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Vampire Rainbow Swirl Bread Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 127 reviews

Vampire Bread is a visually striking, colorful loaf made by layering dyed dough before baking. This soft and slightly sweet yeast bread features swirls of black and red dough that create a dramatic effect, perfect for Halloween or themed parties. The bread is prepared with a classic yeast dough enriched with reduced fat milk, butter, and egg yolk, then colored with food coloring and baked to perfection. It can be kneaded by hand, with a mixer, or prepared in a bread machine for convenience.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 1 cup hot reduced fat milk
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Black food coloring
  • Red food coloring

Instructions

  1. Mix Milk and Egg: In a small bowl, whisk together the hot reduced fat milk and the egg yolk to combine well.
  2. Warm Mixture: Place the bowl in the microwave for 25-30 seconds to slightly warm the mixture, then set aside.
  3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl or the base of a stand mixer, whisk together the all-purpose flour, sugar, and active dry yeast.
  4. Add Wet Ingredients: Add the warmed milk and egg mixture, butter, and salt to the flour mixture. Stir to combine into a dough.
  5. Knead the Dough: Knead by hand on a floured surface for about 10 minutes, or use the hook attachment on a stand mixer and knead for approximately 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
  6. Divide Dough: Separate the dough into 2 to 3 equal portions, placing each into its own small bowl, then cover with a tea towel to prevent drying.
  7. Color the Dough: Remove one dough portion at a time and knead in desired amounts of black or red food coloring using your hands or a spatula until fully colored.
  8. First Rise: Cover the colored dough pieces again with a tea towel and allow them to rise until doubled in size, approximately 1 1/2 hours.
  9. Punch Down Dough: Once risen, punch down the dough to release air, then transfer to a lightly floured surface.
  10. Prepare Dough Layers: Divide the dough evenly into four portions. Drop food coloring onto each portion as desired for additional color layering. Roll each piece into an 8×4 inch rectangle.
  11. Layer Dough: Stack the rolled rectangles over one another in a color order of your choice to create the layered look.
  12. Form the Loaf: Lightly coat a 9×5 inch loaf pan with non-stick baking spray or line with parchment paper. Roll the stacked dough tightly from the short end into a loaf shape and place it into the prepared pan.
  13. Second Rise: Cover the loaf with a tea towel and let it rise again until doubled, about 1 hour.
  14. Preheat Oven: When the dough has risen, preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and remove the tea towel from the loaf.
  15. Bake: Bake the loaf in the oven for about 30 minutes or until fully cooked through and golden brown on top.
  16. Cool and Slice: Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool completely in the pan before slicing into 12 pieces to preserve the internal swirled colors.

Notes

  • Use reduced fat milk warmed but not hot to activate the yeast without killing it.
  • Ensure the dough is kneaded until smooth and elastic for best texture.
  • Food coloring can be adjusted for intensity; gel colors provide vibrant hues without thinning the dough.
  • Letting the dough rise fully twice ensures a tender and well-risen bread.
  • Cool completely before slicing to maintain the defined colored layers inside.
  • You may use a bread machine’s dough cycle for convenience, but the layered color step should still be done by hand before the final rise and baking.
  • The loaf pan size is important to maintain shape; adjust baking time slightly if using different pans.

Keywords: Vampire Bread, colored bread, layered bread, Halloween bread, yeast bread, festive bread

Find it online: https://www.cheftara.com/vampire-rainbow-swirl-bread-recipe/