Basic bread is a staple in every household and most people know how to make fresh homemade bread. But there’s another category of homemade bread called split-top bread that you may want to try,
So, what is split top bread? This type of bread expands quite a bit when cooking, creating uneven tears in the bread crust. To prevent crust rupture, bakers slash the bread on top to allow more room for expansion.
Many people simply like the way split-top bread looks, and they also enjoy the texture and density split-top bread provides. Overall, split-top bread is great for all of your everyday sandwich needs.
What Does Split Top Bread Mean?
The meaning is very simple. Before placing the loaf pan in the oven, a chef uses a knife to make a shallow cut on top of the loaf. This cut releases the tension inside the bread dough and allows it to rise higher, giving it an airy texture and a softer crumb.
Is Split Top Bread Healthy?
Before tossing a loaf of split-top bread in your shopping cart, ensure you’ve selected the healthiest option. Healthy split-top bread contains whole grain flour to provide optimal nutrition. Whole grain split-top bread is rich in nutrients like fiber, protein, and B vitamins.
As long as you can tolerate wheat and other grains, split-top whole grain bread is a nice option for a healthy diet.
Split top Whole Wheat bread Vs. Whole Grain Bread – What’s the difference?
Split top wheat bread and whole-grain bread are similar but not the same. The word “whole” is vital and means that they both contain fully intact grains.
Split Top Whole Wheat Bread
This is made up of wheat kernels that still contain bran, germ, and endosperm. Keeping all parts of the kernel means the bread is more nutritious and takes longer for our bodies to digest.
Split Top Whole Grain Bread
This also contains the entire kernel of wheat and other whole grains like oats, brown rice, or barley. Whole wheat bread is just one type of whole-grain bread.
The Best Split Top Bread Brands
Here are our favorite split-top bread brands to find online. Psst! You can also make homemade split-top bread, and you’ll find our recipe below!
Homemade Split-Top Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 c. stone-ground whole wheat or graham flour
- 2 pkgs. quick-acting active dry yeast
- 2/3 c. honey
- 1/4 c. shortening
- 1 tbsp. salt
- 2 1/4 c. warm water (120-130 degrees)
- 3 to 4 c. all-purpose or unbleached flour
- 1/4 c. butter
Steps
- Mix whole wheat flour, warm water, honey, shortening, salt, and yeast in a bowl. Stir in enough flour to make the dough easy to handle.
- Turn dough on a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic.
- Place dough in a greased bowl. Then, cover the dough and let rise in a warm place until double.
- Divide dough into halves. Let rest 5 minutes.
- Flatten each half with a pin on a lightly floured surface. Make dough rolls and pinch edges of dough to seal well.
- Place loaves in greased loaf pans. Brush loaves lightly with butter and sprinkle oats or whole wheat flour if desired. Let the loaves rest until double.
- Use a slightly sharp knife to create a 3/4 inch split down the middle of the loaf. Pour in melted butter mixed with some honey.
- Bake at 375 degrees for 40-45 minutes.
- Done!
