Chocolate Cherry Bread (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 -
10 grams (3½ teaspoons) Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt
02 -
50 grams (¼ cup) granulated sugar
03 -
60 grams (¾ cup) Dutch cocoa powder
04 -
480 grams (4 cups) bread flour
→ Wet Ingredients
05 -
100 grams (½ cup) sourdough starter (can be discard or freshly fed)
06 -
420 grams (1¾ cups) warm water (about 80-90°F)
→ Mix-ins
07 -
2 ice cubes for creating steam
08 -
85 grams (½ cup) semi-sweet chocolate chips
09 -
Rice flour for dusting your banneton
10 -
80 grams (½ cup) roughly chopped dried cherries
# Instructions:
01 -
Feed your sourdough starter a good 6-12 hours before you get started to make sure it's bubbly and alive. Warmer kitchens (around 75°F) will need just 6 hours, while cooler ones (65-68°F) may take up to half a day.
02 -
Grab a big bowl and mix together the bread flour, cocoa, sugar, and salt. Pour in sourdough starter and warm water, mixing just enough so there's no dry spots left. Rest it for 20 minutes to loosen up the gluten.
03 -
Wet your hands slightly so the dough doesn't stick. Stretch out the dough and gently fold in the chocolate chips and dried cherries in small amounts. Do this folding step four times, with 20-minute rests in between.
04 -
Cover the dough up and let it rise until it's puffed and almost doubled in size. You should see bubbles from the fermenting. It'll take anywhere from 4 hours to 12 hours depending on your kitchen's temperature and the starter's strength.
05 -
Form the dough into a loaf, place it seam-side up in a banneton dusted with rice flour, and refrigerate for 12-16 hours to proof slowly.
06 -
Get your Dutch oven heated to 450°F. Put the dough in, score the top, toss in your ice cubes for steam, and bake with the lid on for 45 minutes. Take the lid off for the last 5 minutes to brown the crust more, if needed.
07 -
Place the fresh loaf on a cooling rack and leave it for about 2 to 4 hours so it sets properly before you cut and eat.
# Notes:
01 -
Keep in a sealed container at room temp for up to 4 days.
02 -
You can freeze slices for as long as 3 months.
03 -
Turns out as a fancy treat, great for special celebrations like Valentine's.