Ingredients
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4 3/4 cups bread flour (about 20 1/4 ounces), plus more for dusting
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1/3 cup granulated sugar
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2 1/4 teaspoons fine sea salt
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2 (1/4-ounce) envelopes quick-rising yeast
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1 cup whole milk
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2/3 cup heavy cream
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7 tablespoons powdered milk
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1 large egg
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Cooking spray
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1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted, divided, plus more for brushing
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Flaky sea salt, for garnish
Directions
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Combine flour, sugar, salt, and yeast in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Whisk together milk, cream, and powdered milk in a medium bowl. Whisk in egg.
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Add milk mixture to flour mixture. Beat on medium-low speed until combined, about 2 minutes.
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Fit mixer with the dough hook attachment. Beat on medium speed until dough is smooth, about 10 minutes. (Pull up a section of dough, and stretch as thin as possible. If dough is see-through but does not rip, your dough is complete. If it rips, continue beating until dough can be stretched.)
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Lightly grease a large bowl with cooking spray, and place dough in greased bowl, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise until almost doubled in size, about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
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Transfer dough to a work surface; cut into thirds. Flatten each piece, and tightly roll into tubes. Place tubes, seam sides down, on work surface; cover with lightly greased plastic wrap. Let rest 15 minutes.
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Working with 1 dough piece at a time, roll into a 20- x 12-inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface. Brush with a scant 1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter; cut lengthwise into four strips, and cut strips crosswise into six strips each, making 24 rectangles. Stack all 24 dough rectangles. Repeat with remaining two dough pieces and remaining melted butter. Arrange stacks in a lightly greased tube pan, standing up like little books, allowing gaps between dough pieces.
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Cover pan with lightly greased plastic wrap, and let stand in a warm place (80°F), free from drafts, until dough just reaches top edges of pan, about 1 hour. Preheat oven to 325°F.
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Remove plastic wrap, and bake in preheated oven until bread is golden brown and puffed, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let stand in pan 5 minutes. Remove from pan, and place on a platter. Brush with melted butter, and sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
To serve
Slather it with cranberry sauce (or, like us, Cranberry Kosho), dip it in gravy, and save any leftovers for French toast the morning after.