Description
Soft, slightly sweet homemade Hawaiian bread is a treat to eat, perfect for sandwiches or toast, and so easy to make in your own oven.
Ingredients
Units
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- 1/4 cup milk (warm)
- 1/4 cup butter (melted)
- 1 egg
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 envelope active dry yeast (I prefer Red Star Platinum yeast)
- 3 - 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
Instructions
Preparing the Dough
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the pineapple juice, warm milk, melted butter, egg, sugar, vanilla, and salt. Mix until well incorporated.
- Activate Yeast: Sprinkle the yeast over the mixture, stirring gently to ensure it’s fully dissolved.
- Add Flour: Begin by adding 3 cups of flour to the wet mixture. Stir using a sturdy spoon or a dough hook attachment on a stand mixer until a dough starts to form.
Kneading the Dough
- Knead the Dough: Continue kneading the dough, adding additional flour a little at a time if the dough is too sticky. Knead until the dough is soft and smooth but still slightly tacky, about 5-7 minutes with a mixer or 10 minutes by hand.
First Rise
- Let it Rise: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning it to coat all sides in oil. Cover with a damp cloth and set aside in a warm, draft-free area. Let the dough rise until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
Shaping and Second Rise
- Shape the Dough: Once risen, punch down the dough to release any air bubbles. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and shape it into a rectangle. Fold the dough into thirds, like folding a letter, and place it seam side down in a greased standard loaf pan.
- Second Rise: Cover the loaf pan with a damp cloth and let the dough rise for another 45 minutes, or until it has nearly doubled in size.
Baking
- Preheat and Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Once the dough has risen, place the pan in the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the top is a dark golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
Cooling
- Cool: Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- This Hawaiian bread can also easily be made into rolls – after the first rising, simply divide the dough into 16 pieces, roll, and place in a greased baking dish, cover and rise 45 minutes, and then bake @350 for 15-20 minutes.
- Pineapple Juice: Ensure the pineapple juice is at room temperature to best activate the yeast.
- Proofing: Ensure your milk is warm but not hot; too high a temperature can kill the yeast.
- Checking for Doneness: If you’re unsure if the bread is fully baked, an instant-read thermometer should read 190°F when inserted into the center of the loaf.
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Rising Time: 105 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins