Turtle Bread

A yeasted bread that’s shaped like a turtle. Kids love it!

Step: 1

In a small mixing bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.

Step: 2

Heat the milk in a small saucepan until it bubbles, then remove from heat. Add the butter and stir until melted; let cool until lukewarm.

Step: 3

In a large mixing bowl, combine the yeast mixture with the cooled milk, butter, egg, 2 cups flour and salt; beat well to combine. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and supple, about 8 minutes. Cover dough and let rest for 10 minutes.

Step: 4

Divide dough into seven pieces. One round 2 inches in diameter, five rounds 1 inch in diameter and the remainder in one large round.

Step: 5

Place the large round on a lightly greased cookie sheet and flatten slightly. Shape four of the 1 inch rounds into ‘feet’ and one into a ‘tail’ for the turtle. Shape the two inch round into a ‘head’ for the turtle Attach each piece by flattening the end which attaches to the body, wetting it slightly with water and pinching it under the turtle’s ‘body’. Press raisins into the turtle’s head for ‘eyes’.

Step: 6

Cover the turtle with as damp cloth and let rise for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Step: 7

With a sharp knife, make crisscross cuts in the turtle’s body to make the ‘shell’. Finally, use a scissors to make a cut for the turtle’s mouth. Bake at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Per Serving: 112 calories; protein 3.5g; carbohydrates 20.6g; fat 1.5g; cholesterol 15.1mg; sodium 169.5mg.

The quality of the flour can make a real deal to your bread. Different makers do vary. Great taste or Canadian flours, which are bet higher in gluten, may give you a best rise than standard bread flours – especially if you’re make wholemeal bread , which not always getting bigger as well as clear bread.

To made this in a dough , add all the menus to your breadmaker and follow the makers instructions.

A dough’s first rising can be done in the fridge 24 hours . This slows down the time it takes to rise to double its size, giving it a deeper flavour. It’s also a great timesaver , as you can start it night before , then finish it off the next day.