Shaped Loaves of Bread – How to use Canape Bread molds

I love making shaped loaves of bread for my kids.  I used to do this all the time when I was in the “toddler phase.”  These loaves make the most perfect sized slice of bread for a toddler size sandwich.  These also can be used for dainty tea sandwiches at a bridal or baby shower.  You could also make impressive hors d’oeuvres with these shaped loaves of bread.  All that is needed is a set of canape bread molds.

You can use any bread dough.  I use my favorite white bread dough, found here.  Simply prepare dough as normal and instead of placing the dough into a bread pan, use the canape bread molds.  Before adding the dough coat the molds generously with cooking spray.  You could also brush the molds with softened shortening, but I have found cooking spray is the easiest way to keep the bread from sticking to the sides of the pan.

The instructions that come with the molds explains to simply fill the dough 2/3 of the way full.  I have found that 310 grams of dough, or about 11 ounces of dough fills the pans completely.  After filling the molds with bread dough, close the lids and allow the dough to double, for about an hour, or as long as your recipe details.  Once the dough has risen inside the tube it is ready to go in the oven.  My loaves cook for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.  This again depends on the recipe you are using and your oven.  I have found that it takes an extra 15 minutes to cook the bread in the molds rather than cooking them in a bread pan.

If you have bread dough ready to go, this is such a simple way to make beautiful bread.  Canape bread molds can be purchased at specialty cooking stores, through pampered chef or via amazon.com. I love new cooking tools!