Good for your soul

This was a fun bread to make! I wasn’t sure if it would be difficult or not when I read the directions but it was actually super easy and seeing how it turned out, very satisfying!!

You do need to have sour dough starter and you need crystallized ginger. I had a hard time finding the ginger so I ordered it online.

The directions say to add the ingredients in order to your mix master. I did, and then went to do something else for minute. When I came back , the dough was in a ball! It was that easy! You need to let the mixer kneed for 6-8 minutes at a slow speed, (or you can do it by hand.) Then you let the dough rise for 1 – 1 1/2 hours.

The part that is super cool is making it look like a pumpkin. You need to buy food safe heatproof cotton string. I ordered this online too. You just cut 4 pieces 18 inches long. You tie them together in the middle with a knot. Then you dip the strings in oil (I used olive oil) leaving about 2 inches near your hands without oil. You place the string on the greased baking pan lined with parchment paper. Put the knot in the center and space the strings out evenly.

When the dough has risen for 1 – 1 1/2 hours and is puffy, punch it down and shape into a ball. Put it seam side down on top of the strings. Bring the strings together at the top of the dough and knot them or clip them together leaving about 3/4 inch space for the dough to rise. Cover and let rise again for 1 -1 /2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350. When the dough has risen the second time, brush with an egg and 3 T water. Then you use a small sharp knife to cut a line a 1/2 inch deep in between each string from bottom to top.

Bake 50 -55 minutes. I put my thermometer in the center so I could keep track of when it reached 190 degrees. The bread will turn light golden brown, and when you tap the underside of it, it will sound hollow.

When the bread cools, cut the strings and insert a cinnamon stick for a stem.

The bread stores well wrapped for up to 3 days!

So cute, easy and fun! Enjoy!

https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/sourdough-ginger-pumpkin-bread-recipe