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Nigerian Spiced Sweet Bread

Also known as Nigerian Spiced Sweet Bread (Agidi Sweet Loaf)

Nigerian Spiced Sweet Bread is the fragrant, slightly dense, subtly spiced sweet loaf that sits alongside Agege Bread in the Nigerian bakery tradition as the perfect accompaniment to Ewa Agoyin, sardine stew or simply eaten plain with tea. Enriched with eggs, sugar, butter and evaporated milk, and fragrant with nutmeg and vanilla, it is softer, more golden and more richly flavoured than standard white bread.

Nigerian Spiced Sweet Bread, Nigerian cooking

Ingredients

  • 4 big cups of plain flour
  • 3 big big tablespoons of sugar
  • 1 and a half teaspoons of instant dry yeast
  • 1 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 teaspoon of ground nutmeg
  • Half a teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 2 big eggs
  • Half a tin of evaporated milk
  • 2 cooking spoons of butter, softened
  • Warm water — as needed
  • 1 egg beaten with milk — for egg washing the top

Method

  1. 01

    Making the Enriched Sweet Dough. Combine flour, sugar, yeast, salt and nutmeg in a large bowl. Add vanilla, beaten eggs, warm evaporated milk and softened butter. Mix together. Add warm water gradually until a smooth, soft, slightly sticky dough forms — softer than standard bread dough.

  2. 02

    Kneading. Knead for 8 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a lightly oiled bowl, cover and prove in a warm place for 1 hour until doubled.

  3. 03

    Shaping. Knock back the dough. Shape into a smooth loaf and place in a greased loaf tin or shape into rolls. Cover and prove for a further 30 minutes.

  4. 04

    Egg Washing and Baking. Brush the top of the loaf with beaten egg wash for a beautiful golden, glossy top. Bake in a moderate to hot preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes until deep golden and hollow-sounding when tapped.

  5. 05

    Cooling. Cool in the tin for 10 minutes. Turn out onto a rack and allow to cool for at least 20 minutes before slicing.

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