Choco Cherry Loaf (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 -
¾ cup (60 grams) Dutch cocoa powder
02 -
¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
03 -
3½ teaspoons (10 grams) kosher salt, Diamond Crystal if available
04 -
4 cups (480 grams) bread flour
→ Wet Ingredients
05 -
1¾ cups (420 grams) slightly warm water, around 80-90°F
06 -
½ cup (100 grams) sourdough starter, either recently fed discard or active
→ Mix-ins
07 -
80 grams (½ cup) chopped dried cherries
08 -
Rice flour, for coating your banneton
09 -
½ cup (85 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chunks
10 -
Two ice cubes, to create moisture in the oven
# Instructions:
01 -
Feed your starter and keep it somewhere cozy, like 75°F, to speed things up to about 6 hours. Cooler spots (65-68°F) might mean waiting 12 hours until bubbly and ready.
02 -
Use a big bowl to mix cocoa, sugar, salt, and flour. Add the sourdough and warm water. Stir until you don’t see any dry bits. Cover with a wet towel to let the dough rest and hydrate for 20 minutes.
03 -
Stretch the dough using wet hands and gently work in chocolate and cherries. Repeat this stretch-and-fold process 4 times, resting the dough for 20 minutes after each round.
04 -
Let the dough sit in a covered bowl and rise until it’s about twice as puffy, with tiny bubbles showing up. This could take 4 to 12 hours, depending on the temperature and how active the starter is.
05 -
Dust a banneton with rice flour and place the shaped dough in it, seam up. Pop it in the fridge overnight, anywhere from 12 to 16 hours for slower proofing.
06 -
Warm your Dutch oven to 450°F. Just before baking, add slashes to the dough and throw in two ice cubes to create steam. Cover and bake for 45 minutes, removing the lid to darken the crust for 5 more minutes at the end.
07 -
Set the finished bread on a cooling rack for at least 2 hours (up to 4 hours). Once it feels fully cool, slice and enjoy.
# Notes:
01 -
Tastes best fresh but can be kept in a sealed container for 3-4 days at room temp
02 -
Store frozen slices for up to 3 months, thaw before eating
03 -
A fancy loaf, great for events like Valentine's Day or birthdays