Classic Pumpernickel Bread Recipe King Arthur Flour

CLASSIC PUMPERNICKEL BREAD - KING ARTHUR FLOUR

Steps:

• 1. Combine 1 cup of water with the the cornmeal in a saucepan and cook over low heat until thick, stirring often (about 5 minutes). Remove the pan from heat and add the molasses, butter, salt, sugar, caraway seeds and cocoa powder. Stir to combine and set aside to cool to lukewarm. 2. Put the remaining 1/2 cup water in a large mixing bowl and add the yeast. If using active dry, stir and let the mixture "proof" for 10 minutes. If using instant, no waiting time is necessary. 3. Add the molasses mixture and mashed potatoes. 4. Stir in the pumpernickel and whole wheat flour. Mix and knead the dough at medium speed for 10 minutes. 5. After the dough is kneaded, it will look like this. (still sticky) 6. Transfer the dough to a greased bowl. Sprinkle the top with flour. Cover the bowl and let rise until the dough is not quite doubled; about 1 hour. 7. When the dough is risen, it will have expanded and you'll see cracks in the flour you sprinkled. 8. Shape the dough into a loaf and place in a greased 8 1/2" by 4" loaf pan. Sprinkle the top with more flour or brush with a mixture of 1 egg white beaten with a tablespoon of water. 9. Slash the top in a decorative design, and bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 55 to 65 minutes, until the center measures 200°F when measured with an instant-read thermometer. Remove from the oven, tip out of the pan, and cool on a rack completely before slicing.

CLASSIC PUMPERNICKEL BREAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup of the warm water, yeast and sugar. Let sit in a warm place until the yeast mixture turns bubbly (about 5-10 min.).
• In a large mixing bowl (I use my Kitchenaid stand mixer with a dough hook), combine remaining 1 cup water, molasses, salt, shortening, caraway seeds and yeast mixture. Beat until smooth.
• Slowly beat rye flour into the yeast and molasses mixture. Mix in the all-purpose flour and mix until it is a soft, smooth dough ball.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. If dough is too moist, add a little more flour. If dough is too dry add a little more water.
• Knead the dough for 5 minutes.
• Lightly grease (or spray with cooking spray) a large bowl. Add the dough, turning once to coat the entire surface of dough with oil. Cover dough with a clean cloth and let rise in a warm place until almost doubled in size (about 1 1/2 hours).
• Punch down dough. Separate dough into 2 equal parts. Form 2 round, slightly flattened loaves. Score a 3/4 inch deep 'X" into the tops of both loaves with a sharp knife.
• Grease (or spray) a large baking sheet; sprinkle with cornmeal. Put the loaves on top and then cover with a clean cloth and let rise until doubled - about an hour.
• Preheat oven to 375 degress F. Bake 30-35 minutes or until crusts are dark brown and loaves sound hollow when tapped.
• Remove from baking sheet and cool on a rack before slicing.

ARTISAN PUMPERNICKEL BREAD

Steps:

• Prepare mashed potatoes, using fresh potatoes or instant.
• Using a very large bowl soak the yeast and sugar in 1 cup of lukewarm water for ten minutes.
• In a large pan, heat the 3 1/4 cup lukewarm water, melted chocolate molasses and margarine until the mixture is lukewarm. Remove from heat. Mix in the potatoes, cornmeal, salt and caraway seeds. Stir into the risen yeast liquid. Add the rye flour and bran. Beat for five minutes. Add three cups of white flour, mixing well. Afer about five minutes of beating, you will have a soft dough. Add four more cups lf flour. Mix well, cover, and rise for one hour or more.
• Sprinkle one cup of leftover flour on kneading board. Turn dough out, sprinkle about 1/2 cup of flour on top of dough, and knead extra flour into the dough until the dough is no longer sticky. When the dough holds its shape, cut it into three even pieces.
• Shape the three pieces into three egg shaped pieces, and place in buttered or non-stick loaf pans. Rise one hour or until one inch above the rims of pans. Bake at 350 ° for about 45 minutes - 1 hour, switching pans in oven at the half way point. Bread is done when it has a hollow sound when rapped on top.