How To: Make Portuguese sweet bread

Want a sweet bread for a nice holiday treat? This Portuguese Sweet Bread will do the trick. Just watch the video recipe to learn how to make it, just like your grandmother used to make. A classic sweet bread treat. You can even use the dough to make Portuguese doughnuts.

Bea learned this recipe from her mother and has been making this bread at Easter and Christmas for as long as she can remember. Each year she makes enough for her 7 kids as well as lucky guests who stop by. You can use the same dough to make the Portuguese version of donuts - Malasadas.

INGREDIENTS:

Makes 7 small loaves (4"x6") , 1 large loaf (9"x5") and enough extra dough for the Malasadas.

* 3 cups heated milk
* 1 tsp salt
* 3 packages of dry yeast
* 15 eggs
* 5 lbs all purpose flour
* 1/2 lb butter
* 4 cups sugar
* 1-1/2 tbsp vanilla
* cooking oil (for Malasadas)

HOW-TO:

1. Scald milk and cool to lukewarm
2. Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup warm water
3. Melt butter
4. Mix flour and salt in very large pot
5. Add milk and yeast
6. Knead dough about 10-15 minutes until dough is airy in consistency
7. Cover dough with a clean towel and an afghan (or if you want to totally stick to Bea's recipe, also cover with a man's jacket and cross the arms) and put in warm place (near fireplace, above refrigerator)
8. Let the dough rise until is is double in size (about 6 hours)
9. Punch down the dough and let rise again until double (about 4 more hours)
10. On a floured surface, divide the dough into loaves. Knead and get the air bubbles out and continue to knead until it feels lighter and airy. Let rise again
11. Bake small loaves for 45 minutes at 300 degrees. Large loaf - 1 hour.
12. Take out of oven and brush with butter to give it a nice glaze