Better Batter Rye Bread Recipes

BATTER RYE BREAD

Steps:

• Combine warm water, yeast, and honey in a large bowl; stir gently. Place a dry cloth over the bowl and let sit until yeast is dissolved and foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Add 1 cup all-purpose flour, rye flour, shortening, caraway seeds, and salt. Beat vigorously with a spoon for 2 minutes, or blend with an electric mixer on low speed, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl often.
• Stir in whole wheat flour and remaining 3/4 cup all-purpose flour until smooth. Cover and let rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, 45 to 60 minutes.
• Stir the batter down, beating about 25 strokes. Place in a greased loaf pan, smoothing out the top with a floured hand. Cover and let rise until dough reaches the top of the pan, about 40 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden brown, 45 to 50 minutes. Carefully tip loaf out of the pan onto a work surface and gently tap bottom of loaf. If it sounds hollow, bread is done.

RYE BATTER BREAD

Steps:

• Place 1/4 cup of the warm water in a large bowl and sprinkle the yeast over it, stirring to dissolve.
• Add the remaining water, honey, and butter.
• Slowly stir in the rye flour and 3/4 cup of the all-purpose flour, blending well.
• Stir in the remaining flour, salt and the caraway seeds, to make a stiff batter. Cover and let rest 20 minutes.
• Stir down the batter and pour into a greased 9 x 5 loaf pan. Cover and let stand in a warm, draft-free place until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Bake in a 350 deg oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until done. Turn out and cool on a wire rack.
• Note: The batter should be stiff - like a kuchen or other cake batter. It should not be so stiff that you could imagine kneading it, nor as thin as pancake batter.

BETTER BATTER RYE BREAD

Steps:

• Put butter, sugar, salt, caraway and onions in large mixer bowl. Pour water over and stir. Cool to lukewarm, then sprinkle the yeast over and let it sit for a couple of minutes, no more. Yeast should be get a bit foamy. Mix the bread flour and the cocoa. The cocoa doesn't give it a chocolate flavor, but, like the molasses, darkens the color. Put the regular beaters in the mixer and add the flour mix to the water mix. Beat in slowly, then beat on medium for about 5 minutes, to develop the dough. Switch to the dough hooks, and gradually add 2 cups of the rye flour. The dough should be thick and heavy, but not thick enough to knead. Add a little more rye flour if it's too wet. Spoon into a greased loaf pan, put a little butter on your hands, and pat it down lightly to get into it the corners. Bake at 400 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes. Cool completely before slicing.
• Some people add a tablespoon of instant coffee, to make the bread even darker, or 2 teaspoons of dried dill. Both are really good. You can also substitute plain yogurt for all or part of the butter. If you don't have bulk yeast, use 2 tablespoons. I buy my yeast at a health food store. It's better yeast, and it's a whole lot cheaper.

BEER BATTER RYE BREAD

Steps:

• Measure 1 cup of the bread flour, all the rye flour, and the yeast, caraway seeds, and salt into large bowl of electric mixer.
• In saucepan, heat beer, oil, and molasses to 120°F - 130°F Pour liquids over dry ingredients in bowl and beat on high speed until smooth, about 3 minutes, clean down bowl with rubber spatula. Add remaining bread flour and stir until flour is evenly blended into mixture.
• Turn batter into greased 1 1/2 quart casserole dish. Let rise in warm place until almost doubled, about 45 minutes.
• Heat oven to 350°F Bake until wooden skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool 10 minutes, then remove bread from baking dish and cool on wire rack.
• Great Whole Grain Breads B. Ojakangas.