Fennel Seed and Orange Peel Bread

The delicious and fragrant pairing of fennel seed and orange zest combine in these homemade bread loaves.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 45 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 184 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
• 2 cups milk, scalded
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 egg white, slightly beaten
• 1.5 teaspoons salt
• 0.33333334326744 cup honey
• 0.5 cup warm water (100 degrees F (38 degrees C))
• 7.5 cups unsifted white bread flour, divided
• 1.5 teaspoons grated orange zest
• 1.5 teaspoons crushed fennel seeds
• 0.25 cup butter, melted and cooled to lukewarm

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Pour scalded milk over honey, maple syrup, and salt in a large bowl. Let cool to lukewarm, 2 to 3 minutes.

Step 2

Soften yeast in warm water in a bowl until frothy, about 5 minutes. Combine with milk mixture. Beat in 2 cups flour, orange zest, and fennel seeds using an electric mixer. Blend in butter. Stir in 5 cups flour to make a soft dough.

Step 3

Sprinkle last 1/2 cup flour on a board; turn dough onto floured board and knead until smooth, about 5 minutes. Place dough in a greased bowl; turn dough over to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.

Step 4

Punch dough down and divide in half. Shape loaves. Place in 2 lightly greased bread pans. Cover and let rise until almost doubled in size, about 45 minutes.

Step 5

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Brush tops of loaves with egg white.

Step 6

Bake loaves in the preheated oven until a toothpick or knife inserted into the center of a loaf comes out clean, about 45 minutes.