1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
1-1/4 cups warm 2% milk (110° to 115°)
2-1/2 cups bread flour
1/3 cup butter, melted
2 tablespoons sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 to 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
TOPPING:
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, apple pie spice or ground cinnamon
1/4 cup butter, melted
In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk. Add bread flour, butter, sugar, egg and salt. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in enough all-purpose flour to form a firm dough.
Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
In a pie plate, combine sugar and pie spice. Pour melted butter into another pie plate. Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Shape into a loaf. Using a sharp knife, make 4 very deep slits straight across bread dough (without cutting all the way through the loaf). Roll dough in butter, massaging butter onto all surfaces until dough is thoroughly coated. Roll dough in sugar mixture, firmly pressing mixture onto dough. Place dough in a parchment-lined 9x5-in. loaf pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350°.
Bake until golden brown, 30-40 minutes. (Cover loosely with foil if top browns too quickly.) Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Serve warm.