Super-Good Pumpernickel Bread

Laudee's Note:

Posted Per Board Request. Recipe from Fleischmann's Bake-it-Easy Yeast Book. This is a very tasty Pumpernickel recipe. Makes 3 nice round loaves. I've made it for years, and it turns out good every time. Enjoy! (Prep. time includes kneading, resting, and rising times)

• Total Time: 4 hrs 5 mins
• Prep Time: 3 hrs 15 mins
• Cook Time: 50 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 3 round l ...

• 9 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 cups rye flour
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 1 cup nabisco 100% all-bran cereal
• 3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
• 2 packages fleischmann active dry yeast
• 3 1/2 cups water
• 1/4 cup dark molasses
• 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
• 1 tablespoon blue bonnet margarine
• 2 cups mashed potatoes, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons caraway seeds (optional)

Directions:

1. Combine white and rye flours.
2. In a very large bowl, thoroughly mix 2 cups flour mixture, salt, cereal, cornmeal, and undissolved yeast.
3. Combine water, molasses, chocolate, and margarine in a saucepan.
4. Heat over low heat until liquids are very warm (120°F- 130°F).
5. Margarine and chocolate do not need to melt.
6. Gradually add to dry ingredients and beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally.
7. Add potatoes and 1 cup flour mixture.
8. Beat at high speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
9. Stir in caraway seed (if used) and enough additional flour mixture to make a soft dough.
10. Turn out onto lightly floured board; cover and let rest 15 minutes.
11. Then, knead until smooth and elastic, about 15 minutes.
12. Place in greased bowl, turning to grease top.
13. Cover; let rise in warm place, free from draft, until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
14. Punch dough down; let rise again 30 minutes.
15. Punch dough down; turn out onto lightly floured board.
16. Divide into 3 equal pieces.
17. Shape into round balls.
18. Place in 3 greased 8 or 9 inch round cake pans.
19. Cover; let rise in warm place, free from draft, until doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes.
20. Bake at 350°F, about 50 minutes, or until done.
21. Remove from pans and cool on wire racks.

Reviews

[Three Kids Make Me Crazy]

This was a good bread, but it wasn't pumpernickel. I guess maybe I'm looking for something darker, I'm not sure.

[mianbao]

I was really suspicious of this bread - just couldn't figure out how an Eastern European peasant bread got chocolate in it. Then I thought, Laudee wouldn't say it was good if it wasn't. So, anyway, I tried it. I could smell the chocolate in the dough, and was thinking of how I would ever rate this. My daughter and husband had some when it was fresh-baked. "It's good, but what makes it that color?" asked my daughter. She couldn't guess. It is good. It really doesn't taste chocolatey. The texture is very nice and the chocolate adds a mysterious bitterness that is just right. So maybe it's not traditional. Afterall, it is 2003. Thank you, Laudee. I need to make another batch.