Stout Chocolate Cherry Bread Recipes

CHOCOLATE CHERRY BREAD

Steps:

• In cup, combine warm water, yeast, and 1 teaspoon granulated sugar; stir to dissolve. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in large bowl, combine 3 cups flour, cocoa, brown sugar, and salt.
• With wooden spoon, stir warm coffee, butter, egg yolk (cover egg white and set aside in refrigerator), and yeast mixture into flour mixture.
• In bowl, with floured hands, knead several times to combine well.
• Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes, working in enough of remaining 1/2 cup flour just to keep dough from sticking. Knead in cherries and chocolate pieces.
• Shape dough into ball; place in greased large bowl, turning dough to grease top. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in warm place (80 to 85 degrees F) until doubled in volume, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
• Punch down dough.Turn dough onto lightly floured surface and CUT IN HALF; cover dough and let rest 15 minutes for easier shaping.
• Shape each dough HALF into 5-inch ball : Using the sides of your hands, tuck sides of dough under to meet in center. Rotate and repeat to form taut ball. Place balls, 3-inches apart, in opposite corners of ungreased large cookie sheet. Cover and let rise in warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• In cup, beat reserved egg white with water; use to brush tops of loaves. Sprinkle loaves with remaining 2 teaspoons granulated sugar. With serrated knife or single-edge razor blade, cut shallow X in top of each loaf.
• Bake until loaves are crusty, about 25 to 30 minutes, or until an instant read thermometer reads 185°F Tent loosely with foil after 20 minutes, if the loaves are browning too much (it might be difficult to tell!). Transfer to wire racks to cool.

SOFT CHOCOLATE CHERRY BREAD

Steps:

• Combine the sugar, cocoa powder, salt, undissolved yeast and 1 1/2 cups of the flour in a large bowl. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Add the milk and vanilla and heat until warm (120 to 130 degrees F).
• Add the butter mixture to the dry ingredients. With an electric mixer, mix on medium speed, gradually adding the egg and remaining cup of flour, until smooth and sticky, about 2 minutes. Fold in the chocolate chips and cherries.
• Let the batter rest for 10 minutes. Generously grease a 12-cup muffin pan. Portion the batter into the pan and let it rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Bake the muffins until a toothpick inserted in the center of one comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.

CHOCOLATE CHERRY BREAD

Steps:

• Mix milk and yeast in a small bowl with a fork until frothy, about 5 minutes. Add egg, butter, white sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and salt. Beat for 1 to 2 minutes. Add 1 cup flour. Beat for about 5 minutes. Add remaining 2 cups flour; mix until dough comes together.
• Turn dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Knead until dough is smooth and feels rubbery, about 10 minutes. Add additional flour if needed. Add chocolate chips and cherries; knead just until incorporated.
• Cover dough and let rise in a warm, humid area until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Punch down dough gently. Let rest for 10 minutes. Divide dough in half; shape into loaves. Transfer loaves to a greased baking sheet and let rise again, about 1 hour more.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake in the preheated oven until browned, 20 to 30 minutes.

CHOCOLATE-CHERRY PECAN BREAD

Steps:

• Mix flours, sugar, salt, yeast, and water in a large bowl.
• Add cherries, chocolate chips, and pecans. Stir well to make a very soft dough, and cover the bowl with plastic wrap.
• Let rest at room temperature overnight, or for at least 12 hours; the dough will be bubbly and puffy.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and fold it onto itself a few times.
• Let it rest 15 minutes, then form it into a ball.
• Place it in a lightly greased bowl, smooth side down. Cover and let rise at room temperature about 2 hours, until a slight indentation remains when poked with a finger.
• During the last 30 minutes of rising, preheat the oven to 450°F and place a bread crock (or a heavy, 4- to 4 1/2-quart oven-safe pot) in the oven while it heats.
• When the dough is risen, remove the crock from the oven, and turn the dough out of the bowl and into the crock; the smooth side will be facing up.
• Shake the crock gently to settle the dough, then cover with the lid and return to the oven.
• Bake the bread for 20 minutes, then remove the lid and continue to bake another 30 to 40 minutes, until the bread is deep brown in color and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers about 205°F.
• Remove the crock from the oven, turn the bread onto a rack, and cool before slicing. Yield: 1 loaf.