Your grandpa might claim this is his favorite dipping bread in the world—at least the most fun—so pass it along to your next generation in one of our four variations, including a sweet one for breakfast or dessert.
step 1Spray a 10" tube pan (angel food cake pan) with cooking nonstick spray.
step 2In a bowl place 1-1/2 cups of the flour. Add the sugar, yeast, warm water, egg, salt, and softened butter. Blend together with an electric mixer on low speed until combined. Beat 3 minutes on medium speed. Stir in the remaining 2 cups of flour on low speed until just combined.
step 3Knead dough on floured work surface for 1 minute.
step 4Press the dough into a 12 x 15-inch rectangle.
step 5Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into 2-inch diamond-shaped pieces.
step 6Place the melted butter into a shallow pan, dip the diamond-shaped bread pieces into the butter, and layer in the prepared baking pan. Cover the bread with a piece of plastic wrap or a dish towel. Let rise, until doubled in size, about an hour.
step 7In a 350ºF preheated oven, bake the bread for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool the pan for 2 minutes, invert on a serving plate, remove the pan, and serve.
Variations
Bacon
Crumble or dice 5 pieces of cooked bacon and add in step 2 before the additional 2 cups of flour.
Lemon/Basil
Add 2 teaspoons of lemon zest and 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil in step 2 before adding the additional 2 cups of flour.
Chipotle Peppers
Chop 2-3 canned Chipotle peppers and add in step 2 before the additional 2 cups of flour. (Always wear gloves because chipotle peppers can burn!)
Sweet Cinnamon (for dessert)
Mix 1/4 cup sugar and 1 Tablespoon cinnamon in a shallow pan. In step 6 of the recipe, after dipping each 2-inch diamond-shaped piece of dough in the butter, lightly pat one side of the diamond into the sugar-and-cinnamon mixture. Place in your prepared pan and repeat with remaining diamonds. Sprinkle any leftover sugar-and-cinnamon mixture on top before baking. Continue recipe as written.