This bread is an easy one to make if you are new to bread making. It’s a simple white loaf recipe but has the perfect combination of pecan nuts and maple syrup to make a slightly sweet and nutty loaf. It can be made into two small loaves using a tin, however if you are going for a more rustic look it is very satisfying to leave it to bake in a large free form loaf.

1. Mix together the flour, yeast and salt in a bowl and make a well in the middle.
2. Add in the maple syrup and three quarters of the water and mix using your hands or a wooden spoon until well combined.
3. Keep adding water a 1tbsp at a time until you reach a soft but not tacky dough.
4. Tip onto a floured surface and knead for for 10 minutes by hand until it becomes elastic and when brought into a ball it springs back when gently pressed.
5. Keep the dough in an oiled bowl and loosely cover with cling film. Allow it to rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
6. Tip the dough out and punch out the air to knock it back. Add in the chopped pecans and knead them in until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
7. Shape the dough into a tight ball with any folds on the underside and place on a lightly floured baking tray again covered loosely with oiled cling film.
8. Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan.
9. When the dough has doubled in size, take off the cling film and using a sharp knife lightly score the bread going a few cm into the bread
10. Sprinkle with a little flour and bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes.
11. When the bread is done it should be a deep golden brown colour and when the underside is tapped it will sound hollow.
12. Leave to cool on a wire rack completely before serving.

And of course, if you love bread as much as I do be sure to check these kaiser rolls, they are amazing!