Twist bread facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Twist bread

Baking twist bread over an open fire
Alternative names	Stick bread, campfire bread
Type	Bread
Main ingredients	Dough with leavening agent (usually yeast)

Twist bread, also known as stokbrood, snobrød, or campfire bread, is a fun type of bread you can bake over an open fire. You make it by rolling dough into a long shape, twisting it around a stick, and then cooking it over the heat.

The dough for twist bread is like regular bread dough. It usually has yeast to make it rise and become fluffy. Sometimes, baking powder can be used instead.

Choosing Your Stick

To make twist bread, you need a good stick! The best sticks are:

• Fairly straight.
• Made from wood that is safe and won't make your bread taste bad. Good choices are birch, hazel, or willow trees.
• About 1.5 to 2 centimeters thick at the end where the dough goes.
• Long enough so you can hold it comfortably away from the fire.

You need to prepare the stick by carefully removing the bark from the last 15 to 20 centimeters of the end. This is where you will wrap your dough. Be careful not to use a stick that is too thin, as it might bend.

Getting the Fire Ready

The fire needs to be just right for baking twist bread. You want a fire with mostly glowing embers, not big flames.

• Let your bonfire burn down slowly.
• The best wood for this comes from hardwood trees like beech and oak.
• Avoid wood from poplar or aspen trees, as they can create sour smoke.
• Also, avoid conifer trees like fir. They don't make many glowing embers and can spark a lot, which isn't good for cooking.

Once the fire has burned down, you can spread out the embers a little. This gives you enough space to cook your twist bread evenly.

Making and Baking the Bread

When your fire is ready, it's time to make the bread!

• Roll your dough into a long, thin "sausage" shape. Make it thick enough so it won't break when you wrap it.
• Twist the dough around the peeled end of your stick, starting from the outside.
• Pinch the ends of the dough together firmly so it doesn't unroll while cooking.

Now, hold your stick with the dough over the glowing coals, not in the flames.

• Keep the bread about 15 to 30 centimeters away from the heat.
• Turn the stick often so the bread bakes evenly on all sides.
• If your arms get tired, you can rest the stick on a log to keep it steady.

Enjoying Your Twist Bread

You'll know your twist bread is done when it sounds hollow if you gently tap it with a knife.

• Let it cool down a bit before carefully pulling it off the stick.
• You can eat twist bread plain, or add toppings like butter, marmalade, or cheese.
• If your stick was shaped like a hot dog, you can put ketchup, mustard, or even a cooked sausage inside the hole left by the stick! Just make sure there are no cracks in the bread if you plan to fill it.

Traditions

Twist bread is often made and eaten during celebrations like Sankt Hans Aften. This holiday, also known as Midsummer's Eve, happens around the longest day of the year. It's a time for friends and family to gather, light bonfires, and enjoy being together, often by cooking tasty food like twist bread.