Country Raisin Rye Bread Recipes

COUNTRY RYE BREAD

Steps:

• 1. In large bowl, combine 2 cups bread flour, sugar, undissolved yeast, caraway seed and salt. Gradually add very warm water and oil to dry ingredients; beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally. Add rye flour gradually for an additional 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
• 2. Knead on lightly floured surface (or in mixer at medium speed) until smooth and elastic, about 6 to 8 minutes. Place in greased bowl, turning to grease top. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 30 to 45 minutes.
• 3. Punch dough down. Remove dough to lightly floured surface; Form into 5-inch ball. Place on large greased baking sheet or parchment paper. Cover; let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 30 to 45 minutes. If not baking right away place in refrigerator; remove from fridge 30 minutes prior to baking.
• 4. With sharp knife, make 4 slashes (1/4-inch deep) in crisscross fashion on top of each loaf. Brush with egg white mixture. Bake at 400ºF for 35 minutes or until done; cover with foil halfway through baking time to prevent excess browning. Remove from sheet; cool on wire rack
• 5. ALTERNATIVE BAKING METHOD (the way we cooked the photographed loaf) Oven at 450F with pizza stone in oven. Form loaf on cookie sheet covered with parchment paper and let rise for 30 -45 mins (this is step 3 sse above), apply egg wash, slit loaf, trim excess parchment paper. Slide loaf onto hot stone and cover with an disposable aluminum roasting pan. Bake for 35 mins. With this method you will produce a loaf with a crustier crust than just baking in the oven without the pan over it!

RAISIN RYE BREAD

Steps:

• Bring milk to simmer in small saucepan. Cool to between 105°F. and 115°F. Stir warm water and sugar in large bowl until sugar dissolves. Sprinkle yeast over. Let stand until foamy, about 8 minutes. Mix in milk, 1/2 cup molasses, oil, orange peel and salt. Add rye flour, oats, caraway seeds, fennel seeds and aniseed and stir until well blended. Stir in 2 cups bread flour. Cover and let rest 15 minutes.
• Gradually mix in enough remaining bread flour to form dough. Turn out dough onto floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic, adding more flour if sticky, about 12 minutes. Knead in raisins. Oil large bowl. Add dough, turning to coat. Cover bowl with clean kitchen towel. Let rise in warm area until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Oil two 9-inch-diameter cake pans. Line bottom of pans with parchment. Oil parchment. Coat pans and parchment with flour; shake out excess. Punch down dough. Turn out onto lightly oiled surface. Divide dough into 2 pieces. Shape each into 6-inch round loaf. Transfer loaves to prepared pans; flatten slightly. Cover with clean kitchen towel. Let rise in warm area until almost doubled and loaves have spread almost to edges of pans, about 45 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake loaves until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 45 minutes or less Cool loaves in pans on racks 5 minutes. Remove loaves from pans. Brush tops with 1 tablespoon molasses. Cool completely on racks. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap tightly; store at room temperature.)