Whole Wheat Mocha Bread Recipe

Delicious, Easy Homemade Loaf Goes with Anything

Oct 22, 2009 Nancy Baker

This dense bread with a warm, hearty taste goes well with soups, cheeses, or in sandwiches. Despite the honey and cocoa, it is not sweet. It freezes well.

Although you might expect a bread made with honey and cocoa to be a dessert bread, this loaf is perfect for everyday meals. It is a dense bread with a lovely dark color from the cocoa and coffee, neither of which is easily detectable in the taste. Instead, these unusual ingredients add body and depth to the flavors of the rye and whole wheat flours.

Whole Wheat Mocha Bread Recipe

Makes 2 loaves.

Ingredients

  • 5 tsp. active dry yeast
  • 1 c. warm water
  • 1/2 c. honey
  • 1 c. warm skim milk
  • 2 tsp. salt
  • 2 c. whole wheat flour
  • 2 1/2 - 3 c. bread flour
  • 1 c. rye flour
  • 1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 Tbsp. instant coffee crystals
  • 2 Tbsp. cooking oil

Directions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water, honey, and yeast. Stir to dissolve the yeast and let rest 5 minutes to proof.
  2. Stir in the warm milk, rye flour, cocoa, coffee, oil, and salt. Mix well using mixer paddle. Then switch to the bread hook and add the whole wheat flour, 1 cup at a time. Next, add 2 cups bread flour, 1 cup at a time.
  3. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead in enough of the remaining flour to make the dough moderately stiff. It should be smooth and elastic. This will take about 6 to 8 minutes.
  4. Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a greased bowl. Turn it to coat with oil, cover, and let rise until double (about one hour). Punch down the dough, turn it onto a lightly floured surface and divide in half. Cover the dough and let it rest 10 minutes. Form each half into a loaf, either round or oval. Place the loaves on a greased baking sheet, cover, and let rise until double (30-40 minutes).
  5. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 to 30 minutes. The loaf should sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. Let bread cool on a rack.

Additional options

Because this bread is very savory on its own, any herbs added to it should be fairly robust in flavor. Rosemary, oregano, and basil work well, as do caraway, cumin, and coriander. Herbs should be added while kneading the bread. If two loaves of different flavors are desired, the herbs can be kneaded in just after the dough is split, before it is allowed to rest.

For a shinier top, the top of the loaf can be brushed with an egg wash just before baking. This also allows the top of the loaf to be sprinkled with seeds if desired.

This dough can be braided rather than made into loaves, for a more festive look. Braids require a bit less time to bake, about 20-25 minutes. Braids are also quite lovely when brushed with egg wash and sprinkled with kosher salt.

This bread is very good when served with Easy Farmer's Market Borscht or spread with cream cheese and topped with fresh sliced tomato.

The copyright of the article Whole Wheat Mocha Bread Recipe in Recipes is owned by Nancy Baker. Permission to republish Whole Wheat Mocha Bread Recipe in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
Delicious Mocha Bread with sour cream, richard_b
Delicious Mocha Bread with sour cream
    
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