Salted Caramel & Macadamia Pull-Apart Bread
 
 
A pull apart loaf, slathered with salted caramel and redolent with crunchy macadamia nuts.
Author:
Ingredients
For the dough:
  • 3 cups (450g) plain flour
  • 2 tsps dried yeast
  • ¼ cup (50g) caster sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • 2 oz (50g) butter, melted
  • ⅔ cup whole milk, slightly warmed
  • 2 eggs
For the topping:
  • 1 cup (225g) caster sugar
  • 2 oz (50g) butter
  • ½ cup (125ml) cream
  • 1 tsp sea salt flakes
  • ¾ cup macadamia nuts, chopped
Instructions
  1. To make the dough, place all of the ingredients for the dough into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Work on a low speed for about 5-10 minutes or until the dough comes together and is smooth and elastic.
  2. Cover the bowl with cling wrap and place in a warm spot to rise for an hour. The dough will not double in size, but will increase by about a third.
  3. Meanwhile, make the salted caramel for the filling. Place the sugar with a splash of water into a deep saucepan. Heat over a medium heat until the sugar melts, begins to bubble, and then caramelises.
  4. Once the sugar reaches an amber colour, remove it from the heat and carefully add the butter, cream and salt. Stir them in gently (the pan will bubble up), and then place the pan back on the heat for another 30 seconds or so, till the sauce thickens slightly. Set aside to cool completely.
  5. Once the dough has risen, punch it down and place it on a well-floured surface. Roll the dough out to a 20x12inch (50x35cm) rectangle, and spread ¾ of the cooled salted caramel over the dough. Sprinkle almost all of the nuts over the caramel, reserving a few for the top. Now, slice the dough into six 12inch (35cm) strips. Stack the strips on top of each other, and cut them down into 5 stacks of squares. Place the squares vertically into a greased and lined loaf tin. Cover the tin loosely and leave to rise again for 30 minutes.
  6. Preheat the oven to 350F/170C and then bake the loaf for 30-35 minutes or until it is golden brown and sounds hollow when carefully tapped on the top.
  7. Leave to cool, drizzle with the remaining salted caramel and chopped nuts, and then serve!
Recipe by The Sugar Hit at http://www.thesugarhit.com/dev/2014/03/salted-caramel-macadamia-pull-apart-bread.html