Easy Ghana Butter Bread Recipe
This easy authentic Ghana butter bread recipe has all the qualities of the perfect Ghanaian butter bread for making a sandwich or eating alone.
Equipment
- Measuring scale
Ingredients
- 5 cups bread flour hard flour
- ¼ cup white sugar granulated sugar
- ½ cup butter softened
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1¼ cups water warm
- 3 teaspoons dry instant yeast
Instructions
- Step 1: Activate the Yeast by Proofing
- Whisk the warm water, warm milk, yeast, and a tablespoon of sugar together in a bowl or large measuring cup. Cover and allow to sit for 5 minutes. After 5-10 minutes, the mixture should be foamy. If not, the yeast is dead and should be tossed.
- Step 2: Preparing the Bread Dough
- In a large mixing bowl or a bowl of your stand mixer, add all the dry ingredients and mix on low with the paddle attachment until everything is combined. You can use a whisk to mix if you don’t have a stand mixer. Add the softened butter to the flour mixture and mix to distribute the butter evenly. Then, add the yeast mixture to the flour mixture using the dough hook attachment, and mix on medium speed until the dough comes together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl, about 2 minutes. You can also do the mixing with a wooden spoon or spatula with a bit of elbow grease.
- Step 3: Kneading the Dough
- Continue to knead the dough for about an extra 5- 7 minutes to develop the gluten. The gluten helps the bread dough to rise well and produces soft and fluffy dough. You can also knead the dough by hand, and will take longer time than the stand mixer.
- Step 4: Shape the dough.
- As said earlier this dough requires only one rise, so Lightly grease a large bowl with olive oil or nonstick spray. Place the dough in the bowl, turning it to coat all sides in the oil. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and allow the dough to rest for 10 minutes which helps the gluten that has developed to relax and helps work with the dough.
- While the dough rest, prepare two 8x 5 inches pans with easy pan release or vegetable oil and flour. Lightly flour a work surface, your hands, and a rolling pin. Roll the dough out into a large rectangle, about 8×15 inches. Roll it up into an 8-inch log, seal the edges, and place in the prepared loaf pan with seam side down.
- Step 5: Rising Time
- Cover the dough with tea or a kitchen towel and allow it to rise for about one or an hour and a half. You can proof the dough in an oven. I usually turn on the oven light, and that produces enough heat for the dough. You can also place the dough in the microwave with hot water, which will produce enough heat to proof the dough.
- Step 6: Bake the Bread
- While the dough is still proofing, preheat your oven to 350 F.
- Bake the bread for 30-34 minutes or until golden brown on top. If you gently tap on the loaf, it should sound hollow. You can use an instant-read thermometer to read the center of the loaf at 195°F (90°C).
- Remove from the oven and transfer onto a cooling rack. Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing. Serve and enjoy
Notes
Storage and Freezing Instructions
You’ll want to store leftover bread in an airtight container at room temperature for about 3 days. Freezing Instruction Allow the bread to cool completely, then freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature and use it as desired. I like to slice the bread before freezing to thaw just the quantity I need.
You’ll want to store leftover bread in an airtight container at room temperature for about 3 days. Freezing Instruction Allow the bread to cool completely, then freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature and use it as desired. I like to slice the bread before freezing to thaw just the quantity I need.
Nutrition
Serving: 1sliceCalories: 107kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 3gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 104mgPotassium: 37mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 9IUVitamin C: 0.003mgCalcium: 10mgIron: 0.2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!