Tag: Crown Bread

What is Crown Bread?

I first heard of crown bread while watching Cooking with Nadiya. In her show, she makes this bread filled with tapenade and blue cheese, two of my favorite flavors, and twists the bread into a beautiful crown shape. I was absolutely mesmerized by how delicious this bread looked and I could not wait to make it.

I could find very little information on crown bread. In America, we often call it wreath or couroone bread. What these breads have in common is that they are filled with goodies, rolled up, split down the middle, and twisted together into the distinctive crown shape.

This bread is perfect for any dinner table, especially at the holidays. However in my case, I could not wait and I enjoyed it with an old friend and a bottle of wine on a Sunday afternoon. Honestly, either occasion is perfect, as long as you savor this delicious bread.

Modifications from Nadiya’s original recipe

I made a couple of modifications to Nadiya’s original recipe based on personal preference and budget. As always, feel free to modify according to your preferences.

1. Rosemary is a part of the original recipe. While I love rosemary, I preferred the bread without. Feel free to add rosemary back in if you feel differently.
   
2. I made this bread twice. The first time I used goat blue cheese because it was on sale. A lot of the flavor baked out and this was a bad choice. The second time I used traditional blue cheese and the result was much better.
   
3. Instead of an apricot jam, I made a quick apple jam. This was both to save money on jarred jam and apricots are out of season. However, this is baker-specific. Use the jam you prefer.
   

Let’s get started

Step 1: Put the flour, salt, yeast, and butter into a bowl, then rub the butter into the flour. The butter should be rubbed into small pieces. (If you do want to add rosemary, you can add 2tsp here.)

Step 2: Form a well in the center of the flour mix and then add the milk and beaten egg. Once mixed, take the dough out of the bowl and knead on a floured or oiled surface for 10 minutes. You are done kneading when the dough becomes stretchy and smooth.. If you prefer to use your mixer, attach the dough hook and mix at a low to medium speed for five minutes. When the dough is formed into a ball around the hook, you are done mixing.

• 

• 

Step 3: Place the dough in a bowl and cover with cling film or a shower cap until the dough is doubled. Between an hour and an hour and a half. While the dough is rising, line a baking tray with parchment paper.

Step 4: Once the dough has doubled, knock all the air out of the dough and place it on a lightly floured or oiled surface. Roll the dough into an 11x15in. (This is where the process is a lot like cinnamon rolls.) Evenly spread the tapenade and blue cheese across the dough. Once spread, roll the dough up like a cinnamon roll. You want this roll to be tight.

• 

• 

Step 5: Start about an inch from the top of the rolled-up dough and take a sharp knife and cut down the center. Because the top is intact, you should be able to make an A shape out of the dough. Then lift one side of the A and place it over the other A-side. Repeat the process, about five times. until you have formed a circle. Carefully place the dough on the tray, cover with cling wrap and allow to prove about 30 minutes.

• 

• 

Step 6: Once the second prove is complete, bake at 425 degrees for 20 minutes. Let the bread cool. Warm up the jam in the microwave and brush the jam over the top of the bread.

Resources and recipe credit:

• If you would like to see the original recipe click here.
• If you would like to watch the video from Time to Eat click here.

Great British Baking Show Bake

Season 1, Episode 3,
Signature – Olive Tapenade and Blue Cheese Crown Bread

I started watching Cooking with Nadiya at the start of the pandemic. I was on lockdown and our dog Hank was very sick. Because of these factors, I was watching more TV than ever.

Historically, I never watch cooking shows. Being a vegetarian I have never found a cooking show I enjoyed. However, in the preview, Nadiya made this egg sandwich that I wanted to know how to make it. Next thing I know I watched her entire series. I loved her sweet personality and I found her refreshing.

Flash forward two months and we said goodbye to our Hankie poo. Sad and wanting to tune out my feelings, I decided to watch Nadiya’s on The Great British Baking Show. One show turned into a season, the series, and now a blog. That’s how I came to think of Nadiya as my gateway drug into the world of baking.

For my first signature bread challenge. I am so excited to bake Nadiya’s Olive and Rosemary Crown Bread. I am happy to say that I loved this bread! It’s a rich, decadent, and show stopper for any table! (Or over a bottle of wine on a Sunday afternoon with one of my best friends. That’s how I enjoyed it). I hope you give it a try, it’s really worth the work.


Count: 8 down and 270 to go!

Crown Bread Ingredients and Equipment (with affiliate links)

Ingredients
* 250g bread flour
* 1tsp salt
* 7g instant yeast
* 50g unsalted butter
* 4.5oz warm milk
* 1 egg, beaten
* 4.5oz olive tapenade
* 5.5oz blue cheese
* 3 tbsp apricot or other fruit jam

Equipment
* “>KitchenAid Mixer (Optional)
* Baking sheet
* Pastry Mat (optional)