“Quick” Sour-Soda-Seeded-Bread

The night before you wish to bake, whisk the flour, apple juice and water together until they form a smooth paste. Leave overnight, in a sealed plastic container at room temperature. It will start to form bubbles.

When you are ready to bake, pre-heat your oven to 200°c gas mark 6.

Place 50g of butter into a sauce pan and heat on a medium heat. When the butter begins to boil stir until it reaches a golden brown colour. Remove the pan from the heat and pour the butter into a small bowl.

Add all the dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl and mix them together. Add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture, including your overnight flour and apple juice mixture. Give it a good mix from the outside of the bowl in, then mix using your hands. This is a messy but fun job so if you have any little helpers, it’s the perfect job for them.

Once fully incorporated into a smooth dough, turn out onto a flour-dusted table.

Divide the dough mixture into two balls and shape into neat round loaves. Place on your parchment-lined baking tray.

Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes.

Once baked remove from the oven and place onto a wire cooling rack.

I know you will be tempted to cut straight into them but don’t! Allowing them to cool naturally and in one piece will improve the crust and help the centre to develop.

Your loaves will be dark brown, crusty, dense, flavoursome & delicious.

Serve with butter!