White Bread, the good old fashioned bread made without any preservatives. This is my go-to white bread recipe that yields such a soft bread. It tastes so much better than any store bought bread. 

I have been baking whole wheat bread for years at home. But i never tried my hands on this classic white bread until a year ago. Ever since i had started baking this white bread at home, it's become our family favourite. My kid loves this bread so much and eats as it is without anything on it.

If you're looking for an easy yet fool-proof recipe for white bread, then look no further, here it is ! Do give it a try and i'm sure that you love how incredible it is.

All purpose flour

First thing first, to make  bread you need the flour. Here for this recipe, i'm using the unbleached all purpose flour. 

I have tried this bread with a couple of brands of all purpose flour including the Walmart brand and i didn't find any noticeable difference in the taste and texture of the bread.  So go ahead and use whatever you have  in your home. 

Yeast

Next, to make the bread, you need the yeast. I switched to instant yeast a long time ago for all my baking that needs the yeast because it's so easy to use and you don't need to worry about proofing the yeast.

If you're a beginner in baking, i highly recommend to use the instant yeast over the dry yeast. So far i never experienced the proofing failure in using the instant yeast. 

Tips for beginners 

1. Don't tightly pack the measuring cups with the flour. Spoon the flour into the measuring cup while measuring the flour. Too much flour makes the bread so dense.
2. Depends on the quality of the flour, you may need 1 to 1& 1/4 cups of water. Start with 1 cup and if needed add more. 
3. Kneading the dough is highly important to make soft bread. For kneading the dough, you can use either the dough machine or simply your hands. In this recipe, i have used my hands for kneading and it still yields perfect bread loaf. So don't worry if you don't have a dough kneading machine, still you can make this bread without any compromise in taste and texture :-)
4. Make sure to mix the sugar in the flour before adding the yeast in the flour. Sugar helps to grow the yeast and makes the dough proof. Instead of sugar, you can also use honey.
5. Make sure to use the lukewarm water to make the dough. It helps to activate the yeast fast.

That's it ! Now let's check how to make this incredibly delicious white bread.

White Bread | White Sandwich Bread

Preparation Time : 2 hrs | Cooking Time : 40 mins | Serves : 2 
Recipe Category: Bread | Recipe Cuisine: English
White Bread, White Sandwich Bread White Bread, the good old fashioned bread made without any preservatives.

Sandhiya https://www.facebook.com/SandhiyasCookbook https://www.instagram.com/sandhiyascookbook/

Ingredients

All purpose flour - 3 cups

Sugar - 1 tbsp

Salt - 1 tsp

Instant yeast - 2 tsp

Water - 1 to 1&1/4 cups

Melted Butter - 2 tbsp + 1 tsp

Procedure

In a large bowl, measure and add the flour(don't press the flour while measuring ), next add the sugar and salt. Mix it well with the flour.

Then add the yeast, mix it well with the flour and make a well in the center of the flour.

Add the water(make sure that the water is lukewarm) and butter(2 tbsp). 

Mix it all together with the spatula. Once it all comes together as a single mass, transfer the dough into the counter top.

Start kneading the dough with the kneel of your palm , fold and then knead. Repeat the same for about 10 mins. After 10 mins, you can able to stretch the dough thinly without tearing and see through it. It's called window pane test and the dough should pass it or else knead little more.

Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl and then apply a little bit of melted butter on top of the dough.  Cover the bowl with a lid and set it aside in a warm place for about 50 mins to 1 hr.

After 1 hr, the dough should be doubled. Punch the dough to release the air and then transfer the dough on to the counter top. Roll the dough into a rectangle(8*12 approx) with a rolling pin.

Next start rolling the dough from one side to the other and then pinch the edges so that it sticks together.

Place the dough in a loaf pan and keep it aside for another 30-40 mins. In the meantime, preheat the oven @350 F.

Once the dough is proofed again into double. Apply a little bit of butter on the top and bake it in the preheated oven for 35-40 mins. After 40 mins, take the loaf pan from the oven and place it on a wire rack. 

