Serbian Pumpernickel Bread Recipes

PUMPERNICKEL BREAD (NO-KNEAD)

Steps:

• Mixing and Storing the Dough: Note: If measuring flour rather than weighing, don't press down into the flour as you scoop it in with dry-ingredient measuring cups, By gently scooping up flour, then sweeping the top level with a knife or spatula.you willl get a more accurate measurement.
• In large plastic storage container (with lid) mix together the flours, yeast, cocoa and salt.
• Mix together water, coffee and molasses. Add the water mixture at once and mix with a wooden spoon.
• If mixing becomes too difficult to incorporate all the flour with the spoon, reach into the mixing bowl with very wet hands and press the mixture together. Note: kneading isn't necessary.
• When everything is uniformly moist without dry patches your mixing is complete. This should take only a few minutes. The dough will be wet and loose enough to conform to the shape of its container.
• Cover with a lid (not airtight) that fits well on the container. Allow the mixture to rise at room temperature until it begins to collapse, or at least flattens on the top, about 2 hours, depending on the room's temperature and the initial water temperature. Longer rising times, up to about 5 hours, will not harm the result.
• You can use a portion of the dough anytime after this period. Fully refrigerated wet dough is less sticky and easier to work with than dough at room temperature. So the first time you try this method, it's best to refrigerate the dough overnight, or at least 3 hours, before shaping a loaf.
• The breads flavor improves with the retardation, so suggest you wait at least 24 hours before baking the first loaf! Dough may be stored in the refrigerator for up to 8 days.
• BAKING (One 1-pouond loaf): With wet hands, pull up one end of the refrigerated dough. Using a serrated knife, cut off a 1-pound, or grapefruit-size, piece of dough.
• Without using flour, shape into a ball by stretching the surface of the dough around to the bottom on all sides, rotating the ball a quarter-turn as you go. Form into an oval-shaped loaf.
• Place on a pizza peel dusted with cornmeal (or on parchment paper); allow to rest for 40 minutes - 1 1/2 hours, varies with temperature of the kitchen. (The shorter the time, the denser the crumb.).
• Twenty minute before baking, place an empty cast-iron skillet or broiler tray on the bottom shelf and baking stone on center shelf; preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Using a pastry brush,, paint the top of the loaf with cornstarch wash, and sprinkle with caraway seeds. With a serrated bread knife, slash the top of the loaf with deep diagonal cuts. Slide the loaf directly onto the hot stone. Pour 1 cup of hot tap water into the broiler tray and quickly close the oven door.
• Bake for about 35 - 40 minutes or until firm (interior temperature should be 198 - 200 degrees). Note: Larger or smaller loaves will require an adjustment to the baking time. Allow to cool on a rack before cutting.

SERBIAN PUMPERNICKEL BREAD

Steps:

• Combine boiling water, chocolate, vinegar, molasses, caraway seeds and coffee in a large bowl till chocolate melts; cool to 105-110 degrees F.
• Dissolve yeast in the warm water; let stand 10 minutes.
• Add to chocolate mixture and add sugar and salt.
• Mix in rye flour and bran, kneading well.
• Knead in white flour (I use a kitchenaid).
• Grease the bread, cover and let rise until doubled.
• Form into 2 round loaves; let rise again till double.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes; brush with egg white and sprinkle with salt.
• Bake another 20 minutes until loaves sound hollow.

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.

HOMEMADE PUMPERNICKEL BREAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the molasses, butter, chocolate, vinegar, salt, rye flour and 3 tablespoons whole wheat flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough., Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a bowl coated with cooking spray, turning once to coat the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch dough down. Shape into a round loaf. Place on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. With a sharp knife, make three shallow slashes across the top of loaf. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes., Bake at 375° for 15-20 minutes or until bread sounds hollow when tapped. Remove to a wire rack to cool.

PUMPERNICKEL QUICK BREAD

Steps:

• Set oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease 1 9" x 5" loaf pan.
• In a bowl, combine rye flour, cornmeal, whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda and caraway seeds.
• In a small bowl, beat eggs, molasses, milk and oil.
• Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients; stir with a wooden spoon to blend.
• Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
• Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
• Bake 50-60 minu8tes, or until loaf tests done.
• Remove bread from pan, cool on wire rack.

SOFT PUMPERNICKEL BREAD (ABM)

Steps:

• Add ingredients to bread machine in order as per your manufacturer's directions.
• Select dough setting.
• Place in greased loaf pan, cover and let rise for 30 minutes.
• Bake at 375° for 25 to 30 minutes.
• Remove from pan and let cool on wire rack.

GREAT PUMPERNICKEL BREAD

Steps:

• Put the first four 6 ingredients into the mixing bowl and mix for 2-3 minutes.
• Add the remaining ingredients in order except the reserve flour and egg for wash.
• It will be sticky but keep going. Beat this on medium speed until well blended.
• Now add another cup of the reserve flour or as much as needed to make a dough that is still very sticky but pulling away from the bowl and blades if pushed.
• Beat this for 6-8 minutes. Remember you want it stringy and sticky.
• Now add a bit, tablespoon at a time sprinkling as it mixes, of the reserve flour until it will come out with ease. Yeah, sticky but not too bad. The idea is don't add any more flour than ABSOLUTELY needed to handle the dough.
• Lightly sprinkle flour on the counter or board pour the dough into it and knead two to three turns. You are just covering this sticky dough so you can make a ball and pick it up.
• Now place in a oil sprayed bowl, cover with a linen, and rise until doubled.
• Punch the dough down and turn onto a lightly oiled board or counter top and knead down a couple of turns. Do not add any flour.
• Divide the dough into two pieces and make a ball of each.
• Place these into two sprayed deep dish pyrex pie plates, cover with your linen, and rise until doubled.
• With a very sharp knife cut slices, in a tic-tac-toe pattern, through the skin only of the dough. Not too deep just cut the skin these cuts will open and make a nice presentation. Another option is to use an egg wash. You have worked so hard on this treasure.
• Place in a preheated 375°F oven for an hour or until very hollow sounding when thumped.
• Serve slightly warm with butter and jam and later slices with fried cabbages and potatoes. It also works well with a nice robust barley soup or even a light bisque.