Brown Bread

Ingredients

Directions

  1. Activate Yeast: Mix water, yeast, and sugar; let sit 3-5 minutes until frothy.
  2. Make Dough: In a stand mixer, combine flours, brown sugar, cocoa, and salt. Add yeast mixture, oil, honey, and molasses. Mix with dough hook for ~5 minutes, adding flour as needed until smooth and non-sticky.
  3. First Rise: Shape into a ball, spray lightly, and let rise in a warm spot for 1-1½ hours until doubled.
  4. Prep Pan: Line baking sheet or French bread pan with parchment and sprinkle cornmeal.
  5. Shape Loaves: Punch down dough, divide into 4 pieces, roll into rectangles, then shape into 8-9" logs. Pinch ends to seal.
  6. Second Rise: Place on prepared sheet, score tops, brush with water, sprinkle oats. Cover and rise 30-40 minutes until nearly doubled.
  7. Bake: Preheat oven to 350°F with an empty sheet on the bottom rack. Add ice cubes to bottom sheet for steam when placing loaves on the middle rack. Bake 25-30 minutes (internal temp 190-200°F).

Chef's Notes

Baking Timeline

Step Direction Time (min) Notes
1 Proof yeast 5
2 Combine and knead 5
3 Shape and proof 90
4 Roll, score, oat topping, proof 40
5 Bake @350 30 Add ice cubes in spare baking sheet


Michael Fritsche
mbf@fritsche.org