Twist bread
Encyclopedia
Twist bread, stick bread, or campfire bread is a type of bread
in which the dough has been rolled into a long sausage shape, twisted over the end of a stick, and baked over an open fire
.
The dough is an ordinary bread dough, usually with yeast
as a leavening agent but baking powder
may also be used.
The ideal stick is fairly straight and made of hardwood
that will not impart a disagreeable taste; for example, birch or a nut tree. The length depends on one's comfort and the fire's size. The thickness of the bread-holding end is around 1.5 – 2 cm. The thicker the stick, the heavier it is and thus the harder it is to hold. However, a branch that is too thin will bend under its own weight if it is freshly cut. The bark should be whittled from the branch 15–20 cm in from the end, where the dough will be wrapped.
The bonfire should be gradually burned so far down that there are only glowing pieces of wood left, with almost no flames. The most suitable types of firewood
are from hardwood trees similar to beech
and oak
, but other hardwoods can be used, except for poplar
and aspen
, which create a sour smoke
. Conifers
, especially fir
, are unsuitable because they do not create many glowing embers, and moreover pop and spark so that cooking over such a fire can become an unpleasant and messy affair. The fire must burn down a little, so that there are not many flames, and the embers can be spread out a little so that there is enough room for the twist breads.
When the fire is ready, the dough is rolled out into a long sausage
, just thick enough that the stick can bear the weight of the dough. The dough is twisted around the peeled end of the stick, starting from the outside. The ends are smushed closed so that the dough will not unravel.
The dough is then baked over coals
, not flames. The baker
must keep a good distance of about 15–30 cm and turn the stick regularly so that the bread is baked evenly. Tired arms may result in the bread dipping down into the fire pit, so a log or the like can be used to keep the branch upright.
When the bread sounds hollow over its whole body when tapped gently with a knife, it is done and can be gently pulled off the stick when it has cooled down enough. It can be eaten by itself or with butter
, marmalade
, cheese
, and the like. If the dimensions of the stick are similar to a hot dog, one can squirt ketchup
, mustard
and other toppings into the hole of the twist bread and stick a boiled or roasted hot dog
inside. In this case it is most practical to be careful in the positioning of the dough, so that there are no cracks.
Bread
Bread is a staple food prepared by cooking a dough of flour and water and often additional ingredients. Doughs are usually baked, but in some cuisines breads are steamed , fried , or baked on an unoiled frying pan . It may be leavened or unleavened...
in which the dough has been rolled into a long sausage shape, twisted over the end of a stick, and baked over an open fire
Fire
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. Slower oxidative processes like rusting or digestion are not included by this definition....
.
The dough is an ordinary bread dough, usually with yeast
Yeast
Yeasts are eukaryotic micro-organisms classified in the kingdom Fungi, with 1,500 species currently described estimated to be only 1% of all fungal species. Most reproduce asexually by mitosis, and many do so by an asymmetric division process called budding...
as a leavening agent but baking powder
Baking powder
Baking powder is a dry chemical leavening agent used to increase the volume and lighten the texture of baked goods such as muffins, cakes, scones and American-style biscuits. Baking powder works by releasing carbon dioxide gas into a batter or dough through an acid-base reaction, causing bubbles in...
may also be used.
The ideal stick is fairly straight and made of hardwood
Hardwood
Hardwood is wood from angiosperm trees . It may also be used for those trees themselves: these are usually broad-leaved; in temperate and boreal latitudes they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics mostly evergreen.Hardwood contrasts with softwood...
that will not impart a disagreeable taste; for example, birch or a nut tree. The length depends on one's comfort and the fire's size. The thickness of the bread-holding end is around 1.5 – 2 cm. The thicker the stick, the heavier it is and thus the harder it is to hold. However, a branch that is too thin will bend under its own weight if it is freshly cut. The bark should be whittled from the branch 15–20 cm in from the end, where the dough will be wrapped.
