Zoom past the bakery and head straight home to make bread. It’s not as difficult as you might think, and once you’ve done it, there’s really no going back. This dark rye recipe delivers two delicious loaves that you’ll swear a pro baked. To get dark rye, you’ll need cocoa to give it a rich brown color, but the addition of cocoa powder won’t make your bread taste chocolaty. The small amount used just complements the richness of the molasses and the nutty sharpness of caraway. With the science-y mixing, the Zen-like act of kneading, the magic of the rising dough and the aromatherapy of fresh-baked bread, you’ll see what the bread-making buzz is all about.
Homemade Dark Rye Bread
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Rest 2 hours
Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Servings 2 loaves
Calories 1887 kcal
Ingredients
- 2 pkgs. active dry yeast 4-1/2 tsp. or 16 g
- 2-1/2 cups warm water barely warm to the touch
- 2/3 cup unsulfured molasses
- 2 Tbsp. caraway seeds optional
- 1 Tbsp. salt
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups rye flour
- 5 cups bread flour
Instructions
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In large metal bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water with molasses.
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To bowl, add (one at a time, stirring after each) salt, caraway seeds, oil, cocoa, all the rye flour and 2 cups of bread flour. Continue to add bread flour, one cup at a time, until dough is not as sticky and becomes too hard to mix with wooden spoon. (Note: Make sure you don't see any flour bits or clumps.)
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Onto clean flat surface, sprinkle ½ cup flour and place dough. Knead for 5-7 minutes, pulling back toward you and then pressing and stretching forward until it reaches smooth, elastic consistency.
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Coat large bowl with vegetable oil. Add dough, turning to coat in oil. Cover with damp cloth and let dough rise at room temperature 1 to 1-1/2 hours.
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Once risen, place dough on floured, flat surface and knead a few more turns.
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Cut dough into two halves and shape into loaves.
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. (Note: If using baking stone, place in oven prior to preheating.)
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Arrange loaves in two oiled 8x4-inch bread pans. Let dough rise again to about twice its volume, about 30 minutes. (Note: After 30 minutes, dough will be visible over top of pan.)
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Bake for 45 minutes.
Recipe Notes
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Nutrition Facts
Homemade Dark Rye Bread
Amount Per Serving
Calories 1887
Calories from Fat 99
% Daily Value*
Fat 11g17%
Saturated Fat 2g10%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4g
Monounsaturated Fat 2g
Sodium 2925mg122%
Potassium 2712mg77%
Carbohydrates 402g134%
Fiber 29g116%
Sugar 86g96%
Protein 54g108%
Vitamin A 60IU1%
Vitamin C 3mg4%
Calcium 423mg42%
Iron 15mg83%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.