Lemon Bubble Bread

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine 2 cups of flour, 1/2 cup of sugar, yeast, and salt. (5 minutes)

In a saucepan, gently warm the milk, water, and 4 tablespoons of butter over low heat until lukewarm. Pour the warm mixture into the flour mixture. Mix on low speed until just combined, then increase the speed to medium. Add the eggs and beat for 2 minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Gradually add up to 2 more cups of flour, mixing until a soft dough forms. (10 minutes)

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. The dough will be sticky; use a scraper and add the remaining flour only as necessary. Shape the dough into a ball, place it in a greased bowl, and turn to coat. Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size. (70 minutes)

Punch down the risen dough, starting from the center and working toward the edges. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and divide it in half. Cover the halves with a bowl and let them rest for 15 minutes. (17 minutes)

In a small bowl, combine the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar, lemon zest, and mace. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a small pan. Grease a 10-inch fluted tube pan with cooking spray. (8 minutes)

Cut each dough half into 16 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a ball by tucking the ends underneath. Dip the tops of the balls in the melted butter, and arrange half of the balls in the prepared tube pan. Sprinkle with half of the lemon-sugar mixture. Repeat with the remaining dough balls, butter, and lemon-sugar mixture. Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place for about 45 minutes, or until doubled. (60 minutes)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place the tube pan on a baking sheet. (10 minutes)

Bake in the preheated oven for about 35 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then remove and cool completely on a wire rack. (40 minutes)