Sweet Chocolate Bread using a Bread Machine

It is Christmas time, a time filled with jolly and festivities. Also, it is gift-giving time to the family, friends, and neighbors. Sometimes, a gift, such as a homemade loaf of bread is simply the best gift. It shows to people the labor of love used to create this kind of gift. For that reason, I am introducing a sweet, delicious bread that can be served at breakfast or dessert time. The good news is that this wonderful loaf can be made using a bread machine. It saves time for people who have many friends to whom thoughtful gifts must be given. Start this bread today until Christmas, so everyone whom you love will have a special treat.

Ingredients:
1 cup water
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1 egg
3 tbs milk powder
2 tbs oil
4 cups bread flour
1/4 cup cocoa powder
2 tsp active yeast
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
In a measuring cup, combine the first 5 ingredients listed above with the oil and mix well. Place combined ingredients into a bread machine pan. Then add the flour, cocoa powder, and yeast. Start the machine. Add the chocolate chips about 5 minutes before the kneading cycle is finished.  Let the dough rise in the machine.
Butter a 9” x 5” loaf pan or 2 small loaf pans and set aside. When the first rising cycle is done, remove the dough from the machine and shape to fit the loaf pan(s).  Cover with a sheet of plastic or kitchen towel.  Let dough rise for another 40 minutes or as a doubled in size.

 

Preheat oven to 350°.  Brush the top with some milk and bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. After baking, wrap the loaf of bread in a nice fancy wrapper and start giftgiving.