How to Make Frozen Bread Taste Homemade

The aroma of fresh baked bread is said to sell more houses than anything! It beats the smell of vanilla, pumpkin pie or chocolate chip cookies. Freshly baked bread doesn't have to be a distant memory anymore-with the convenience of frozen bread. These tips will help make frozen bread taste just like homemade!

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Make Basic Bread Taste Homemade

1. Thaw the bread according to package instructions and let rise until double in bulk.
2. Punch down the bread and let it rise again, as you would for homemade bread.
   
3. Form the bread dough into the desired shape, whether in a bread pan, braided or made into rolls.
4. Let bread rise an additional ten to fifteen minutes after forming into desired shape, just before baking.
5. Slice the top of the bread dough before baking, using a sharp knife or kitchen shears; be creative!
6. Grease the bread pan with butter for extra flavor or brush the top of the bread with egg white for a picture perfect crust.
7. Brush with melted butter after the bread is baked for a true butter flavor.

Make a Savory Bread

8. Knead the dough lightly after thawing.
9. Sprinkle herbs onto the floured board used for kneading to incorporate the herbs into the whole loaf.
10. Add the savory flavors of rosemary and oregano or your favorite blend of herbs as you knead the dough.
11. Use olive oil to grease a bowl, place the dough in the bowl and flip the dough over so it is coated top and bottom with olive oil.
12. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let rise until double in bulk.
13. Punch dough down and form into the desired shape and place in baking pan.
14. Let the dough rise for about fifteen minutes, then bake.

Make a Sweet Bread

15. Melt approximately a half stick of butter in the bottom of a cake pan.
16. Add a very small amount of corn syrup, approximately 2 tablespoons to the melted butter.
17. Add approximately a 1/2-cup of brown sugar to the melted mixture.
18. Use this recipe as a base to place the sticky buns on.
19. Roll the bread dough out and spread it with butter, sugar and cinnamon for an easy sticky bun recipe.
20. Roll up the bread, slice in one-inch pieces and place in prepared pan to rise again and bake.
    
    

Tips & Warnings

• This double rise method really makes the frozen bread taste homemade with a wonderful texture; it takes more time but tastes more like homemade.
• Thaw the frozen bread dough and add shredded cheese as you knead it for a delicious cheese bread. After baking it, slice the cheese bread and make a great Texas style toast from it.
• Toss thawed pieces of bread dough in a mixture of olive oil, Parmesan cheese and herbs to create a unique "bubble bread." Place pieces in a cake pan or bundt pan and let rise. This is a delicious recipe to serve with any meal.
• Add raisins to thawed bread dough as you knead it for a tasty raisin bread recipe.
• Add nuts to the above recipes for a special treat.
• Invert the baking pan immediately onto a plate, after removing from the oven. All the gooey stuff will saturate the rolls and make them irresistible!