Sweet Sandwich Loaf

Instructions

1. Warm the milk and water together in a saucepan until lukewarm not hot.
2. For most yeast: Take 6 tablespoons of the milk + water mixture and add the yeast to it, cover and give it about 5-10mins to proof a little bit. For other types of yeast, may need to be mixed with the flour.
3. In a large bowl add the milk mixture, add sugar, salt, beaten eggs and softened butter. Mix everything together with a spatula/wooden spoon. Add the yeast mixture. Then add the bread flour cup by cup while mixing.
4. Transfer the dough to a clean surface dusted with flour. If the dough is too sticky, add a tablespoon of flour at a time. If too dry, add a tbsp of milk or water at a time. Knead the dough for 5-10mins until not sticky.
5. Brush some vegetable oil or butter to the sides of the bowl, return the dough and then cover. Let the dough rest for 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
6. Once the dough has proofed, punch it out to remove the built up gas and transfer to a clean surface dusted with flour.
7. Divide the dough into 4 to make, 4 medium loaves. Shape the loaves as desired for plain loaves.
8. Optionally: Make cinnamon loaf: Divide the dough into 2. Roll one of the dough balls into a rectangle. Brush generously with milk and sprinkle cinnamon mix. (1 tbsp of cinnamon, 1 tbsp of plain flour, 2 tbsp of sugar). Roll it up with the long side and divide into 2 to make two medium loaves. Repeat for the remaining dough or bake plain.
9. Optionally: Make raisins/sultanas loaf: Soak 100g of sultanas/raisins in the juice of 1 orange overnight or for as many hours as you can. Divide the dough into 2. Roll one of the dough balls into a rectangle. Spread the soaked sultanas on the dough. Roll it up with the long side and divide into 2 to make two medium loaves. Repeat for the remaining dough or bake plain.
10. Place the shaped loaves in the lined baking tins. Leave to proof for 30 minutes until almost doubled in size.
11. Brush lightly with milk, and bake at 175 degrees for 35 mins.
12. Once out of the oven, brush with butter to soften the exterior once cooled. Let the loaf cool before cutting. Enjoy with a cuppa.