Once the bread is cooled  down a bit. Cut into slice and enjoy a warm slice of  bread with bread. Yep! That's my way of treating myself for making the homemade bread :-)

Related:How to make Whole Wheat Bread

Notes:

• It stays well for 2-3 days at room temperature.
• You can also freeze this bread. It freezes well and tastes fresh once thawed.

Continue Reading »

Coconut Macaroons, delicious and flavorful cookies made with just two main ingredients such as dried shredded coconut and condensed milk. 

It's one of the easiest bakes that i have made so far. If you have been following me for a while then you may already know that how much i love coconut or anything with coconut. I had been wanting to make these macaroons for a while and finally made them a couple of months ago. As expected, the cookies are so delicious! 

Ever since, i have been making these macaroons regularly at home and it's been my favorite now. It tastes and reminds me of the coconut cookies from the Indian bakeries. If you like coconut flavor then do give it a try !  

Life has been so busy with running around the toddler lately. So everything takes a back seat and i have been struggling to post a recipe in a month :-) But i love to cook/bake with my little one and he's so curious about mixing, pouring and everything that i do in the kitchen. 

Though it takes time and a lot of energy to bake along with the kids, sometimes i do love it. Lastly, he happily poses for the pictures whenever i ask him to hold the food :-)  The below picture has my whole heart ❤️  It's always the little things that make the most beautiful memories, right?

Now coming back to today's recipe, let' see what type of coconut to use 

Coconut Flakes vs Shredded Coconut vs Desiccated coconut. 

All these varieties are dried versions of coconut that's usually available in packets under the baking section in the grocery stores. These dried versions are available as both sweetened and unsweetened. I have used unsweetened coconut. 

Also for this recipe, we want finely shredded coconut. Both finely shredded and desiccated coconut works but desiccated coconut may need little more of condensed milk for the below mentioned quantity in the Ingredients section. 

If you find only coconut flakes that are thick or long stripes then pulse it for a couple of times in a blender/mixie that will help to shape the macaroons better. I have used dried finely shredded coconut flakes  in this recipe.

Ok, now let's check out how to make these delicious macaroons. 

2 Ingredients Coconut Macaroons | Coconut Macaroons with Condensed milk

Preparation Time : 10 mins | Cooking Time : 20 mins | Serves : 2 
Recipe Category: Curry | Recipe Cuisine: Indian
Coconut Macaroons,Coconut Macaroons with Condensend milk,2 Ingredients Coconut Macaroons Coconut Macaroons, delicious and flavorful cookies made with just two main ingredients such as dried shredded coconut and condensed milk.

Sandhiya https://www.facebook.com/SandhiyasCookbook https://www.instagram.com/sandhiyascookbook/

Ingredients

Dried Shredded Coconut(unsweetened) - 1 cup

Condensed milk - 1/4 cup*

Vanilla essence - 1 tsp

Candied Cherries - a few(optional)

*You can use up to 1/3 cup for more sweetness

Procedure

Preheat the oven at 350 F 

In a bowl, add the dried shredded coconut(unsweetened), condensed milk and vanilla essence.

First mix it all with a spatula and then switch to your hands and mix it well until it all combines together.Check whether you're able to make balls from the coconut mixture. If not, add a couple of tsp of condensed milk at a time and check again. Do this until until you're able to form the ball. Even with the same brand of all ingredients, sometimes 1/4 cup of condensed milk is enough for 1 cup of coconut and sometimes it needs more. So depends on the ingredients, you may need more or not.

Next cut the candied cherries into half and keep it aside. Make a small ball out of the coconut mixture and flatten it a bit in your palm.

Place it on the parchment lined baking sheet and then place the cherries on the center for each macaroon. Candied cherries is totally optional. So you can skip it if you don't have it.

Place it in the oven and bake it for 18-20 mins.

Delicious Coconut Macaroons are ready. Let them cool completely and store it in airtight container.

Related: How to make Almond flour Cookies

Notes:

• Macaroons would be soft when they are out of the oven. It firms up once it's completely cooled.
• These macaroons stay crispy for a day or two, after that it became soft. 
• Cherries are totally optional, so you can skip that if you don't want to use them.

