This wonderfully flavored chocolate cherry yeast bread is the best of both worlds when it comes to sweet and savory. It's truly scrumptious!
*Disclaimer - This recipe was originally published in 2014. I'm working hard to update all my older recipes with recipe cards and additional recipe information, but getting to all of them will take time. Please bear with me. In the meantime let me assure you that this recipe is still a winner and one I'm sure you'll be well pleased with when you make it at home.
While I love a good yeast bread, I didn't think I'd be too thrilled with one that was mixed with chocolate. I was wrong!
This dough is like nothing I've ever worked with before, it's incredibly elastic and sticky.
Because I was a little under the wire with getting this bread baked and posted, I didn't have the luxury of time when it came to refrigeration.
Chilling the dough would have made it less sticky and easier to handle. That said, even though it was sticky and warm, it really wasn't a problem for me, as long as I kept my hands lightly floured.
The original recipe (chosen from The New Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day) called for prunes, and while I did purchase them just for this recipe, I also purchased dried cherries because I thought they would be a wonderful substitution if I decided, last minute, to make the switch.
I did, and they were. In addition, and as I like to do with so many of my recipes, I added chopped nuts (walnuts to be exact) for that little extra texture and crunch.
Yield: Two 2 pound loaves Prep Time: 4 hours (including rising time) Bake Time: 50-60 minutes
2 ½ cups lukewarm water (100 - 110 degrees or warm to the touch, not hot)
¾ cup canola oil
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1 ½ tablespoons kosher salt
1 cup sugar (I used coconut palm sugar)
5 ½ cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 cups dried cherries
2 cups roughly chopped walnuts
egg wash (1 beaten egg with 1 tablespoon water)
-In a large bowl dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Add in the canola oil, salt, and sugar. Stir well.
-Using a wooden spoon, or the paddle attachment of a stand mixer, mix in the flour and cocoa powder.
-Stir in the chocolate chips, making sure to incorporate them well throughout the sticky dough.
-Cover with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise in a warm place, until double, approximately 2 hours.
-Once risen, deflate the dough and divide it in half.
-Working with one half of the dough at a time, and on a lightly floured surface, pat the dough out with lightly floured hands, into an approximate 5x8 inch rectangle.
-Top the dough with half of the walnuts and half of the dried cherries.
-Roll the dough, lengthwise, and place it into a prepared loaf pan that has been sprayed with baking spray.
-Follow the same procedure with the second piece of dough.
-Once the bread is in the pans you can pretty easily re-arrange them with your hands (if needed) so they'll rise uniformly and look pretty.
-Using a knife or kitchen shears, cut some 1" deep X's into the top of the bread to expose the walnuts and cherries.
-Brush the tops of each loaf with the egg wash and then place the pans in a warm, draft-free spot to rise and double in volume, approximately 90 minutes.
-Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
-Bake the bread for 50-60 minutes or until the bread sounds hollow when tapped.
-Allow the bread to cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes and then remove the loaves from the pans and allow them to cool completely.
-Serve and be prepared to be delighted!
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Thank you so much for visiting me today in my Kudos Kitchen. I hope you found something you'll love and that you will come back and visit me often. Please know that there is always room for you around my kitchen table!
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Until we eat again, I hope you have a delicious day!
Paula says
This is the first yeast bread recipe I've seen with chocolate in it. Like you I would have been hesitant to make it so I'm really glad that you made it and shared your thoughts about it. It does look delicious and thanks to you, I'm not scared to try and make this myself.
Elizabeth says
I was really nervous about all that chocolate in the dough too. But it works, doesn't it?
Many thanks for baking with us.
Karen Kerr says
Wow. Your bread looks so beautiful. Love what you did with it!
Pam says
Renee! OMG that bread is beautiful! I'm wishing it was here right now to enjoy with my coffee.
Barbara Bakes says
Is it wrong that I want to grab one of your slices and spread it with cream cheese 🙂 I looks luscious!
Jamie says
Fabulous!!! We were all surprised that this bread was actually...bread and not cake! Which made it super snacking food. I LOVE the cherries and walnuts and will so be making mine that way next time I bake this! Thanks a gazillion for baking my challenge with the Babes and you have well earned your Buddy badge! Kudos! 🙂