Chocolate Chip French Bread


I bake bread and homemade pizza quite a bit in our home. There's nothing like the smell of homemade bread coming out of the oven. Slathering some butter on a hot bun, maybe some salt and pepper and a little Parmesan cheese. You could dip that hot bread in olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
Oh yes !
Or the taste and crunch of homemade pizza crust, with homemade sauce and the toppings of your choice !
 
 But, sometimes you want something a little sweet in that bread.
I've altered my basic bread dough recipe,  into a chocolate chip french loaf. By adding  vanilla, and semi sweet chocolate chips, I have created a family favorite. You can add anything you'd like to this bread.  You could add nuts,  dried fruit, and different spices like cinnamon. Something I will definitely be showing you in the future.

I hope you enjoy the video and give the recipe a try ! You will not be disappointed.

Chocolate Chip French Bread

2 1/2 C warm water
4 tsp active dry yeast
3 tblspn Sugar
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp vanilla extract ( more if you prefer )
3 tblspn Olive Oil
5-6 C All purpose Flour
12 oz semi sweet chocolate chips ( Can use mini chocolate chips too )



Using my Kitchen Aide

Add warm water, sugar and yeast to the bowl. Let sit 10min until bubbly or foamy.
Add two cups of flour and salt. Mix on low until incorporated.
Add olive oil and continue mixing. Stop to scrape the bowl, to make sure nothing is stuck at the bottom. Add Vanilla and mix on low-med speed.
Continue adding flour, one cup at a time, until dough no longer sticks to the bowl.
Turn the speed up to med/high to knead the dough in the mixer for a bit.( 5min or so )
Gently remove dough, from bowl, onto a lightly floured surface. Knead dough for an additional 5-7 minutes until smooth and bouncy.
Lightly flour mixer bowl or a large bowl, cover with suran wrap and let rise, in a warm area,  until doubled in size. ( approximately 30-60min)

Again, gently remove risen dough from bowl onto a lightly floured surface. At this point you may cut the dough in half or into 3 separate, yet equal sized rounds.
 Roll dough out into a rectangle or oval shape. Sprinkle chocolate chips over dough, then roll dough
like a cinnamon roll. Tuck the ends under and pinch the flap together. Sealing all sides. Do this with your fingers and remaining sections of dough.
Lightly grease a baking sheet with oil or vegetable shortening. Place loaves on baking sheet and cover with a kitchen towel or lightly with suran wrap and let rise again for 30 min.
Preheat over to 350*F
Gently score the top of the loaf/loaves.
Bake at 350*F  25-30 min until golden brown

If you make ONE large loaf ( like I did) you will need to bake for 45-50 min .
Let cool on a cooling rack .
Carefully,  slice bread and eat it hot out of the oven with butter !

Enjoy !!
Here is the video tutorial - just click the link below  :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEz2VGLBavk