Continue Reading »

Chocolate Croissants using Puff Pastry | Chocolate Croissants

Chocolate Croissants, a delicious pastry filled with chocolate. Croissants are a style of viennoiserie pastries which uses yeast as a leavening agent and these kinds of pastries are mostly served as breakfast or as snacks. 

Traditional Croissants take hours to make and it's really a labour of love kind of pastries. If you have followed my blog for a while, you would already knew how much i like to bake with puff pastry . So today, in this recipe, i'm using store bought puff pastry to make these delicious chocolate croissants.

I'm not gonna lie that it tastes just like traditional croissants, but it tastes awesome in its own way and it's really tasty, flaky, light  & would be ready in 30 mins ! What else you need for  sudden cravings, right?

Before moving on to the recipe, let's check out some FAQs.

Which brand of puff pasty am i using in this recipe?

I have used "Tender Flake" brand puff pastry for this recipe and also i tried this recipe with "Pepperridge farm" brand puff pastry in the past and both work really well. 

Also, you can use the homemade puff pastry too ! 

Can i make these croissants without using egg/egg wash?

Yes, you can make them. Instead of egg, you can add a tsp of sugar in the milk and apply it on the top of puff sheets.

Egg wash is only for the color on the outside, you can totally omit it if you don't want.

What type of chocolate tastes best with these Croissants?

Use your favorite chocolate anything like milk chocolate , semi sweet or dark chocolate. But make sure to not overfill the pastries. Otherwise it spews out of the pastries while baking.

How can i store the leftover croissants?

You can store the leftover croissants in a ziplock bag in the refrigerator for 2-3 days and for more days freeze it. 

Just before serving, just microwave it for 10 secs, it will be ready !

Now let's check out how to make these delicious Chocolate Croissants.

Chocolate Croissants using Puff Pastry

Preparation Time : 20 mins | Cooking Time : 25 mins | Serves : 8 
Recipe Category: Breakfast | Recipe Cuisine: Austrian
Chocolate Croissants using Puff Pastry, Chocolate Croissants Chocolate Croissants, a delicious pastry filled with chocolate.

Sandhiya https://www.facebook.com/SandhiyasCookbook https://www.instagram.com/sandhiyascookbook/

Ingredients

Puff Pastry - 1 sheet

Milk Chocolate /Dark Chocolate / Semi Dark Chocolate - 1 bar or as you needed

*Egg yolk -1 (optional)

Milk - 1 tbsp

* See FAQs at the top of the post for eggless version.

Procedure

Preheat the oven at 400F.

Take a puff pastry(make sure that it's in room temperature) , sprinkle some dry all purpose flour/maida  on the top and roll into rectangle as shown in the pic below.

Next cut the rolled sheets horizontally into four rectangles using pizza cutter or knife and then cut each rectangle diagonally into two. In the end, you will get 8 triangle pieces.

Then cut the chocolate into little chunks and place the needed chocolate(don't add more chocolate, it will come out of the croissants while baking) on the larger side of the triangle and start rolling tightly till the end.

Do the same for all the puff pastry pieces. 

Then arrange it on the foil lined/ parchment lined baking sheet and place the croissant on it. Make sure to have enough space in between them since it will expand while baking. Next crack open the egg and place the yolk alone in a bowl, add the milk and beat it smoothly with a fork.

Apply egg wash on the croissants and place the tray on the oven. Bake it for 20-25 mins. 

Tada, Yummy Chocolate Croissants is ready ! 

Related: How to make Apple Turnovers using Puff Pastry

Notes:

• Make sure to cool it completely before store it. 
• Taste best when it's out of oven.

Continue Reading »

Irish Soda Bread | Mini Irish Soda Bread

Irish Soda Bread, a traditional bread from Ireland and it's one of the common breads made in Irish households all over Ireland. This  mini Irish Soda Bread is a perfect bread to bake at instant without yeast and no need to wait for proofing the dough.  

Traditional Irish Soda Bread needs only four ingredients like flour, buttermilk, baking soda and salt. All the other ingredients like eggs, butter, raisins or any other dried fruits are all added to enhance flavor and taste.

Compared to the yeast breads, this Irish soda bread is a little dense but the taste and flavor are amazing. The buttermilk used in this recipe truly elevates the bread flavor to the whole new level.

