Crusty English Bloomer Bread

Whether you're a beginning baker or an expert, you will enjoy making this simple recipe for crusty English bloomer bread.  Enjoy it with sweet or savory toppings, or with butter.

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Questions

What is a bloomer loaf?

A bloomer loaf is a cylindrical English bread with diagonal slashes on top.  Most bloomers have a thick, crunchy crust and a soft, white interior.  For more information, check out this article from Cook's Info.

Why is it called a "bloomer"?

The term refers to the way the loaf is shaped.  Instead of being put into a pan like many breads, it's shaped and allowed to rise free form-- called "blooming."

Can I freeze it?

Yes, you absolutely can freeze leftover bread.  Simply seal it inside of a zip-top freezer bag, press out the extra air, and freeze for up to 1 month.  Defrost at room temperature or in the toaster.

How to Make

Measure out all five ingredients: bread flour, salt, yeast, butter, and water.

Add the salt and yeast on opposite sides of the bowl, then stir them in with your finger.  Add the butter, then gradually add the water and mix until a sticky dough forms.

Knead the dough until it's smooth, stretchy, and passes the windowpane test.  It also should lose some of its stickiness.

Place the dough in a buttered bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let it prove at room temperature until at least doubled in size, 1 ½ to 2 hours.

Punch down the dough all over, then shape into a rectangle.

Fold the ends into the center.

Roll up the dough tightly from one of the long sides to create the bloomer shape.

Place the loaf on a cookie sheet, cover, and let rise until nearly doubled in size, about 1 hour.

Cut a few diagonal slashes on top of the loaf with a sharp serrated knife or baker's lame, then bake at 425 F for 30 minutes.  Lower the heat to 400 F and bake for another 10-15 minutes.  Let it cool on a wire rack for at least 45 minutes before slicing to allow it to finish baking inside.

Pro Tips

• Keep the salt away from the yeast when you're making the dough, since it can kill or retard the yeast's growth.
• Add the water to the flour mixture a little at a time.  The brand of flour you're using can affect the amount of water you need in the dough, so go by feel and not measurement.  The dough should be sticky enough to get your fingers messy!
• Knead thoroughly.  Make sure the dough passes the windowpane test before you allow the dough to rise (called proving).  See the recipe below for an explanation of this technique.
• Prove slowly.  The longer the dough rests, the more flavor it will have.  If you're in a hurry, just make the dough the night before and let it rise in the fridge overnight.  You can shape, prove, and bake the bloomer the following day.
• Roll up the dough tightly when you shape the bloomer.  A tight roll will help the dough rise up instead of out, creating a much more attractive bloomer.

Recommended Tools

• Bread Flour: this is one of the most important ingredients in this recipe.
• Cookie Sheet: this light colored baking tray bakes evenly and washes up easily.
• Cutting Board: this bamboo board is roomy enough to knead dough on.
• Digital Thermometer: with this tool, you'll know for sure if your bread is cooked.
• Cooling Racks: they'll keep your baked goods crisp as they cool.

Other Breads to Enjoy

• Cob Loaf
• Waterford Blaa Buns
• Mountain Bread
• Rosemary Bread
• Whole Wheat Molasses Bread

The pleasure of a 5-star review for this recipe would be greatly appreciated.

Recipe

Crusty English Bloomer Bread

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5 from 1 reviews

• Author: Emma
• Prep Time: 35 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Total Time: 3 hours 45 minutes
• Yield: 1 large loaf 1x

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Description

This classic English bloomer bread is the perfect yeast recipe for beginners—it only takes 5 ingredients!  Learn how to make one crusty loaf with a Kitchenaid mixer or by hand.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 4 cups + 3 tablespoons bread flour (500g)
• 3 teaspoons fast-action yeast (10g)
• 2 teaspoons salt (10g)
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened (43g)
• 1 ⅓ cup water (325 ml)

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Instructions

Making the Dough (25 minutes + 1 ½ hours proving)

1. Pour the flour into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment.  Add the salt and yeast on opposite sides of the bowl, stirring in each one with your finger.  Make sure they don't touch each other directly, as the salt can kill or stunt the yeast.
2. Dump in the softened butter and half of the water, then turn the mixer on low speed.  Gradually trickle in the remaining water and keep mixing until a smooth, sticky dough forms.  You may not need all the water, or you might need a little extra, depending upon the brand of flour.
3. Switch the attachment to a dough hook and knead on medium-low speed for 3-5 minutes, until the dough passes the windowpane test.  Test it by breaking off a lump of dough and stretching it between the thumb and forefinger of each hand to create a windowpane.  If the dough stretches to be translucent without breaking, it's kneaded enough; if not, knead for a minute longer and check again.
4. Shape the dough into a ball, place in a buttered bowl, and cover tightly with plastic wrap.  Let the dough prove at room temperature until at least doubled in size, about 1 ½ to 2 hours.

Shaping the Bloomer (10 minutes + 1 hour proving)

1. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and punch it down all over to knock out pockets of gas.
2. Shape the dough into a rectangle about 9 inches wide, then fold the two ends into the middle.  Roll up the loaf tightly from one of the long sides to create the bloomer.  Pinch the seam to seal, then place it seam-side down on a large cookie sheet.
3. Place the loaf inside a large, clean garbage bag and inflate the bag.  Tuck the ends underneath the tray to seal.  Let the loaf prove at room temperature until almost doubled in size, about 1 hour.
4. About 10 minutes before the loaf is done proving, preheat the oven to 425 F.  Place an old metal baking pan in the lower shelf of the oven to preheat.

Baking the Bloomer (40 minutes + cooling)

1. Just before baking the loaf, remove the garbage bag and cut a few diagonal slashes on the top of the loaf with a sharp serrated knife or baker's lame.
2. Place the loaf in the oven, then immediately pour some tap water into the hot metal pan underneath the loaf and quickly shut the oven door.  This will create steam, which will give the loaf a hearty crust.  Bake at 425 F for 30 minutes.
3. Remove the pan of water, lower the heat to 400 F, and bake for another 10-15 minutes.  The loaf should be a rich golden brown and have an internal temperature of 200 F with a meat thermometer.
4. Allow the loaf to cool on a wire rack for at least 45 minutes before slicing and serving.  The cooling time allows the bread to finish cooking all the way through.  Cutting it too soon will give you a gummy interior.

Notes

• Feel free to make this by hand if you don't have a stand mixer.  Just stir and crush the dough with your hand to mix, then knead on a lightly floured surface for about 10 minutes.
• This bread is incredibly versatile, and can be served with sweet or savory toppings.  Make it into sandwiches, appetizers, or breadcrumbs.
• Store leftovers in a zip-top bag at room temperature, or freeze for longer storage.
• The pleasure of a 5-star review for this recipe would be greatly appreciated.

• Category: Bread
• Method: Baked
• Cuisine: British

Keywords: white bloomer, crusty white