After a grueling day of golf yesterday, praying to the golf gods the storms would stay away (they did) and preparing for another round tomorrow, I needed something to occupy my time today

I haven’t made white sandwich bread in a while so I made the dough early this morning. It needs a minimum 8 hour refrigerated rest which will be over at 2:30 this afternoon. I can then shape and bake it. If the results are good there will be a second post later.

While waiting for the sandwich bread to rest and ferment I decided to make a recipe of honey Pumpernickel bread. I am glad I did. I made this once or twice before but never with such great results. Great flavor, texture and crumb.

HONEY PUMPERNICKEL BREAD

INGREDIENTS

• 2 ½ cups warm water (100°-110°F)
• 50 g (1/4 cup) vegetable oil
• 40 g (2 Tbl) molasses
• 170 g (1/2 cup) honey
• 3 ½ cups (400g) pumpernickel flour
• 2 Tbl unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 Tbl Vital Wheat Gluten
• 13.5 g (1 ½ tbl) instant yeast
• 1 tsp (6g) salt
• 240-360 g (2-3 cups) bread flour
• rolled oats (for dusting loaves)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitter with a dough hook, stir together water, oil, molasses, and honey until mixed well.
2. Add pumpernickel flour and Vital Wheat Gluten to water mixture.
3. Add cocoa, yeast, and salt, and stir until blended.
4. Allow mixture sit for 10 minutes.
5. Stir in bread flour, one cup at a time, until dough clings to hook and almost clears the sides of mixer, about 3-4 minutes. The dough should weigh about 1880 g.
6. Cover bowl with greased plastic wrap.
7. Allow dough to rise in the bowl until doubled, about 30-60 minutes.
8. For two 9×5 loaves
   • Divide into 2 pieces.Each should weigh about 940g.
   • Cover each piece with greased plastic wrap, and let dough rest for 5 minutes.
   • Shape pieces into loaves, and sprinkle with oats.
   • Place each loaf in a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan.
   • Let dough rise until doubled, about 30-60 minutes.
   • Toward the end of the rising time, preheat oven to 350 F.
   • Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the internal temperature is about 200 F.
9. For 16 mini-loaves
   • Divide into 16 balls 112 g each.
   • Cover with greased plastic wrap, and let dough rest for 5 minutes.
   • Shape pieces into loaves, and sprinkle with oats. (Gently roll into a small cylinder, don’t deflate!)
   • Place 8 loaves in a greased 8 cell mini loaf pan.
   • Place the remaining 8 balls in the refrigerator.
   o Let dough rise until doubled, about 30-60 minutes.
   o Toward the end of the rising time, preheat oven to 350 F.
   o Bake for 20 minutes or until the internal temperature is about 200 F.
   o Cool on a cooling rack and remove the remaining balls from the refrigerator
   o Gently place the second batch in the still warm to touch baking sheet and repeat 20 minute baking. Don’t roll these. Just gently place in the mini baking sheet.