Individual Loaded Baked Potato Pull-Apart Bread

Ingredients

• For the bread:
• 3 – 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp. instant or dry-active yeast
• 2/3 cup lukewarm water, divided
• 2 Tbsp. potato flour OR 1/4 cup instant potato flakes
• 3 Tbsp. dried milk powder (can omit, but replace 1/3 cup of the water with lukewarm milk)
• 2 Tbsp. white sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• 4 Tbsp. soft butter
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• For the filling:
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 cup finely chopped green onion, green part only
• 5 slices bacon, cooked, cooled and crumbled

Instructions

1. In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a kneading hook, combine the yeast with 1/3 cup warm water and let stand 5 minutes. Add remaining 1/3 cup water (or milk, if you aren't using dried milk powder). Add the potato flour, milk powder (if using), sugar, salt, soft butter and sour cream. Stir to combine well. Add 2 cups of the flour and mix until combined. Begin adding more flour 1/4 cup at a time, kneading, until dough comes together and is elastic and moist, but not sticky.
2. Grease a large bowl and add dough to bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside to rise until doubled, 60-90 minutes. While dough is rising, prepare the filling ingredients. Grease a 6-loaf mini loaf pan or a 9×5-inch loaf pan.
3. Remove dough to a well-floured surface that you can cut on. Roll in to a 12-inch by 18-inch rectangle. Sprinkle dough with shredded cheddar cheese and press lightly in to dough. Sprinkle with crumbled bacon and chopped green onion.
4. To make individual mini-breads: Using a sharp knife or a pizza cutter, with the shorter 12-inch side closest to you, cut dough into six 2-inch strips, cutting from top to bottom. Make one cut across the middle from right to left to make 12 strips total. Starting with the top 6 strips, carefully stack the strips one on top of the other. If some of the filling falls off, just pick it up and place back on top before adding the next piece. Repeat with the bottom 6 strips. You will now have two stacks, roughly 2-inches wide by 9-inches long. Using a sharp knife, cut each stack in to 3 even pieces, to make a total of 6 pieces of about 3-inches by 3-inches. Cut eat of these pieces in half, to make a total of 12 pieces. Place two pieces in to each mini loaf cup. Spray a piece of plastic wrap and place it sprayed side down over the mini loaf pan. Allow to rise until puffy, about 45-60 minutes.
5. For one 9×5-inch loaf: Using a sharp knife or a pizza cutter, with the shorter 12-inch side closest to you, cut dough in to four 3-inch strips, cutting from top to bottom. Make one cut across the middle from right to left, to make 8 strips total. Starting with the top 4 strips, carefully stack the strips on on top of the other. If some of the filling falls off, just pick it up and place back on top before adding the next piece. Repeat with the bottom 4 strips. You will now have two stacks, roughly 3-inches wide by 9-inches long. Cut each stack in half, to make a total of 4 pieces that are 3-inches by 4 1/2-inches. Place stack pieces side by side in to prepared 9×5-inch loaf, with the wider side down. Spray a piece of plastic wrap and place it sprayed side down over the mini loaf pan. Allow to rise until puffy, about 45-60 minutes.
6. When dough is about ready, preheat oven to 350° F. Bake in preheated oven until golden brown and they sound hollow when tapped on top, 25-30 minutes.