German Rye Bread Recipes

GERMAN RYE BREAD

Steps:

• In a 4-qt. glass bowl, dissolve yeast in 2 cups warm water; whisk in rye flour until smooth. Cover loosely with a clean kitchen towel. Let stand in a warm place for about 4 hours or until batter falls about 1 in. and surface bubble activity is reduced. Stir in the sugar, caraway seeds, salt, 5 cups all-purpose flour and remaining water; mix well. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a firm dough. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 8 minutes. Cover and let rest for 15 minutes., Divide dough into four portions. Cover and let rest for 15 minutes. Shape into four round loaves, about 6 in. each. Coat two baking sheets with cooking spray; sprinkle each with 1 teaspoon cornmeal. Place loaves on pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes., With a sharp knife, make several slashes across the top of each loaf. Brush with egg. Sprinkle each loaf with 1 teaspoon caraway seeds. Bake at 400° for 30-35 minutes, rotating pans after 15 minutes, or until browned. Cool on wire racks.

DELICIOUS GERMAN RYE BREAD

Steps:

• Place wholewheat flour, rye flour, rolled rye, salt and caraway seeds (if used) in a bowl. Make a well in center.
• Add the remaining ingredients to the well.
• Mix all ingredients initially with a wooden spoon, until roughly mixed.
• If mixture seems too dry, add a little more water/beer.
• Kneed the mixture for 10 minutes, until smooth and elastic, adding a little more flour from time to time if the mixture is too sticky.
• Form dough into a ball, and cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap or a damp teatowel.
• Leave to prove for 2 hours.
• After 2 hours, preheat oven to 200°C.
• Take the cover off the mixing bowl. Punch the dough down in the center.
• Lightly oil a baking tray or loaf tin and dust with flour.
• Shape dough into desired form (e.g. freeform oblong shape, or in square loaf tin, etc).
• Leave alone until nearly doubled in size.
• Place in hot oven for 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how crusty you like it.
• The loaf should be cooked when it gives a hollow sound when tapped.
• Allow to cool before serving - it is usually better the day after baking.
• Enjoy!

GERMAN RYE BREAD

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in warm water.
• In a large bowl combine milk, sugar, and salt. Use a mixer to beat in molasses, butter, yeast mixture, and 1 cup of rye flour.
• Use a wooden spoon to mix in the remaining rye flour. Add white flour by stirring until the dough is stiff enough to knead.
• Knead 5 to 10 minutes, adding flour as needed. If the dough sticks to your hands or the board add more flour.
• Cover dough and let rise 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until double.
• Punch down dough and divide to form two round loaves. Let loaves rise on a greased baking sheet until double, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.

GERMAN DARK RYE BREAD (FOR BREAD MACHINES) RECIPE

Steps:

• Measure warm water and honey into bread pan. Add unbleached flour, rye flour, gluten, cocoa, salt and caraway seeds. Make a well in center of dry ingredients and place yeast in well. Cut butter into four equal pieces and place in corners of bread pan. Follow directions on your bread machine using the Whole Wheat cycle.

AUTHENTIC GERMAN BREAD (BAUERNBROT)

Steps:

• First, make the sourdough starter. Crumble the yeast into a large bowl. Whisk in 1 quart of warm water and 2 tablespoons of sugar until dissolved. The water should be just slightly warmer than body temperature. Gradually whisk in 4 cups of flour, continuing to mix until all lumps are gone. Cover with a dish towel, and let sit for 24 hours at room temperature.
• After 24 hours, stir well, cover, and let stand another 24 hours. It will be a thin, light-colored sourdough which is then ready to use.
• In a large bowl, stir together the rye flour, remaining 4 cups of all-purpose flour, salt and sugar. Mix in the sourdough starter using a wooden spoon, then stir in 2 cups of warm water. I transfer the dough to a heavy-duty stand mixer to mix the first couple of minutes, then it can't handle the heavy dough and I start using my hands by turning the dough out onto a floured surface. A clean countertop works best. Knead the dough, adding a few tablespoons of water at a time if it is too stiff. Fold the dough over, pull it apart, whatever you can do to get it kneaded up good. Total kneading time should be 15 to 20 minutes to get a smooth dough. Place the dough in a large bowl, cover, and let rise until doubled, 1 to 2 hours.
• When the dough has risen, scrape it out of the bowl and back onto a floured surface. Knead for about 5 minutes. This is important to activate the gluten. Shape into 1 or 2 long loaves. Place on baking sheets, and let rise for about 1 hour, or until your finger leaves an impression when you poke the bread gently.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Bake the bread for about 45 minutes for 2 loaves, 1 1/2 hours if you made one big loaf. Don't worry if the crust is dark. The bread will be delicious and so will the crust. Cool completely before cutting. I always freeze half.

GERMAN DARK RYE BREAD

Steps:

• In large bowl, combine all-purpose flour, salt, cocoa, yeast, and caraway seed.
• Heat and stir molasses, butter, sugar, 2 cups water and 2 Tablespoons oil until warm (about 110°-115°F).
• Add to dry mixture.
• Beat at low speed on electric mixer 1/2 minutes, scraping bowl.
• Beat 3 minutes at high speed.
• Then by hand, stir in enough rye flour to make a soft dough.
• Turn out onto lightly floured surface; knead till smooth (about 5 minutes).
• **Cover, and let rest 20 minutes.
• Punch down dough.
• Divide in half.
• Shape into 2 round or oval loaves on greased baking sheets.
• Brush with small amount of cooking oil.
• Slash tops with knife.
• Cover; let rise until double (45-60 minutes).
• Bake at 400 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
• Remove from baking sheets, place on racks to cool.
• **Note:If using this recipe to make a light/dark"marbled" rye loaf, knead both the light and dark doughs separately for about 3 minutes or so, then combine the light and dark doughs and knead them together for another minute or so (to produce the marbled effect).
• Proceed with the recipe as stated.