Creole Bread
Makes medium-sized 2 loaves or 16 buns
2 packages dry yeast
¼ cup warm water
4 cups whole wheat flour
3 heaping tablespoons gluten flour
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
1 13.5-ounce can low fat coconut milk or fat free evaporated milk
5 tablespoons spread with plant stanols
added, divided
1/3 cup raisins
3 tablespoons mixed grated fresh peel
(lemon, orange, lime)
¼
cup chopped pecans
½
teaspoon sugar
Combine water and yeast and allow to stand for 10 minutes.
In a large bowl, mix flours, brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, and salt. Add low fat coconut milk
(or fat free evaporated milk), 2 tablespoons spread and yeast mixture. Dough should form a slightly
sticky ball. Add more flour if dough is too sticky, or add orange juice or water if too stiff.
Knead in raisins and grated peel. Continue kneading for at least 10 minutes. Spray
dough with cooking spray and allow to stand in warm place for 1 – 2 hours, or until doubled in size. (Alternatively,
after yeast and water are mixed together, throw all the ingredients for the bread into a bowl and knead bread with a heavy
duty mixer.)
Knead dough for 5 minutes. Press into an oblong shape and coat with
1 tablespoon spread. Sprinkle with pecans and sugar. Roll into a long loaf.
For loaves: Cut loaf in half and place each half in a prepared loaf
pan. Roll dough in greased bread pans to coat all sides. Press into loaf shape inside
pan.
For buns: Slice dough loaf into 1
inch slices. Arrange slices in a greased large baking sheet. Spray with cooking spray.
Allow to stand for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
Bake bread at 350 degrees for
30 - 40 minutes and buns for 20 minutes, or until dough sounds hollow when you tap on it and is golden brown.
If a shiny crust is desired on the buns, mix 1 teaspoon natural sugar with 1 tablespoon water and spread over crust
about 5 minutes before removing from oven.