir in vanilla seeds. In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the dough-hook attachment, mix together 4 1/2 cups flour, granulated sugar, salt, and 1/2 stick butter on low speed until butter is incorporated and mixture resembles coarse meal, 3 to 4 minutes. Add yeast mixture; mix until dough just comes together. Add eggs and yolk; mix until just combined, 2 to 3 minutes (do not overmix).
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, making sure to include any loose bits left at bottom of bowl. Gently knead to form a smooth ball, about 30 seconds. Wrap tightly in plastic; refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together remaining 3 1/2 sticks butter and 2 tablespoons flour. Shape mixture into a 12-by-10-inch rectangle on a piece of plastic wrap. Refrigerate 15 minutes or up to 1 day. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to an 18-by-10-inch rectangle, a little over 1/4 inch thick, keeping the corners as square as possible. Remove any excess flour with a dry pastry brush. Remove butter mixture from refrigerator and let stand at room temperature until it is the same consistency as the dough. With a short side facing you, place butter mixture over two-thirds of the dough. Fold the unbuttered third over as you would a business letter, followed by the remaining third. This seals in the butter.
• Roll out dough again to an 18-by-10-inch rectangle, then fold into thirds as described above; refrigerate 1 hour. This completes the first of three turns. Repeat rolling and folding process two more times, refrigerating at least 1 hour between turns. To help you remember how many turns have been completed, mark the dough after each one: make one mark for the first turn, two for the second, and three for the third.
• Wrap tightly in plastic and refrigerate at least 4 hours and up to overnight. Dough can also be frozen, tightly wrapped in plastic, up to 2 weeks (thaw in refrigerator overnight before using).
• Filling: Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until deep golden brown, about 11 minutes. Immediately transfer to a large heatproof bowl and let cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes. Stir in brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
• Butter a 14-inch round cake pan. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to a 20-by-16-inch rectangle. Spread filling on lower half of dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Fold top half of dough over filling, pressing edges to seal. Using a pizza wheel or sharp knife, cut dough lengthwise into six equal strips. Coil strips into S shapes and arrange in a circle in pan. Loosely cover with plastic wrap and set aside to rise in warm spot until puffy and full of air, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Brush top and edges of dough with egg wash. Bake until golden brown, firm to the touch, and an instant-read thermometer inserted into center reads 205 degrees, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool in pan 5 minutes. Run a knife around edges of pan to loosen, then invert onto a wire rack. Re-invert onto a second rack so top side is up; let cool completely. Pastry is best served the same day.

GARLIC AND HERB PULL APART BREAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix the warm water, yeast and 1 teaspoon of the sugar. Set aside for about 5 minutes until the mixture starts to thicken and bubble slightly. (If the mixture does not start to thicken and bubble slightly, the yeast is not working. Check the expiration date on the yeast and start over.)
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, stir together the egg, oil, salt and remaining 1/2 cup sugar until well combined. Mix in the cold water followed by the boiling water. Add the yeast mixture to the mixing bowl and stir until well blended. Add the flour and stir until it comes together into a shaggy dough, about 1 minute. Replace the paddle attachment with the dough hook and continue to knead until mostly smooth, about 3 minutes.
• Add the garlic, 2 tablespoons of the parsley and 1 tablespoon of the chives to the dough. Continue to knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, another 3 minutes, adding in the extra 1/2 cup flour or more as needed so the dough isn't too sticky. Transfer the dough to a large, oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 3 hours.
• Line an 8-inch round cake pan or baking dish with a sheet of parchment, allowing the excess paper to hang over the edges of the pan. Place a 2-to-3-inch biscuit cutter, sharp side down, in the center of the pan or dish and set aside.
• Mix the melted butter with the remaining 2 tablespoons parsley and 1 tablespoon chives in a large bowl. Cut the dough into strips and then cut each strip into 1-inch pieces. Roll a piece into a ball and transfer it to the bowl with the butter, turning to coat completely. Transfer it to the cake pan. Repeat with the remaining dough and butter mixture, surrounding the biscuit cutter completely with the balls. Drizzle any remaining butter from the bowl over the top. Cover and let rise for 1 1/2 hours at room temperature.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Sprinkle the balls with the Parmesan. Place the pan of dough onto a baking sheet and bake until the top is golden brown and crisp, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes.
• While the bread is resting, in a small saucepan, heat the marinara and half-and-half until it is warm. Transfer to a bowl for dipping. Transfer the bread to a serving platter with the side sprinkled with Parmesan facing up. Remove the biscuit cutter. Serve immediately with the creamy tomato dipping sauce.

PULL-APART BUTTER BREAD

Steps:

• You will need a Bundt pan.
• Separate biscuits. Dip each biscuit into melted butter and place in Bundt pan, overlapping each layer. Pour any extra butter over the biscuits.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown on the top.
• Remove from oven and carefully turn out on serving plate.

GOLDEN PULL-APART BUTTER BUNS

Steps:

• Combine all of the dough ingredients in a large bowl, and mix and knead - using your hands, a stand mixer, or a bread machine set on the dough cycle - to make a soft, smooth dough.
• Place the dough in a lightly greased container - an 8-cup measure works well here - and allow the dough to rise for 60 to 90 minutes, until it's just about doubled in bulk.
• Gently deflate the dough, and transfer it to a lightly greased work surface.
• Divide the dough into 16 equal pieces, by dividing in half, then in halves again, etc. Round each piece into a smooth ball.
• Lightly grease two 8" round cake pans. Space 8 buns in each pan. Can you use 9" round cake pans, or a 9" x 13" pan? Sure; the buns just won't nestle together as closely, so their sides will be a bit more baked.
• Cover the pans, and allow the buns to rise till they're crowded against one another and quite puffy, about 60 to 90 minutes. Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Uncover the buns, and bake them for 22 to 24 minutes, until they're golden brown on top and the edges of the center bun spring back lightly when you touch it. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the middle of the center bun should register at least 190°F.
• Remove the buns from the oven, and brush with the melted butter. After a couple of minutes, turn them out of the pan onto a cooling rack.
• Serve warm. Store leftovers well-wrapped, at room temperature.