Black Bread
 
Cook time
Total time
 
Recipe type: Breads
Serves: 2 loaves
Ingredients
  • 1½ Tablespoons active dry yeast
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ½ cup warm water, 105-115 degrees
  • 2 cups water
  • ¼ cup molasses
  • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
  • 4 Tablespooons butter
  • 1 oz unsweetened chocolate
  • ½ cup whole wheat flour
  • 3 cups rye flour
  • 3 cups all purpose or bread flour
  • 1 cup bran
  • 1-2 Tablespoons caraway seeds
  • ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
  • 1 Tablespoon salt
  • ½-1 Tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 Tablespoon instant coffee or espresso powder
  • ¼ cup cornmeal, optional
Instructions
  1. Dissolve the yeast and sugar in the warm water. Set it aside for about 5 minutes until it foams.
  2. Meanwhile combine the 2 cups water, molasses, vinegar, chocolate and butter until the chocolate and butter melt. Set aside to cool off. It needs to be cooled to 105-115 degrees.
  3. Whisk all the flour together in one bowl. Set aside.
  4. Grind the fennel and caraway seeds in a spice grinder or coffee grinder.
  5. Combine 2 cups of the mixed flour, bran, ground fennel and caraway, instant coffee, onion powder and salt. Mix in a large bowl of a standing mixer. (You can also make this bread by hand, using a large wooden spoon and kneading by hand.)
  6. Add the yeast mixture and the cooled off but still warm chocolate and butter mixture. Mix to combine. Keep adding the rest of the flour a little bit at a time until the dough is sticky and firm. Knead the dough on the counter top until it's smooth.
  7. Place into a large greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm place to rise until it doubles, about 1½ - 2 hours.
  8. When the dough has doubled, divide it in half and shape each into a round loaf. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet, (sprinkle with cornmeal, if yo like, and place the bread loaves on top of the cornmeal.) Cover loosely with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and set aside until it doubles in size, 45 minutes - 1 hour.
  9. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Make and X slash on top of each loaf right before you put it in the oven, either with a sharp knife or a razor blade. Bake 45-50 minutes, until the loaves are well browned.
Recipe by Olga's Flavor Factory at https://www.olgasflavorfactory.com/?p=4611