The Fresh Loaf

A Community of Amateur Bakers and Artisan Bread Enthusiasts.

Challenged

Pharmerphil's picture
Pharmerphil

Challenged

I suppose everyone here has seen one of those 'bread Slice' cookie cutters.

Most kids would be satisfied with using one to cut one out of a plain slice of bread; Not these kids!

I bake, spent a whole lot of time getting dough to rise, so how, or what would I do to make a dough that rises just a bit (thinner) , yet have a sandwich bread type texture, that I can use this cutter on

David R's picture
David R

... about what you want to make.

 

All you need to make this work, I think, is bread that is bigger than the cutter.

Pharmerphil's picture
Pharmerphil

Yes, that is the answer, if I just want to make a loaf, cut a slice and use the cutter.

What I am wanting to try though is to have a dough, that I can roll out, cut several "cut outs' and bake; maintaining the shape (without the darn thing getting deformed and too 'puffy')

FueledByCoffee's picture
FueledByCoffee

It's going to be a little tricky.  Cutters like this are typically used for sugar cookie not for bread dough.  My advice would be to make your dough a little softer than you would for a typical loaf.  Allow it to bulk ferment for a descent period of time and don't add too much strength with folds.  You are going to want to process it almost like a ciabatta.  If you are putting the dough on the table and trying to spread it and it is pulling back heavily then you are doomed to lose the shape.  If you are stretching the dough and it is pulling back then just cover it and let it rest.  After you have cut I would proof 75% of the way and then put them in the fridge for an hour or so.  This should help the dough relax further before going into the oven and should help it maintain that shape a little better than if you were to bake it without the fridge time.  This seems like a bit of a weird project but I hope you are able to achieve your goal!  If you have a formula you are using go ahead and post it and some pictures of your results, could help with getting some more pointed advice.

Pharmerphil's picture
Pharmerphil

And a knowledgeable one it is!

We test fired a batch yesterday, using a dough somewhat like a pizza dough. I agree, the fermentation could have been longer, and I did think on the second pan that refrigerating would be a good thing;

at first it did want to pull back, but after a longer rest, I was able to get it pulled/rolled out and cut.

You are absolutely correct, the first cuts that did pull back (some) lost their shape, to an extent, some came out near perfect in shape, others puffed, almost to a Pita type bread.

The taste and texture was not quite what I was hoping for, need to lean; as You said,  more towards a ciabatta type dough

It is a weird project, but Hey, it's Cold, and we are fairly snowed in, here's a pic of the results (I am NOT a photographer

The one on the right was one of the first in which the dough was pulling back a bit and it lost it's shape

they tasted like pizza dough or bread sticks so the wife brushed them with EVVO and herbs

David R's picture
David R

...like alien bread beings from outer space! ?

 

Interesting - sorry I misunderstood.

Pharmerphil's picture
Pharmerphil

Np problem, admittedly...not my best work :)  By the way...I couldn't find the emoticons?