Well, if you had told me to add chocolate to bread dough a few years ago, I would have just thought, “well, yuck.” However, after a few years of experimentation with bread flavors and techniques, this combination for Chocolate Sourdough Bread intrigued me. Why not? The year of 2020 has brought oh-so-many firsts for bread bakers, both beginners and more seasoned bakers alike. What combinations have surprised you? Leave a comment below.
The Ingredients that Make Up This Odd Combo
First off, I leavened the bread with my Rye Sourdough Starter. Sourdough adds a complexity of flavor to this Chocolate Sourdough Bread that you will not achieve with yeast. The rye flour adds a layer of earthy flavor and the sourdough married up very well with the cocoa powder in this recipe. It creates a flavor profile of definite sourdough flavor with a hint of cocoa. There is no sugar in this recipe so it is not sweet at all, just full-on-flavor bread. If you prefer a sweetened chocolate bread then hop over to the post A Chocolate Twist – Who Can Resist?
Hershey’s Special Dark cocoa powder is my favorite and it is superb in flavor. It’s similar to a Dutch-processed cocoa without the price.
I like Ocean Spray cranberries as I think they just taste the best. I usually buy this 50% less sugar version.
Readily available at most grocery stores, Nestle chocolate chips are a great option. I love the 62% bittersweet cacao version, but any dark chocolate chips will work.
Adding a Touch of Sweetness
Since cocoa powder can be bitter, I wanted a touch of sweetness for balance without any added sweeteners. I also wanted to boost the chocolate flavor without adding anything too sweet to the dough mix. So, I opted for bittersweet chocolate chips with 62% cacao. In the finished Chocolate Sourdough Bread, this provided intermittent bites of full-on chocolate flavor without overwhelming the rest of the flavors.
Next, I wanted to balance the cocoa and chocolate bits with a bright and sweet flavor. I chose sweetened, dried cranberries. The fruit provided additional sweetness, but also another layer of flavor. Have you ever had a chocolate dipped strawberry? Think of that balance but in the form of bread. Absolutely wonderful.
I make a lot of no-knead doughs, and I always use my Danish dough whisk for the first mix. I swear by it, as it makes easy the task of incorporating water & flour together.
An equipment essential in any baker’s arsenal – half sheet pans. Big enough for four mini boules, two medium boules or a dozen cookies.
Don’t forget the parchment sheets! I prefer the unbleached brown paper. These are absolutely fantastic for non-stick baking and easy clean up. I buy them by the hundreds so I never run out.
Shaping the Dough
I have tried two shapes with this bread dough. I made four small boules, which are adorable and make excellent gifts. Or, I have also tried one large boule, which, from the photo you can see turned out gorgeous. Either way, the bread bakes up beautifully. Here’s a gallery, clockwise from left: up close mini boule, top right, large boule, then four small boules, another up close of a small boule, crown of the large boule, and finally, bottom left, is the interior crumb.
Taste Tester Results
My taste testers provided me with some great feedback. At first apprehensive, they all decided it was a delicious bread. The balance was there, the flavor, texture, crumb, crust, everything. The only problem, one taste tester said, is the sample loaf I gave her was too small! Win!
The taste testers suggested the following pairings for this bread: a red wine, slices of sharp cheddar cheese, or a smear of cream cheese. All fantastic options. Honestly, though, this Chocolate Sourdough Bread is so good, it’s superb all by itself.
Sharing is Caring
Intrigued? Try it in your own home! Just follow my step-by-step instructions below. I promise, it will be a revelation and possibly make you smile. I know it made me grin from ear to ear, both seeing the final loaf and tasting the results. Enjoy making this Sourdough Chocolate Bread. Bake the four mini boules and give some to a neighbor. Share pictures of your results and tag @christinasbreadbakes on FB or IG! I love to see your beautiful breads. Finally, I am wishing you and yours the Happiest of New Years 2021, Bread Bakers!
Chocolate Sourdough Bread
Equipment
- 4 or 6 Liter food container (or bowl)
- Cover for container (or plastic wrap)
- Digital Metric Scale
- Danish Whisk (optional but useful)
- Bowl scraper
- Half Sheet Pan
- Parchment Paper
Ingredients
- 100 grams Rye Sourdough Starter
- 340 grams Warm Tap Water
- 350 grams White Bread Flour strong white flour at least 14% protein
- 50 grams Cocoa Powder
- 11 grams Sea Salt
- 40 grams Dark Chocolate Bits
- 40 grams Dried Cranberries
Instructions
Mixing
- Using a digital scale set to metric, measure 100 g rye sourdough starter into a minimum 3 liter food grade container or large bowl. (In photos, you will see a 6 L Rubbermaid food bin with lid).
