Sourdough Brown Bread

This hearty sourdough molasses brown bread is rich with deep, slightly sweet flavor and a soft, tender crumb. Perfect for toasting or pairing with soups, it brings a wholesome touch to any meal.

Course Bread

Cuisine American

Keyword Sourdough Bread

Prep Time 30

Cook Time 30

Fermentation Time 12

Total Time 13

Servings Loaves

Calories 1325kcal

Equipment

Stand Mixer

Ingredients

100 g Sourdough Starter
350 g Water
20 g Cocoa Powder (or dark malt powder) - see notes
30 g Butter (melted)
20 g Honey
20 g Molasses
300 g Bread Flour
300 g Whole Wheat Flour
10 g Salt
20 g Rolled Oats (for topping / dusting)

Instructions

I've chosen to make this recipe in a stand mixer, but you can easily do it by hand if you prefer.
Add sourdough starter, water, cocoa powder, melted butter, honey and molasses to a large bowl (if you're using a stand mixer, just add it to the stand mixer bowl). Stir together until well combined (it's ok if it's a bit lumpy, you just want to get it moving and mixing to start with).
I don't actually use the stand mixer to mix this part, I just use a spatula to agitate it all and mix together.
On top of the liquid mixture you just created, add the bread flour, whole wheat flour and salt. Use the dough hook on your stand mixer and knead for around 2 minutes or until the dough has all come together. The dough should be fairly smooth and not too sticky.
Cover the dough and allow the dough to rise around 50% in the bowl - allow it to sit at room temperature on the counter to do this.
Once the dough has risen, you need to shape it. I have chosen to shape my dough into two long "baguette" style loaves but you can shape it into a large loaf, into rolls or even place it in a loaf pan if you prefer (see notes).
Once the dough has been shaped, cover it with a cloth and allow the dough to rise again (you want it to be nice and puffy and soft).
When you're ready to bake the sourdough brown bread, preheat your oven to 180C (350F).
Brush the top of your loaf with a little water and sprinkle on some rolled oats (this is totally optional).
Bake sourdough brown bread for around 30 minutes. The time to bake will depend on how you shaped it. You'll know it's done when the outside is golden brown and a little crusty and your kitchen is filled with the most amazing aroma!

Notes

Cocoa Powder - you can use any type of cocoa powder you like. This helps to give the sourdough brown bread its rich flavor and color. If you don't want to use cocoa powder, you can use dark malt powder. This is what I prefer to use. It gives a very rich color to the dough. I purchase my dark malt powder from a specialty bread making store.

Stand Mixer - I've chosen to use a stand mixer to knead the dough, it makes it very quick and easy. If you want to knead the dough by hand you can, it will take some time to get it to come together. Just be patient with it though and it will work just fine.

Loaf Pan - I bake this dough in a 1.5 pound USA Bread Pan measuring 5"D x 10"W x 3"H.

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