Fun to make, enchanting to serve and lovely to eat, this brioche-style bread is an all-round win. Making the interlocking heart shapes can be a little challenging but who said the path of true love should run smooth?
This recipe first appeared in my Entertaining cookbook in the Romantic chapter.
Makes: 2 heart-shaped loaves
Time: 2 hours
Ingredients
- 60 grams (2 oz) unsalted butter, cut into pieces, plus extra for greasing
- 130 grams (4.5 oz) full cream milk
- 1 tsp dried instant yeast
- 20 grams (2 tbsp) sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp salt flakes
- 220 grams (1 ½ cups) baker’s flour
- 20 grams (2 tbsp) walnuts, cut into pieces
Method
1. Grease a large bowl with butter and set aside.
2. Place butter and milk into mixing bowl and heat 3 min/60°C (140°F)/speed 1.
Without a Thermomix, warm butter and milk gently in a small saucepan, stirring to combine.
3. Add yeast, sugar and egg and mix 10 sec/speed 3.
Without a Thermomix, transfer butter mixture to a bowl and stir with yeast, sugar and lightly whisked egg.
4. Add salt and flour and Knead/3 min.
Without a Thermomix, use a dough hook in a mixer to knead through flour and salt, or knead by hand until mixture is glossy, smooth and elastic.
5. Transfer dough into prepared bowl, cover with a kitchen towel and allow to rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
6. Preheat oven to 40°C (100°F) or lowest setting. Line a baking tray (30 x 40cm / 12-16 in) with baking paper and set aside. Divide dough into 2 portions and roll into thin logs (approx. 3cm (1.2 in) diameter). Form each log into a heart shape and interlink. Place onto prepared baking tray, sprinkle with walnuts and bake for 20 minutes.
7. Increase oven temperature to 190°C (375°F) and bake for a further 15 minutes or until bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped. Serve warm or allow to cool completely before serving.
Tips
- If preparing ahead of time, you can let the dough rest for 8 hours or overnight in the refrigerator before continuing with step 5.
- Add a little saffron to the milk mixture for a richer coloured bread.
- The bread will rise in the oven; thinner logs will result in more distinct heart shapes.
- Scatter the loaves with rose petals for extra romantic flourish.
More about this recipe
- For more great ideas for romantic meals, have a look at my Food is Love page.