- Using a scale, measure 340 g warm (not hot) water. Add water to starter. Mix well with a Danish whisk or your hand to break up the starter and create a milky slurry.
- Using a scale, measure 50 g of cocoa powder and add it to the slurry, mix together well.
- Using a scale, measure 350 g bread flour. Add flour into slurry. Mix well with your hand to hydrate flour until there are no dry bits remaining.
- Cover container tightly, set aside, rest for 20-30 minutes so flour will autolyze (absorb the water).
- Using a scale, measure 11 grams of sea salt. Sprinkle sea salt over the autolyzed flour and water mixture.
- Cut through the mixture three times by squeezing two fingertips together (like you are forming the “okay” symbol). Next, grab a small portion of dough from one side and pull dough up, then fold the dough down over itself. Be careful not to pull too much as dough will tear. Rotate the container a quarter turn and repeat. Do this a total of four times. After the final fold flip the dough over so folds are tucked below dough mass.
- Replace the cover and allow dough mixture to rest for 10 minutes.
Folding
- This recipe requires four folds over the next 2-3 hours. After the 10 minute rest, add the mix-ins and perform the first fold according to these instructions:
- Remove cover. Sprinkle 40 g chocolate bits and 40 g dried cranberries onto the top of the dough.
- Pull a small portion of dough from the outside of the dough mixture and stretch dough up (being careful not to tear it) and fold it down over the chocolate and cranberries. Pull & fold over a total of eight times while turning the container clockwise (no cutting this time). After the final fold, turn the dough over in the container so folds are tucked below the dough mass. (Do not worry if the chocolate and cranberries are not totally distributed, once you finish the next three folds, they will be distributed evenly.)Hint: When pulling and stretching, be careful not to tear the dough. It will not stretch very far during the first fold, but do not worry, you will do this three more times, each time the dough will stretch further. This process produces a loose round that tightens with each additional fold.
- Replace cover and allow dough to relax 30 minutes.
- Remove cover. The dough will have relaxed. Perform the second fold. Pull a small portion of dough from the outside of the dough mixture and stretch dough up (being careful not to tear it) and fold it down over itself. Do this eight times while turning the container clockwise after each stretch and fold. After the final fold, turn the dough over in the container so folds are tucked under creating a round shape. Repeat this process two more times at 30 minute intervals.
Bulk Fermentation (First Rise)
- After the fourth fold, cover the dough, allow it to bulk ferment in a warm place. Be patient! This will take between 4-8 hours depending on the temperature where dough rests. Dough must double in size before moving on to the next step. Hint: Using a clear container allows you to easily see the progression of the rise. After the fourth fold, mark the container at the point where the doubled bread will rise; I use either a marker or an elastic around the container to indicate this point.
- If you prefer, you can retard the dough (slow the bulk fermentation down). This is useful if you mix your dough in the evening. Simply place the partially risen dough (in a covered container) into the refrigerator. Pull it out in the morning, if it has not yet doubled, you can leave it at room temperature until it does double. Then move on to the shaping step.Hint: Yeast needs a warm place to multiply and perform its magic. If you have a cold kitchen (below 68 degrees) or are using air conditioning in summer, you may need to create a warm environment. If dough is not rising, move it to a warm location, in an oven with the light on is an option.
Shaping
- When dough has doubled in size it will be lofty with good structure, bubbles on top and inside. Flour a work surface.
- Prepare the sheet pan with a piece of parchment paper (no need to spray the parchment). Set aside.
- Turn dough out carefully onto a floured work surface so as not to lose too much of the gas structure. Use the bowl scraper to coax the sticky dough out of the container. Set container aside.Hint: If you want to make four mini-boules, use a kitchen scale to divide the dough into four even portions. Shape according to the same instructions for a large boule but place four mini boules on one sheet pan.
- Pull each of the four corners of the dough towards the center and pinch together.
- Flip the dough so the folds are now on the bottom and you have a very loose round shape.
- Cup hands around the rear of the round shape and drag the dough towards you on the work surface. Turn the dough a quarter of a turn. Gently pick the dough up and place it further away from you again. Repeat four times or as many times as it takes to create a tightly rounded dough ball.Hint: You will need a little friction to drag the dough ball to tighten it into a round. If there is no friction, clear the work surface of the majority of flour and try again.
