About our Cottage Loaf
Our cottage loaf is a great starter recipe for beginners who want a simple fresh-from-the-oven bake. Just follow our six-step guide using Allinson white dough and you’ll have your own cottage loaf, with its distinctive shape and beautiful golden crust.
Why is it called a Cottage loaf?
It is thought that the unusual shape of the cottage loaf was a result of the need to be as efficient as possible with the small baking space available in the ovens of earlier times. The term “cottage bread” is often used to describe a variety of breads that all have the cottage shape in common.
Fans of the handsome Cottage Loaf should try our delicious seeded knot rolls, also made with Allinson white dough.
Method
Step 1:
MIX
Mix the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a big bowl. Using your fingertips rub in the butter until only fine ‘crumbs’ are left. Mix in the water with a cutlery knife.Step 2:
KNEAD
Tip onto a lightly flour dusted surface and knead for 10 minutes (or use the dough hook attachment on your mixer).Step 3:
RISE
Lightly grease the mixing bowl with some oil. Put the dough back in, cover the bowl with a clean tea towel and leave to rise until doubled in size.Step 4:
SHAPE Knock back the dough by gently kneading just 5 times to get the air out. Separate the dough into one-third and two thirds. Shape each into a round ball. Dust a baking sheet with a little flour, and sit the largest ball on it with the smallest ball sat on top. Flour the handle of a wooden spoon and push it down through the centre of both balls until you hit the tray below.
Step 5:
PROVE
Cover the dough with a clean tea towel again and leave to prove until doubled in size again. Preheat your oven to 200°C (fan 180°C, gas mark 6).Step 6:
BAKE
Lift the tray onto the middle oven shelf and bake for 30-35 minutes, until when you tap the base of the loaf it sounds hollow. Cool on a wire rack.
Ingredients
For the Bread
- 500g Allinson's Strong White Bread Flour
- 1 sachet Allinson's Easy Bake yeast or Allinson's Time Saver Yeast
- 1.5 tsp Billington's Unrefined Golden Caster Sugar
- 1.5 tsp Salt
- 1 tbsp Butter (softened)
- 300ml Warm water
- 500g Allinson's Strong White Bread Flour
Utensils
- Baking tray
- Mixing bowl
Recipe Reviews
Actually so nice! Looks a bit odd but so yummy
I made the cottage loaf and it turned out beautifully, was not sure why golden caster sugar but will have a slice tomorrow and see how it tastes.
What did I do wrong ?
I use this recipe every week to make rolls and they always rise & bake beautifully.
I followed the cottage loaf instructions but I covered in oiled cling film (I always do this for my rolls with no problem).
The top weighed down on the bottom part so it didn't double in size and spread sideways across. Surprisingly it still tasted gorgeous, just not a high loaf.
Do you think the oil on cling film spoilt the rise ?
how do you print the recipe?
Hi there, at the top of the page under the title 'share' there should be a little orange icon that looks like a piece of paper. This should take you to a format suitable for printing. Hope this helps and happy baking! :)
Very easy to make lovely and soft bread
Haven’t made bread for 40+ years last one was first year of senior school. Found and followed this recipe on Sunday to nearly exact except for golden caster sugar I just used normal white, this bread was brilliant and was so tasty so much I’m on my third loaf already, so so easy and great results
Ingredients
For the Bread
- 500g Allinson's Strong White Bread Flour
- 1 sachet Allinson's Easy Bake yeast or Allinson's Time Saver Yeast
- 1.5 tsp Billington's Unrefined Golden Caster Sugar
- 1.5 tsp Salt
- 1 tbsp Butter (softened)
- 300ml Warm water
- 500g Allinson's Strong White Bread Flour
Utensils
- Baking tray
- Mixing bowl