Massa Sovada - Portuguese Sweet Bread

Total Time: 5 hrs 30 mins Preparation Time: 5 hrs Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 10
• active dry yeast, 2 packages
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 cup milk, scalded
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• all-purpose flour, 6 cans
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups raisins (optional)

Recipe

• 1 in a small bowl dissolve yeast in warm water and allow to proof, about 10 minutes.
• 2 scald milk and stir in sugar, butter and salt. stir until butter is melted.
• 3 combine cinnamon and flour.
• 4 add half the flour to the milk and mix until smooth.
• 5 beat 3 eggs and add them and the yeast to the mixture. continue adding flour to make a soft dough.
• 6 turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and satiny, about 15 minutes.
• 7 knead raisins in at this point, if using.
• 8 shape into a ball and place into a well buttered bowl, turning to cover, and allow to rise until doubled in bulk, 2 1/2 - 3 hours.
• 9 punch dough down and divide in half.
• 10 place in two greased loaf pans and allow to rise until doubled in bulk, 1 1/2 - 2 hours.
• 11 preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• 12 beat remaining egg. brush tops of loaves with egg.
• 13 bake for 20 - 30 minutes or until golden and hollow sounding when thumped on the bottom.
• 14 cool on wire racks.