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Halloween Brimstone Bread Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 70 reviews

This Easy Halloween Brimstone Bread recipe creates visually striking, blood-red bread rolls topped with a dramatic black crackled crust, perfect for spooky celebrations. Using an instant bread mix for simplicity, the dough is tinted with red food coloring and topped with a unique black yeast rice flour mixture that crisps beautifully during baking, offering a fun and thematic treat that’s as delicious as it looks.

Ingredients

Scale

For the Dough:

  • 1 box instant bread mix
  • 1 cup warm water (105°F to 115°F)
  • Red food coloring, as desired
  • 2 tbsp active dry yeast
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt

For the Topping:

  • 2 tbsp active dry yeast
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 cups rice flour
  • Black food coloring or activated charcoal, as preferred
  • Additional water for coloring

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Dough and Add Red Coloring: In a large mixing bowl, combine the instant bread mix, 2 tablespoons active dry yeast, 1 cup of warm water (105°F to 115°F), 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, and 1/2 teaspoon salt as per the bread mix instructions. Add red food coloring gradually until you achieve a deep, dark blood-red color, mixing thoroughly for even color distribution.
  2. Shape Dough Balls and Let Rise: Divide the blood-red dough into 12 equal balls and place them evenly spaced on a cookie sheet. Cover with a damp towel and let rise according to the bread mix box instructions or until the dough doubles in size.
  3. Prepare the Black Topping: While the dough rises, combine 2 tablespoons active dry yeast, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 1/2 cups rice flour in a mixer. Separately, mix black food coloring or activated charcoal with enough water to form a dark, inky fluid. Gradually add this colored water to the dry ingredients, mixing until a thick, sticky, and spreadable black topping is formed. Adjust the black color intensity to your liking.
  4. Let Black Topping Sit: Cover the black topping mixture and let it rest at room temperature for 15 minutes to activate the yeast slightly, enhancing texture and adhesion.
  5. Top Dough Balls and Rest: Once risen, generously spread the black topping over the tops and sides of each dough ball using clean hands. Don’t hold back on the topping thickness for the best crust effect. Leave uncovered and let rest for an additional 15 minutes for the topping to adhere well.
  6. Bake the Brimstone Bread: Place the topped dough balls on the center rack of a preheated oven and bake following the bread mix box’s recommended time and temperature. Turn the pan halfway through baking for even browning. The black topping will crackle and crisp, creating the signature brimstone visual.
  7. Cool and Serve: Remove from the oven once baked and the black topping is crisp. Let cool until comfortable to handle, then serve warm with butter or as desired for a spooky festive treat.

Notes

  • Ensure the water for the dough is warm but not hot, ideally between 105°F and 115°F, to activate yeast properly without killing it.
  • Adjust the amount of red and black food coloring based on your color intensity preference for a more dramatic effect.
  • Turning the pan halfway during baking helps achieve uniform crispness on the black topping.
  • Use activated charcoal as an alternative to black food coloring for a natural black pigment.
  • The bread is best enjoyed warm, fresh from the oven.

Keywords: Halloween bread, brimstone bread, festive bread, instant bread mix recipe, black and red bread, spooky bread recipe

Find it online: https://yumwithmia.com/halloween-brimstone-bread-recipe/