Description
A delightful twist on traditional sourdough, this bread offers rich chocolate flavor and sweet-tart dried cherries, perfect for breakfast or a special snack.
Ingredients
- 4 cups (480 grams) bread flour
- ¾ cup (60 grams) Dutch-processed cocoa powder
- ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
- 3 ½ teaspoons (10 grams) Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt
- 1 ¾ cups (420 grams) warm water (80-90℉)
- ½ cup (100 grams) active sourdough starter
- ½ cup (85 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup (80 grams) dried cherries (roughly chopped)
- Rice flour (for dusting banneton basket)
- 2 ice cubes (for steam)
Instructions
- Feed your sourdough starter 6-12 hours before baking to ensure it’s bubbly and active.
- In a large bowl, whisk together bread flour, cocoa powder, sugar, and salt. Add warm water and sourdough starter; mix until incorporated.
- Cover and let rest for 20 minutes to hydrate flour and relax gluten.
- Wet hands and flatten dough slightly. Add ¼ of the chocolate chips and cherries, then perform a stretch-and-fold, rotating bowl each time.
- Gather dough into a ball and let it rest for 20 minutes. Repeat stretch-and-fold process 3 more times.
- Cover dough and let it rise until nearly doubled in size (4-12 hours).
- Turn dough out onto a floured surface, shape into a rectangle, fold sides toward center, then shape into a ball.
- Let rest for 15 minutes, then shape into a smaller rectangle, repeating shaping for a batard if desired.
- Dust proofing basket with rice flour, transfer dough seam-side up, cover, and refrigerate overnight (12-16 hours).
- Preheat a lidded Dutch oven to 450℉ for 30-60 minutes.
- Turn dough onto parchment paper, score top, place ice cubes in Dutch oven, and transfer dough.
- Bake covered for 45 minutes, remove lid and bake for an additional 5 minutes if needed.
- Cool on a wire rack for 2-4 hours before slicing.
Notes
Best served warm or at room temperature; can be toasted with butter or cream cheese.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American