Sweet Toast Box

In this Instructable, I will explain how to create a Sweet Toast Box.

The box has two main parts - the making of the bread, and the decorating of the actual box. The entire process took me about 4 hours. This project only requires minimal experience, so I encourage you to follow along with me.

Supplies:

• A large bowl
• A loaf pan
• A bread knife

Ingredients (yields two bread boxes):

• 1 cup of warm water
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 3/4 tablespoons dry yeast
• 3/4 teaspoons salt
• 1/8 cup vegetable oil
• 3 cups flour
• Assorted fruits
• Stick of butter
• Whipped cream (optional)
• Powdered sugar (optional)

Dissolve half a tablespoon of sugar into a bowl or cup of warm water, and stir in the yeast. Let the yeast sit for a few minutes until it looks creamy.

Note: Make sure the water isn't too hot, to prevent the yeast from dying. A good temperature for yeast is typically 110 degrees Fahrenheit, or around 45 degrees Celsius.

Mix in the remaining sugar, salt, and oil. If needed, transfer the mixture to a larger bowl. After that, mix in the flour slowly, one cup at a time. The dough should feel slightly sticky, but not stick to the sides of the bowl.

Note: If the dough feels too sticky or too dry, add in warm water or flour until it feels right.

After the ingredients are mixed in, knead the dough for around 5 minutes. Put the dough into an oiled bowl, turning the dough to coat all sides with the oil, and cover the bowl with a damp cloth. Let it sit for an hour, or until it has doubled in size.

After it has been given enough time to rise, take the dough out of the bowl and punch it down. Knead it for another minute. Shape it into the shape of a loaf of bread, and place it into a loaf pan greased with butter beforehand. Place it under a damp cloth and let it rise for another 30 minutes.

Bake the bread at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, or 175 degrees Celsius, for about 30 to 40 minutes. After taking the loaf out of the oven, take the loaf out of the pan and place it on a separate plate.

Note: I used a 9x5 inch loaf pan. The amount of time required for the dough to rise and bake may differ from pan to pan.

Cut the loaf into two squares. Flip the squares over, so that the cut side is on top. After that, use the butter knife to cut around the perimeter, making sure not to cut too close to the edge. I cut the middle section into 6 pieces, to make it easier to remove. Cut the bread taken from the middle into smaller pieces, to make it easier in the next few steps. You should end up with two hollow bread boxes.

Note: To make sure I didn't accidentally cut through the bottom of the box, I wrapped a rubber band on the knife to mark the depth I wanted it to cut too.

Using a brush, brush melted butter onto the insides and the top of the bread box, as well as the pieces of bread cut from the middle of the box. This step prevents the box from becoming soggy later on, and gives the box an even brown tone.

Once the butter has been spread evenly on the box, put the box back into the oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit to bake for about 5 to 10 minutes. At the end, the box should be a golden-brown hue.

Note: The middle parts may take a bit longer to bake. You can take the box out when it looks ready, and leave it to cool while waiting for the middle parts.

Place the baked middle pieces back into the box. It should fill up the bottom half of the box, but leave room at the top for toppings.

Note: The box doesn't have to be filled perfectly. Small gaps in between the sides is fine, as long as the gaps aren't too large.

You're almost finished! Add the toppings on the box. I chose a variety of fruits, including pears, mangos, and kiwis, as well as a marshmallow and gummy bears. You can add almost anything, and arrange the toppings any way you want.

This step is optional, but I've found that it adds to the overall look. I used whipped cream to fill in gaps between the fruit, and sprinkled powdered sugar on top of the final product. You can also use different items here, such as frosting or chocolate sauce.

The Sweet Toast Box is finished! This unique treat is a delight to look at and eat. I highly encourage you to try this Instructable out yourself.

I'd love to hear what you think about this project in the comments.

I hope you enjoyed this Instructable!