Watermelon Bread (Print)
Visually stunning bread with watermelon-inspired colors, tender crumb, and chocolate chip seeds. Perfect for summer entertaining.
# Ingredient List:
→ Dough Base
01 - 3 cups bread flour
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
04 - 1 tsp salt
05 - 1 cup warm milk (110°F)
06 - 1 large egg, room temperature
07 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
→ Color & Flavor Additions
08 - 1 1/2 tbsp cocoa powder
09 - 1/2 tsp matcha powder or green food coloring
10 - 1/2 tsp red or pink gel food coloring
11 - 1 tsp watermelon extract
→ Mix-Ins
12 - 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips
# How-To Steps:
01 - Combine flour, sugar, yeast, and salt in a large bowl or stand mixer. Add warm milk, egg, and softened butter. Mix until a soft dough forms, then knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
02 - Split dough into three portions: 60% for flesh, 25% for rind, 15% for skin. Add red coloring and extract to largest portion. Leave medium portion plain. Mix green coloring or matcha into smallest portion. Fold chocolate chips into red dough.
03 - Shape each portion into balls and place in separate greased bowls. Cover with plastic wrap or towel. Let rise for 1 hour until doubled in size.
04 - Punch down each dough portion. Flatten red dough into a log the length of your loaf pan. Wrap white dough around red log, then wrap green dough around both layers. Pinch seams tightly to seal.
05 - Place loaf seam-side down in greased 9x5-inch loaf pan. Cover and let rise 30-45 minutes until puffy and doubled.
06 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake for 30-35 minutes, tenting with foil after 20 minutes if top browns too quickly. Internal temperature should reach 190°F.
07 - Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack. Let cool completely before slicing to reveal the watermelon pattern.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The reveal when you slice into this bread never gets old, watching peoples faces light up when they see the watermelon pattern inside
- Its surprisingly versatile, lovely for breakfast toasted with butter, for sandwich bread at a picnic, or just as a fun snack alongside fresh fruit
02 -
- Resist the temptation to slice this bread while its still warm or the steam will escape and leave you with a gummy crumb, let it cool completely for the cleanest slices
- The key to distinct layers is pinching those seams really tightly when shaping, otherwise the colors can bleed into each other during baking
03 -
- Weighing your dough portions with a kitchen scale gives you more precise results than estimating by eye, ensuring those distinctive color proportions
- If your kitchen is particularly warm or drafty, find a more stable spot for rising like inside the oven with just the light on