- Once you have a tight dough ball, flour the top of the dough ball. Pick it up by gently by sliding cupped hands under either side of the ball.
- Gently lay the ball onto the sheet pan. Cover the dough with sprayed plastic wrap.
Proofing (Second Rise)
- Set the pan with shaped dough ball in a warm place to proof. Allow the dough ball to rise until it has relaxed and doubled in size. This may take 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the room temperature.
Baking
- Approximately 30 minutes prior to the second rise being complete, place a metal pan (I use a 10" round metal cake pan) filled with cold water into your oven. Set oven temp to 460 F degrees. Preheat for 30 minutes, the water will begin to evaporate and create steam. Set timer for 30 minutes.
- When timer buzzes, check if your dough has doubled and is ready to be baked.Hint: To check if your dough has risen enough, you can perform the poke test. Poke the dough with a floured finger. If the indent springs back quickly, it is not yet ready to be baked. Allow it to continue to rise. If the indent springs back slowly, it is ready to be baked. If the indent does not spring back at all, it is over-proofed.
- Uncover the dough. Snip a deep "X" on top of the dough using kitchen sheers, a lame, or a sharp knife.
- Place the pan in the preheated oven. If the metal pan with water has evaporated, add more water.
- Bake at 460 F degrees for 20 minutes. Turn pan 180° to evenly brown the bread. Bake for another 15-20 minutes until fully baked.Hint: Due to it's dark color, t's difficult to tell just by looking at the chocolate sourdough if it is done. 40 minutes should complete the bake, but if you are uncertain, leave it for an additional 5 minutes. Try knocking on the bread dough with a wooden spoon, it should sound hollow when done.
- Remove the pan and set it on a heat proof surface.
Cooling
- Immediately remove the bread from the pan. Set bread on a cooling rack to allow air flow around the bread.
- Allow to cool 30 minutes before slicing.Hint: I know it's hard to wait for that yummy first piece! However, the crumb needs time to set so it does not get crushed when you try to cut the bread.
Storing
- If you do not use this bread immediately, it can be stored in the open air for 8 hours, or even overnight, as long as it is not cut.
- Once the bread has been cut, allow it to cool completely. Store cut side down on a cutting board for up to one day.
- After that time, slice the remaining bread, place slices in an airtight bag, and freeze the slices. Warm each slice in a toaster before eating.
New to sourdough bread making. I had never heard of chocolate sourdough but thought I’d try it. It was very tasty! I did add about 3, tablespoons of brown sugar and a few more dark chocolate pieces to the recipe. Thank you for the recipe.
Excellent, Lily! I am glad you liked it. Thank you.
Wow, that looks absolutely perfect! Being both a chocolate and bread lover this is definitely something I’m going to have to try.
Hi Inga! This is a yummy bread especially when paired with a very nice red wine. 😉 Thanks for visiting!
I can’t wait to try this one! It sounds amazing!
Hi Holly – Thank you, it is truly amazing! Enjoy.
All your breads are fabulous, but you just take it to a whole different level when you add chocolate. No bakery around me knows bread as you do! The solution is to bake at home, so thanks for the recipe and steps!:)
Hi Mihaela – It’s unfortunate there is not more artisan bakeries around the world, there’s definitely an ages old demand for nutritious and delicious breads. However, with a little effort we can reproduce these great breads in our very own kitchens, so let’s have fun baking!
Well, my first thought when I heard “chocolate sourdough bread” was YUM! Maybe that’s because I love chocolate so much! But I also know that your recipes are always sure winners. Thanks for sharing your latest baking innovation.
Hi Katrina – Thank you for the compliment on my recipes, I always put a lot of work into them. And, YUM is right! This is a definite winner bread and oh-so-fun to make and eat. Enjoy!
I had no idea there was such a thing as chocolate sourdough…I’m totally in!!
Hi Emily – Maybe I started a new fad! 🙂 LOL. Enjoy.
wow love this new bread of yours, it looks really good adding the cocoa to sourdough. Im waiting to have plenty of time to really try this one!
Hi Jeannie – It’s definitely worth the time although not a lot of effort as it’s a no-knead bread, so short time actually with hands on the bread dough. Enjoy!
This is a must try!
Thank you, Sue.
I’ve never heard of chocolate sourdough before but this looks and sounds amazing!
Hi Cindy – Thank you! Chocolate sourdough’s unique for sure but definitely amazing.
I’m a huge fan of sourdough and adding chocolate into my loaves of bread. I love this idea and will have to try it out.
Hi Alyssa – Thank you, When you try it, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!