This mini Irish soda bread is perfect for two people however this recipe can be easily doubled and quadrupled as you need. I have been making this bread for a while now and i really love how quickly it comes together and how versatile this bread is. 

This Irish soda bread can be made as savory or as sweet. For savory versions, skip the raisins and reduce the sugar quantity to 1/2 tbsp. Savory Soda bread makes a nice accompaniment to the meal or as sides for the soup.

Adding raisins makes the bread mildly sweet and makes it suitable for breakfast or even as a snack. I really love my soda bread with a cup of tea for the evening. Don't know about the tradition on how to eat this bread, but trust me with a cup of Indian chai, it tastes so good. 

Related : How to make mini whole wheat loaf 

Before moving on to the recipe, let's answer the most common questions about the Irish Soda Bread.

Why is it called as Irish Soda Bread? 

Most commonly, breads are made with yeast as a leavening agent. But Irish Soda bread has baking soda as a leavening agent so in order to differentiate from the rest of the breads, it's known as "Soda Bread" and this bread is quite popular in Ireland, so it's known as "Irish Soda Bread" for the rest of the world. 

Any substitute for Buttermilk ?

No, Buttermilk is the key ingredient for this soda bread. The acidity in the buttermilk reacts with soda and it helps to raise the bread.

If you don't have buttermilk, take a 1/2 cup of milk and add 1 tsp of lemon juice and rest it aside for 10 mins. Once it seems curdled, whisk it well and use it as the recipe mentioned.

Related : How to make pistachios baklava 

Does baking powder work for this recipe?

Again No !! This recipe works only with baking soda !

How long can I store the Irish Soda Bread ?

It stays well for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. For more days, you can freeze the bread!

Any other tips of beginners 

• Don't knead the dough like other bread dough. Once it all comes together, immediately shape them and it's good to go in the oven.
• Preheat the oven before starting mixing the dough because the baking soda starts to act quickly, so it's better to get the oven ready ahead. 
• Making a cross on the dough helps to get that rustic look on the bread. 

Ok, let's check out on how to make this super quick Irish Soda Bread

  

 

Mini Irish Soda Bread

Preparation Time : 10 mins | Cooking Time : 40 mins | Serves : 2 
Recipe Category: Bread | Recipe Cuisine: Irish
Irish Soda Bread, Mini Irish Soda Bread, Soda Bread with raisins, Raisin Soda Bread, Soda Bread Irish Soda Bread, a traditional bread from Ireland and it's one of the common breads made in Irish households all over Ireland.

Sandhiya https://www.facebook.com/SandhiyasCookbook https://www.instagram.com/sandhiyascookbook/

Ingredients

All purpose flour - 1 cup

Buttermilk - 1/2 cup

Sugar - 1 tbsp

Cold Butter - 1 tbsp

Salt - 1/4 tsp

Baking soda -1/4 tsp

Raisins - 2 tbsp

Procedure

First preheat the oven at 375 F. In a bowl add the flour, sugar and salt.

Next add the baking soda and mix it well together. 

Then add the cold butter and mix it with the flour well with your hands until the butter is well incorporated into the flour.  The flour should look like crumble.

Next add the raisins and buttermilk. Mix it well with your hands until it all comes together. 

Transfer the dough onto  the working surface, sprinkle some flour to avoid sticking to your hands and make it as round. Grease the baking pan/ cast iron pan with butter. I have used 5 inches cast iron pan.

Transfer the dough to the cast iron pan and make a cross on the top of the dough with a sharp knife. Place it in the oven and bake it for 35- 40 mins or until the top turns golden brown and tapping the bread makes a hollow sound.

Transfer the bread into the cooling rack and let it cool completely. Cut and serve ! 

Delicious Irish Soda Bread is ready.  Check out more Baking Recipes !

Related : How to make shortbread cookies

Notes:

• Cut the needed butter into small pieces and keep it in the freezer. It would be easy to mix it with the flour
• Keep an eye on the oven around 35 mins because every oven is little different.
• While measuring flour, don't pack the flour down and don't tap the measuring cup. Always spoon the flour and add into the cup.
• You can make this bread without raisins too. 

Continue Reading »