One of the leading traits of a good comfort bread is how soft it is, and how long it stays that way ... make small adjustments if you have to during the mixing stage. Keep a close eye on the dough ...

Let’s delve in and find out what happens when these ingredients come together with heat, and how we can learn from the science to make our bread the best ... the way it enriches the dough ...

There’s now no excuse not to bake your own bread ... best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox. In large bowl combine flour, yeast, salt. Add 1-5/8 cups water and stir until blended ...

This is perhaps the easiest bread ... Make a large hole in the centre of the flour mixture and pour in the melted butter and treacle, plus enough of the buttermilk to make a loose sticky dough.

The dough will be shaggy and sticky ... until the loaf is beautifully browned. Remove the bread from the Dutch oven and let it cool on a rack for at least 1 hour before slicing.

3. Use the spatula or a plastic dough scraper to scrape down the sides of the bowl. Push the dough together to form a loose ...