The Day Chocolat’s Juliette Brioche Got Battered…

Bread scares me. Not the finished article, I don’t have an irrational fear of a crusty baguette. But the making of it fills me with bread dread. Kneading is not my forte and the time required to prove this, prove that, prove you’re a good enough baker…  *Sigh*.

Which explains to some extent why I’ve fallen very behind in my Bake Off Challenge bake-along. I’ve been dodging week 3: Bread Week. 

So I thought I’d double up and do two week’s worth in one go for Monday Munchies. 

And don’t you just love the title? I do. Except it’s a lie as I didn’t make brioche. And yes I know it’s ‘Binoche’ but the former worked better. It does have chocolate in it though!

And the battered part? Well, that covers week 4 – a first for Bake Off with Batter Week. I am definitely earning my bread and batter… (sorry).

So what’s on the menu? Well Bread Week’s technical challenge was dampfnudeln. ‘Huh?’ I hear you say. Exactly, let’s skip these traditional, steamed bread buns shall we?

I’m not about to make a show stopper loaf either, when I’m afraid of making things with strong flour, so the basic/signature is what I went with. The requirement was a chocolate bread and I’ve gone with a chocolate and cherry plait. 

Paul Hollywood’s recipe seemed easy enough to follow: I did mess up with one of the ingredients though, buying black cherry fruit filling (coated in syrup) rather than just cherries. Oh well, it just made it a little more gloopy so I didn’t add as many of them.

The plaiting part however… what on earth are those instructions? Talk about confusing! I tried following them but got completely lost so did it my own way. I have long hair – I know how to braid!! Mr. Hollywood on the other hand…

Looks plaited to me!

The end result was very satisfying, if a little burned. And sliced whilst still slightly warm, with a lashing of butter on it is the way to go. Although I imagine it will be very nice toasted with some jam too.

There was a healthy crack, as Paul would say, when I cut into it and it passed the spring test. Have I conquered my fear? Perhaps… Still, shops exist so I’ll not be indulging in making the weekly loaf for sarnies just yet!

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Batter week had delicious churros for the showstopper and ‘lace’ pancakes for the technical. But as a Yorkshire lass, I couldn’t bypass the signature Bake that wanted 12 identical Yorkshire Puddings. Especially when (shock, horror) I’ve never made them. But when you have someone like Bessie in your family, where’s the need?!

Anywho, they were surprisingly easy. However, the identical part was more of a problem – large, voluminous and misshapen was more like it. Oh, and they had to be filled. Except there was no ‘well’ left to fill. So it was more ‘ladle at will’ with the chilli!

Still, they tasted good and that’s the main part, right? I will, however, be crossing that off my life skill list and return to paying Bessie in the future!

So what do you think? Would I progress to Week 5 in the tent? Let’s hope so, next time I’ll be tarting up… something!

Both recipes can be found via the links below – enjoy! 🙂

Chocolate and Cherry Plait

Easy Yorkshire Pudding Batter

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Image Credits: My own plus kitchenproject.com, ravepad.com and foodnetwork.co.uk

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