I must admit, I LOVE bread. Biscuits, white, whole wheat, rolls – you name it, I’ve probably made it. I taught myself how to bake the perfect homemade bread a while back, and it has totally changed my outlook! Not only does it taste better than store-bought, it’s also not as hard as it looks and will make you feel wonderfully accomplished. Once I had mastered making my own bread, I wanted to get creative with it – cue my watermelon look-alike raisin bread! This bread is fun, different and will certainly impress whoever you serve it to.
Ingredients
Milk – Any type you have handy will work. Butter – I like to use unsalted. Sugar – Regular granulated sugar. Salt – Use more or less per your own discretion. Yeast – I used instant yeast. If you use active yeast, you will have to proof is by mixing it with the warm milk and 1 tsp sugar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes or until bubbly. Egg – I used a large egg. Flour – All purpose flour works best, however bread flour will be okay if that’s what you have. Raisins – These are your watermelon seeds! Other dark dried fruit like craisins or dried cranberries will work, but the shape of raisins work best for replicating watermelon seeds. Food Coloring – I used red and green for this bread. Use any type of food coloring you prefer.
How to make watermelon bread
Making the Dough
Baking the Bread
Tips for Making Perfect Bread
Read the Instructions – It’s so important to follow the full recipe instructions to ensure your bread comes out perfectly! Take your time and read through the recipe thoroughly. Prep Your Ingredients – It helps immensely to lay out your ingredients beforehand. I find that laying out everything I need first, makes the process much faster and easier. It helps to have everything at the tip of your fingers so you aren’t leaving your dough out while trying to find something. Don’t Over-Knead – Kneading is VERY important in how your bread will turn out. You don’t want it too sticky, too soft or too firm. It needs to be just the right texture. It does take time to be able to determine the perfect bread consistency but practice makes perfect! Take your time and knead gently. Keep an Eye on Your Bread – One of the most common mistakes when it comes to bread or baking in general, is tossing it in the oven and leaving it. Make sure you keep a watchful eye on how your bread is baking so you can adjust the temperature or time if needed. Practice Makes Perfect! – Don’t fret if your bread doesn’t turn out perfectly the first time you make it, you aren’t alone. It can help to keep notes on what you did the last time to go back and see what went wrong and what you could do differently. Baking should be fun, so don’t stress!
How Long Does Homemade Bread Last?
It’s best to store your watermelon bread at room temperature in a cool, dry place – this will allow it to keep for up to 2-4 days. Heat and humidity cause homemade bread to mold and storing it in the refrigerator can cause it to turn stale quickly. To keep your bread soft, store in an airtight plastic bag.
Can I Freeze Homemade Bread?
Yes you can! If you are going to freeze your bread, make sure you freeze it at it’s freshest. Make sure to allow it to cool before freezing to avoid soggy bread or mold! You can keep your homemade bread in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Looking for More Bread Recipes? Try These!
No Knead Bread Chocolate Apple Pie Monkey Bread Zucchini Bread Easy Cornbread Recipe Slow Cooker Bread Buttermilk Parmesan Biscuits Sunflower and Flax Seed Whole Wheat Cast Iron Bread Honey Rolls Healthy Whole Wheat Banana Nut Bread Sunflower Bread No Knead Cast Iron Whole Wheat Bread
