Homemade Sesame Seed Bread (Soft Inside, Crispy Crust)

Homemade Sesame Seed Bread (Soft Inside, Crispy Crust)

Ingredients

• 3½ cups (440 g) all-purpose flour
• 1½ tsp salt
• 1 tbsp sugar (or honey)
• 2¼ tsp (7 g) instant yeast
• 1¼ cups (300 ml) warm water
• 2 tbsp olive oil (or vegetable oil)
• 3–4 tbsp sesame seeds

Instructions

1. Activate the dough
   In a large bowl, mix flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Add warm water and oil. Mix until a soft dough forms.
2. Knead
   Knead by hand 8–10 minutes (or mixer 5–6 minutes) until smooth and elastic.
3. First rise
   Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise 1–1½ hours until doubled.
4. Shape
   Punch down the dough, shape into a loaf, and place in a parchment-lined loaf pan.
5. Top with sesame
   Lightly brush the top with water or milk, then generously sprinkle sesame seeds.
6. Second rise
   Cover and let rise again for 30–40 minutes until puffy.
7. Bake
   Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C (390°F) for 30–35 minutes, until golden brown.
8. Cool
   Remove from pan and cool on a rack before slicing.

Tips

• For extra crunch, brush with water instead of milk before adding sesame seeds.
• Add 1 tbsp butter for a richer flavor.
• For a rustic crust, place a small oven-safe bowl of water in the oven while baking.