Shepherd's Bread

Name: Shepherd's Bread
Prep time: 2 h
Cook time: 57 min
Total time: 2 h 57 min
Yield: 1 loaf
Ingredients: 3 cups hot water; 2 1/2 teaspoons salt; 1/2 cup margarine or 1/2 cup shortening; 1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast (2 packages if using a 12-inch Dutch oven); 1/2 cup sugar; 9 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Submitted by Mark O.

"Easy to make."

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photo by MollyM

Ready In:: 2hrs 57mins
Ingredients:: 6
Yields:: 1 loaf

ingredients

3 cups hot water
2 ¹⁄₂ teaspoons salt
¹⁄₂ 1/2 cup margarine or 1/2 cup shortening
1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast (2 packages if using a 12-inch Dutch oven)
¹⁄₂ cup sugar
9 ¹⁄₂ cups all-purpose flour

directions

Combine water, butter, sugar and salt.
Stir until butter melts; let cool to warm.
Stir in yeast, cover and set in a warm place until bubbly.
Add 5 cups of flour and beat with a wooden spoon to form a thick batter.
Stir in enough of the remaining flour (about 3 1/2 cups) to form a stiff dough.
Knead until smooth, about 10 minutes, add flour as needed.
Place dough in Dutch oven (well greased) and cover.
Set in a warm place to rise until doubled.
Punch down and knead on a floured board.
Return to Dutch oven and let rise until dough pushes up on the lid about 1/2 inch.
Bake covered with lid, in a 375°F oven for 12 minutes.
Remove lid and bake for 30-35 minutes or until loaf is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.

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Reviews

WOW! Its perfect , made it ,loved it, ate it all!

Charishma_Ramchandani
Used a 9 inch (2.75 quart) Dutch Oven, cut recipe in half. Perfect.
LeRoy A.
Delicious! My grandmother used to make Shepherd's Bread for every family dinner. Although I don't know if this is the same recipe as hers, it tastes exactly the same. Everyone loves it every time I make it! Just be prepared, it makes a giant round loaf (~6 pounds) and I've found that if you freeze part of it, the only way the bread tastes right after thawing is to toast it. I will often take this to picnics and family gatherings along with some butter and a bread knife--everyone always asks for the recipe. You won't be disappointed! One word from experience, be certain you also oil the inside of the lid of the Dutch Oven, otherwise the bread will stick to the lid while baking.

MollyM
Easy to make. The crust is very thin. My kids love it!

Keith C.
This was the first time I've made bread in my dutch oven, I had to let it rise for a long time, but it turned out delicious!

Christi C.