Wreath Bread Recipe (VIDEO)

This wreath bread has a crispy crackly crust and super soft, spongy center. It will rival the taste and texture of your favorite fancy restaurant rolls.

We used our favorite Crusty French bread as the base (super easy with very little active time). Forming it into a Christmas Wreath Bread is beautiful and so special for the holidays. It not only looks amazing, but tastes like it came out of a high end French bakery – holiday worthy!

TIP: Serve it as an edible centerpiece on your holiday table and your guests will be so impressed.

P.S. It’s easy!! Watch the video tutorial and you will quickly realize YOU CAN DO THIS!!

Watch How to Make Wreath Bread:

Did you hear that crunch? This isn’t just a show-stopping “pretty” bread, but really tastes incredible!

Ingredients for Wreath Bread:

1 3/4 cups (14 oz) warm water (100˚F)
1/2 tsp molasses
2 1/2 cups (315 grams) unbleached all-purpose flour, measured correctly*
2 1/3 cups (290 grams) unbleached bread flour* plus more for dusting
2 tsp salt
1 1/4 tsp instant yeast (quick rise)

*To measure flour correctly, spoon into a dry ingredients measuring cup and level the top with the blunt edge of a knife.

P.S. I have included Amazon affiliate links to our favorite tools below.

How to Make Wreath Bread:

1. In a large measuring cup, stir together 1 3/4 cups warm water (100˚F) and 1/2 tsp molasses and stir until dissolved.

2. In a large mixing bowl, add 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 1/3 cups bread flour, 2 tsp salt, and 1 1/4 tsp yeast, whisking until combined. Add water-molasses mixture and stir with a spatula until it comes together. Knead by hand 4 minutes. Dough should be soft and sticky to the touch but won’t stick to clean fingertips. If dough is too sticky, add flour 1 Tbsp at a time (I usually add 2-3 Tbsp extra flour while kneading).

3. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise at room temp (69˚F – 75˚F) for 4 hours. Every hour, punch down dough with a wet hand and fold it over onto itself a few times.

Note: a wet hand will keep the dough from sticking to your hands without adding unnecessary flour.

4. After the 4 hours of rising time, punch down the dough one last time and pinch it in the center to divide into two even pieces. Generously dust 2 pieces of parchment paper with flour. Place each dough piece on it’s own sheet of parchment, turning it to coat in flour. Poke a hole in the center of the dough piece and stretch the dough into a ring about 5-6″ diameter in the center and 9-10″ diameter on the outside. Let the rings rest on parchment at room temperature 30 minutes.

5. Meanwhile, place an upside-down large baking sheet in the center of your oven with a cast iron or broiler pan on to one side of the bottom rack. With pans in place, preheat oven to 450˚F.

CAUTION: Do not use glass on the bottom rack – you will add ice cubes once the pan is fully preheated which can cause glass to shatter.

6. Sprinkle the top of dough ring with flour. Holding kitchen scissors at a 45˚ angle to the parchment paper, cut deep slits into the dough about 1 1/2″ apart, pulling the points away from the ring as you cut them. Rotate the parchment paper as you slice to maintain the correct cutting angle.

7. Transfer your bread (with the parchment paper) to the preheated oven onto the hot baking sheet and immediately pour 1 cup of ice cubes into the hot cast iron pan on the bottom rack (be careful not to drip on glass surfaces!). Bake at 450˚F for 20 minutes or until top is golden brown. Repeat step 7 with the second ring.

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DIY Wreath Bread (VIDEO)

5.0 from 10 reviews
Prep time: 4 hours 40 mins Cook time: 20 mins Total time: 5 hours
How to Make a Wreath Bread with DIY video! Wreath bread has a crisp crackly crust and super soft center. Surprisingly easy and impressive for Christmas!
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com Skill Level: Easy Cost To Make: $2-$4 Serving: 2 wreath breads

Ingredients

• 1¾ cups (14 oz) warm water (100˚F)
• ½ tsp molasses
• 2½ cups (315 grams) unbleached all-purpose flour, measured correctly*
• 2⅓ cups (290 grams) unbleached bread flour, measured correctly,* plus more for dusting
• 2 tsp salt
• 1¼ tsp instant yeast (quick rise)

Instructions

1. In a large measuring cup, combine 1¾ cups warm water (100˚F) and ½ tsp molasses and stir to dissolve.
2. In a large mixing bowl, add 2½ cups all-purpose flour, 2⅓ cups bread flour, 2 tsp salt, and 1¼ tsp yeast, whisking until combined. Add water-molasses mixture and stir with spatula until it comes together. Knead by hand 4 min. Dough should be soft and sticky to the touch but won't stick to clean fingertips. If dough is too sticky, add flour 1 Tbsp at a time (I usually add 2-3 Tbsp extra flour while kneading).
3. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise at room temp (69˚F - 75˚F) 4 hours. Every hour, punch down dough with wet hand and fold it onto itself a few times.
4. After the 4 hours of rising time, punch down dough one last time and pinch it in the center to divide into two even pieces. Generously dust 2 pieces of parchment paper with flour. Place dough on parchment, turning it to coat in flour. Poke a hole in the center of each the dough piece and stretch dough into a ring 5-6" diameter in the center and 9-10" diameter on the outside. Let the rings rest on parchment at room temp 30 min.
5. Meanwhile, place an upside-down large baking sheet in the center of your oven with a cast iron or broiler pan** set to one side of the bottom rack. With pans in place, preheat oven to 450˚F.
6. Sprinkle the top of dough ring with flour. Holding scissors at a 45˚ angle to the parchment paper, cut deep slits into the dough about 1½" apart, pulling the points away from the ring as you cut them. Rotate the parchment paper as you slice to maintain correct cutting angle.
7. Transfer 1 ring (with the parchment paper) to the preheated oven onto the hot baking sheet and immediately pour 1 cup ice cubes into the hot cast iron pan below (be careful not to drip on glass surfaces!). Bake at 450˚F for 20 min or until top is golden brown. Repeat step 7 with second ring.

Notes

*To measure flour correctly, spoon into a dry ingredients measuring cup and level the top with the blunt edge of a knife.
**CAUTION: Do not use glass or ceramic on the bottom rack - you will add ice cubes once the pan is fully preheated which can cause glass to shatter. 3.5.3229

I hope you all have a beautiful and Merry Christmas!! If you make this wreath bread and share a picture, let me know about it!! If you need more ideas for your holiday menu, check out our Christmas recipes here.

Christmas Blessings to you!

Love,

-Natasha, Vadim and the littles

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