A banneton, or brotform, is a basket or mold used often in the process of baking artisan bread. Used mainly with wet dough, a banneton gives the dough support during the final rising stage, but it is removed before baking the bread. The mold is usually made of thin wood, wrapped in coils or woven together in pieces, and is occasionally lined with light cloth. Since doughs that need support are often sticky, bakers rub flour into the wood or cloth before using the mold. Some bakers like to use bannetons because, if handled carefully, the dough will keep the design of the wood even after it is baked.
The main purpose of a banneton is to keep the bread from spreading out too thin during the final rise. A number of bread doughs go through two rising, or proofing, stages. The first stage of rising is often done right in the mixing bowl. After the first rise, the dough is punched down, kneaded, and left to rise again before baking. The second rise can take place in the baking pan, but some doughs are baked on flat pans or baking stones. Wet doughs can be placed in bannetons during the second rise to help keep their shape.