The bonfire should be gradually burned so far down that there are only glowing pieces of wood left, with almost no flames. The most suitable types of firewood
Firewood
Firewood is any wood-like material that is gathered and used for fuel. Generally, firewood is not highly processed and is in some sort of recognizable log or branch form....
are from hardwood trees similar to beech
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
and oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
, but other hardwoods can be used, except for poplar
Poplar
Populus is a genus of 25–35 species of deciduous flowering plants in the family Salicaceae, native to most of the Northern Hemisphere. English names variously applied to different species include poplar , aspen, and cottonwood....
and aspen
Aspen
Populus section Populus, of the Populus genus, includes the aspen trees and the white poplar Populus alba. The five typical aspens are all native to cold regions with cool summers, in the north of the Northern Hemisphere, extending south at high altitudes in the mountains. The White Poplar, by...
, which create a sour smoke
Smoke
Smoke is a collection of airborne solid and liquid particulates and gases emitted when a material undergoes combustion or pyrolysis, together with the quantity of air that is entrained or otherwise mixed into the mass. It is commonly an unwanted by-product of fires , but may also be used for pest...
. Conifers
Pinophyta
The conifers, division Pinophyta, also known as division Coniferophyta or Coniferae, are one of 13 or 14 division level taxa within the Kingdom Plantae. Pinophytes are gymnosperms. They are cone-bearing seed plants with vascular tissue; all extant conifers are woody plants, the great majority being...
, especially fir
Fir
Firs are a genus of 48–55 species of evergreen conifers in the family Pinaceae. They are found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, occurring in mountains over most of the range...
, are unsuitable because they do not create many glowing embers, and moreover pop and spark so that cooking over such a fire can become an unpleasant and messy affair. The fire must burn down a little, so that there are not many flames, and the embers can be spread out a little so that there is enough room for the twist breads.
When the fire is ready, the dough is rolled out into a long sausage
Sausage
A sausage is a food usually made from ground meat , mixed with salt, herbs, and other spices, although vegetarian sausages are available. The word sausage is derived from Old French saussiche, from the Latin word salsus, meaning salted.Typically, a sausage is formed in a casing traditionally made...
, just thick enough that the stick can bear the weight of the dough. The dough is twisted around the peeled end of the stick, starting from the outside. The ends are smushed closed so that the dough will not unravel.
The dough is then baked over coals
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
, not flames. The baker
Baker
A baker is someone who bakes and sells bread, Cakes and similar foods may also be produced, as the traditional boundaries between what is produced by a baker as opposed to a pastry chef have blurred in recent decades...
must keep a good distance of about 15–30 cm and turn the stick regularly so that the bread is baked evenly. Tired arms may result in the bread dipping down into the fire pit, so a log or the like can be used to keep the branch upright.
When the bread sounds hollow over its whole body when tapped gently with a knife, it is done and can be gently pulled off the stick when it has cooled down enough. It can be eaten by itself or with butter
Butter
Butter is a dairy product made by churning fresh or fermented cream or milk. It is generally used as a spread and a condiment, as well as in cooking applications, such as baking, sauce making, and pan frying...
, marmalade
Marmalade
Marmalade is a fruit preserve made from the juice and peel of citrus fruits, boiled with sugar and water. The benchmark citrus fruit for marmalade production in Britain is the "Seville orange" from Spain, Citrus aurantium var...
, cheese
Cheese
Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....
, and the like. If the dimensions of the stick are similar to a hot dog, one can squirt ketchup
Ketchup
Ketchup is a sweet-and-tangy condiment typically made from tomatoes, vinegar, sugar or high-fructose corn syrup and an assortment of...
, mustard
Mustard (condiment)
Mustard is a condiment made from the seeds of a mustard plant...
and other toppings into the hole of the twist bread and stick a boiled or roasted hot dog
Hot dog
A hot dog is a sausage served in a sliced bun. It is very often garnished with mustard, ketchup, onions, mayonnaise, relish and/or sauerkraut.-History:...
inside. In this case it is most practical to be careful in the positioning of the dough, so that there are no cracks.