Posted on Thursday, July 13, 2023 in Bread Recipes

Portuguese Sweet Bread (1 loaf)

Portuguese sweet bread, also known as massa sovada, is a traditional bread that holds a special place in Portuguese cuisine and culture. With its rich history and unique flavor, Portuguese sweet bread has become a beloved treat enjoyed by many.
5 out of 5 with 24 ratings
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Portuguese Sweet Bread (1 loaf)

Preparation time 20 min
Cooking Time1 h
Ready In6 h
Level of DifficultyEasy
Servings6

Ingredients

1 cup of milk1 and 1/3 cups of sugar2 tablespoons of vegetable shortening or lard1/3 cup of butter (room temperature)1/2 teaspoon of saltZest of 1 lemon3 eggs4 and 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour2 tablespoons of vegetable oil (to use 1 tablespoon at a time)Yeast:1 teaspoon of all-purpose flour1 tablespoon of sugar1 and 1/2 tablespoons of active dry yeast1/3 cup of luke warm waterEgg wash:1 egg1 tablespoon of water
1 cup of milk1 and 1/3 cups of sugar2 tablespoons of vegetable shortening or lard1/3 cup of butter (room temperature)1/2 teaspoon of saltZest of 1 lemon3 eggs4 and 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour2 tablespoons of vegetable oil (to use 1 tablespoon at a time)Yeast:1 teaspoon of all-purpose flour1 tablespoon of sugar1 and 1/2 tablespoons of active dry yeast1/3 cup of luke warm waterEgg wash:1 egg1 tablespoon of water
Get Portuguese ingredients

Preparation

Milk & Butter Mix:

  1. Heat a sauce pan over medium heat, add the milk, sugar, shortening or lard, butter, salt and the zest of 1 lemon, stir well so everything is well conbined and bring to a boil.
  2. When it does come to a boil, remove the pan from the heat and put it aside until it is just luke warm.

Yeast: 

  1. Add the flour, sugar, active dry yeast and the 1/3 cup of luke warm warm, stir until well conbined and put aside for about 10 minutes.

Directions:

  1. Now, whisk the eggs well, add it to a large bowl, add the luke warm milk and butter mix to the bowl and stirl well.
  2. Next add the yeast to the bowl, and stir some more.
  3. Now add the flour, mix everything so it well incorporated and knead well for about 15 to 20 minutes.
  4. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel, and with the oven OFF, place the bowl in the oven for 20 minutes.
  5. After 20 minutes, remove the bowl from the oven, remove the kitchen towel and drizzle 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil all around the edges of the dough.
  6. Now fold the dough from the sides over to the top, do this for about 40 seconds.
  7. Cover the bowl and place it back in the oven (make sure oven is OFF) for another 20 minutes.
  8. After 20 minutes, pour 1 tablespoon around the edges of the bowl and fold from all around to the top for another 40 seconds.
  9. Place the covered bowl back in the oven until the dough doubles in size (about 2 and 1/2 hours).
  10. Grease a 10 inch round baking pan with 1 teaspoon of vegetable shortening or lard all the way to the top of the pan. and place the dough in the pan.
  11. Cover the pan and place it in the oven while the oven is OFF for about 1 hour and 1/2.
  12. Remove the pan from the oven, and remove the kitchen towel.
  13. Preheat the oven to 305F or 150C.
  14. Brush the egg wash over the dough in the pan.
  15. With a kitchen scissors or a sharp knife, make 3 cuts on the top of the dough (a few inces a part).
  16. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 1 hour.

 Recipe & Photo Credit: DIYwithnancyg

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Christina
Christina
Hi! On the oven temp it says 305F is it correct or supposed to be 350F?
2 Weeks ago, Sunday, December 8, 2024
reply
Port
It is correct.
2 Weeks ago, Sunday, December 8, 2024
Bella
Bella
Hi, do you have to use the vegtable shortening or you can skip it
4 Months ago, Friday, August 23, 2024
reply
Port
You can use butter instead, but because shortening is 100% fat it does add more richness and tenderness to the sweet bread.
4 Months ago, Friday, August 23, 2024
Christine Haun
Christine Haun
On step 10. After I grease this pan do I put the dough in it & place in oven for 1.5 hours. Might be a silly question but I’m not a baker. Ty
10 Months ago, Thursday, March 7, 2024
reply
Diane
Diane
Yes
3 Months ago, Sunday, September 22, 2024
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