How to Make Pumpkin Shaped Sourdough Bread, by Keep it Sweet Kitchen on YouTube. 17 min 28 s.
- Video length
- 17 min 28 s
- Time to do it
- 1 hour 30 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Mix and proof your favorite artisan sourdough dough until it has finished its bulk ferment and shaped proof in a round banneton.
Cut eight to ten pieces of baking twine long enough to wrap around the dough and tie at the top, about 30 inches each.
Soak the twine in water for a few minutes so it does not burn in the hot oven.
Turn the proofed dough out onto parchment paper and dust the surface lightly with flour.
Lay the twine pieces under the dough like spokes of a wheel, spacing them evenly around the circle.
Bring each pair of twine ends up over the top and tie them together snugly at the center, leaving a small gap for the stem.
Score the dough between the twine lines with a lame, making shallow cuts that follow the curve of each section.
Bake the loaf in a preheated Dutch oven as your recipe directs, usually around 450 F, until deep golden brown.
Let the bread cool, then snip and remove the twine. Push a cinnamon stick into the center dent as the stem.
Tips and common mistakes
Tie the twine firmly but not so tight that it cuts into the dough as it rises in the oven.
Soaked twine still darkens in the oven, so remove it as soon as the loaf is cool enough to handle.
Score only about a quarter inch deep so the pumpkin sections stay defined instead of splitting open.
Questions
Can I use store bought dough instead of sourdough?
Yes. Any round, proofed bread dough works, including a yeasted artisan loaf. Just keep the dough cold from the fridge so it holds its shape while you tie the twine.
Do I have to bake it in a Dutch oven?
No. A Dutch oven gives a crisp crust, but you can bake on a preheated stone or tray with steam in the oven. Watch the twine and remove it if it starts to char.
How do I get a deeper orange color?
Brush the loaf with a little egg wash or milk before baking, or add a small amount of pumpkin puree to the dough, which also softens the crumb.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
