Saturday, July 07, 2001


we haven't talked about bread recently have we? so here's a little italian chocolate bread you might enjoy!

use high-quality chocolate and cocoa for this bread -- valrhona or scharffen-berger are my recommendations. this is a light "pane al cioccolato," not too much chocolate, not too rich.

3 c. (13-1/2 oz.) King Arthur European-style Artisan bread flour
1-1/2 tablespoons cocoa
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt

sift these ingredients together in the bowl of your stand mixer. make a well in the center.

1 teaspoon SAF yeast
1 cup (8 oz) water

pour these into the center of the well, attach the paddle beater, and mix to a soft dough.

2 tablespoons softened Plugra/Keller's European-style butter

add these to the dough and mix for 1 min. switch to the dough hook and knead the dough for 5-10 mins. until smooth and elastic. the dough may be a little soft and tacky. tear a piece of plastic wrap large enough to cover the bowl. place the dough on the plastic, wash the bowl quickly, and lightly oil it. put the dough back in the oiled bowl, cover with the plastic, and let rise until doubled, about 1-1/2 hours. in warm weather, it will rise faster, so check periodically.

3 oz. chopped high-quality chocolate, 56-70%, depending on what you like

gently deflate the dough. spread it out into a rough rectangle on a board or the plastic and sprinkle with the chocolate. gently knead the dough for a minute or two to distribute the chocolate evenly. let the dough rest for 5 mins. shape it into 1 large round or 2 small rounds. let rest 5 mins.

lightly oil a 6-inch round deep souffle or cake pan. place the dough in the pan, cover with the plastic, and let rise again until double in bulk, about 45 mins. the dough should come up to the top of the pan.

preheat your oven to 425 degrees. bake the bread for 10 mins.; reduce heat to 375 degrees. bake another 25-30 mins. or until the internal temperature of the loaf is 195 degrees. brush the loaf with melted butter, remove from pan, and let cool on a wire rack for 1 hour.

posted by fortune | 6:51 PM | top | link to this | email this: | | | 0 comments