GBBO Bake Along: A Harvest Loaf

I'm currently sat writing this as I'm watching GBBO biscuit week, so 3 weeks behind.

Oops.

This post is concentrating on bread week. For the showstopper in bread week, contestants had to bake a 'shaped loaf'.

I knew that harvest was just around the corner so thought I'd save this post for the harvest loaf Mum and I make.

We used the same old recipe as always:

425ml Warm Water

5g Dried Yeast

1/2 tsp Caster Sugar

675g Strong Plain Flour

2 tsp Salt

1 Egg (to glaze)

Start off by pouring 140ml of the warm water into a bowl. Sprinkle over the yeast and sugar. Whisk lightly and stand in a warm place for 15mins until frothy.

Mix together the flour and salt in a bowl. Stir in the remaining water to the yeast liquid and add to flour.

Mix together into a soft dough and knead for 10mins.

Place in floured bowl and cover with oiled cling film. Leave to rise for 1 hour.

Set oven to 170C (325F) and oil a 30cm baking sheet. 

Knead again for 3mins.

Cut off 225g of dough. Roll into a 20cm round and place towards edge of baking sheet.

Cut another 225g and shape into a 15x10cm oval. Overlap this with the circle on your baking tray.

Cut a third off the remaining dough and divide into quarters. Cut 3 of the quarters into 8 and roll into 18cm stalks. Arrange on oval base.

Divide remaining quarter into 3. Roll into 15cm strips, plait them and place over the stalks.

Divide remaining dough into 48 oval pieces. Arrange over base and snip with scissors. Keep one piece aside to make your little mouse.

Brush with egg glaze and bake for 1 hour.

Then you're done! This would be perfect as an accompaniment to a lovely autumnal soup.

Alternatively you can cover your loaf with artist fixing spray and turn it into an autumn decoration for your home.