Best Winterfell Black Bread Recipes

AUTHENTIC GERMAN BLACK BREAD (SCHWARZBROT)

Steps:

• Combine the water, sourdough starter, and one half of the cracked rye. Mixture will be soupy. Cover and allow to set at about 70° F for 8 to 10 hours.
• After 8 to 10 hours, the mixture will have absorbed water and be similar in consistency to porridge. Save 1 cup of this mixture for the next batch of bread, then add salt and the rest of the cracked rye.
• Allow the dough to ferment at about 70° F for 4 more hours. At the end of this time, work and squeeze the dough with your hands to develop its cohesiveness. The dough is nothing like wheat bread dough. It is very moist and slippery and cannot be kneaded. When a handful is squeezed, it will squirt out between your fingers.
• After working the dough for several minutes, pack it into bread forms, preferably glass. There's not much rising that goes on and too much air space in the bread would be detrimental to the texture. The moistness and acidity of the dough and the long baking time will strongly rust steel pans and etch aluminum ones. Pack the dough into the pan tightly and smooth the top with a spatula. Lay a piece of parchment paper over the top of the form and then cover tightly with aluminum foil. The aluminum foil keeps the bread from drying out and the parchment paper keeps the aluminum foil from dissolving into the bread. Bake at 225° F for 3½ hours.
• Turn the oven off but allow the bread to remain inside for a couple more hours. Carefully remove the bread from the pans and place on a rack to cool and dry. Ideally, you should wait a day or two until the bread becomes firmer before attempting to slice it.

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE-STYLE DARK BREAD

Steps:

• Soften yeast in 1/2 cup warm water.
• Stir in sugar. Let stand 6 minutes or till bubbly.
• (If using instant yeast just stir the yeast and sugar into the flour).
• Meanwhile, in large mixing bowl combine 1 cup (1 1/2 if using instant yeast) warm water with molasses, cocoa, salt, oil, and rye flour. Beat until smooth.
• Add yeast water mixture, stirring to combine (if using active dry yeast).
• Work in all-purpose flour till dough is smooth and no longer sticky, very pliable and elastic.
• Knead a few minutes.
• Let rise till doubled in greased bowl.
• Punch down.
• Shape into 2 large round loaves placed a few inches apart on greased and cornmeal dusted cookie sheet,.
• Spray tops of loaves with cooking spray.
• Cover with towel and place in warm place till doubled.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Score tops of loaves and bake for 30 minutes to 200 degrees or until crust makes a hollow sound when tapped.
• Cool on rack before slicing.

DESPERATE TRAVELERS' ACORN PASTE

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
• 2. Coat acorns with 1 tablespoon peanut oil and spread on a cookie sheet. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Cool acorns.
• 3. Process the acorns in a food processor on high speed until finely ground. Continue processing until acorns form a thick paste.
• 4. Slowly add remaining peanut oil until smooth and creamy, scraping down sides and adding a little more oil as needed. Serve on Winterfell Black Bread or a bread of your choice.