Chocolate Bread Loaves

Do you enjoy the smell of freshly baked bread?  Have you imagined the smell of freshly baked chocolate bread?  Here's your chance.  Give this recipe a go. 

As with any homemade bread, it takes time but is well worth it.

Chocolate Bread (Mini Loaves)

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour or bread flour
• 1 cup warm water (105-115°)
• 2 envelopes dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons honey
 
• 1 cup lukewarm milk (95°F)
• 3 tablespoons butter, melted
• 4-5 cups all-purpose flour or bread flour
• 8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
 
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 tablespoons whipping cream
• Sugar
 

Whisk 1 1/2 cups flour, water, yeast and honey in large bowl until smooth.  Cover with plastic.  Let stand in warm draft-free area 1 hour. 
 
Stir down previous mixture using wooden spoon.  Blend in milk, butter, and salt.  Mix in enough flour 1/2 cup at a time to form soft dough.  Knead on floured surface until smooth and no longer sticky, adding more flour if necessary, about 10 minutes. 
 
Grease a large bowl.  Add dough, turning to coat entire surface.  Cover bowl with plastic.  Let rise in warm draft-free area until doubled, about 1 1/4 hours. 
 
Grease eight 2 1/2 x 4 1/2-inch loaf pans.  Gently knead dough on lightly floured surface until deflated.  Pat out to 3/4 inch-thick rectangle.  Cut into 8 even pieces.  Pat each out into 4x7-inch rectangle.  Sprinkle 1 ounce chopped pieces of chocolate on short end of each.  Roll up jelly roll fashion.  Pinch seam and ends to seal.  Arrange seam side down in prepared pans.  Cover with kitchen towel.  Let rise for 15 minutes.
 
Make a glaze by combining the beaten egg with whipping cream.
 
Preheat oven to 375°.  Brush loaves with egg glaze and sprinkle with sugar.  Bake until light brown and loaves sound hollow when tapped on bottom, about 30 minutes.  Immediately remove from pans.  Cool on racks 10 minutes.  Serve loaves hot. 

Enjoy!

Bryn Kirk

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