Chocolate Yeast Loaf
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 1 tbsp. sugar
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 pkg. yeast
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tbsp. butter, cut in pieces
- 4 cups bread flour
- 1 tsp. salt
- 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tsp. instant coffee powder (not granular)
- 2 lg. eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 cup black walnuts, chopped
- 1/2 cup seedless raisins
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/2 cup butter
- Mix the water and 1 tablespoon sugar in mixing cup.
- Add yeast and stir slightly.
- Set aside for 10 minutes until foamy.
- Warm the milk and butter in a saucepan to about 110F (butter will not melt completely).
- In a large mixing bowl, combine 3-3/4 cups flour, salt, cocoa, coffee and the remaining 1/2 cup sugar.
- Blend well.
- Beat eggs slightly and add the warm milk, butter and vanilla; blend.
- Add this mixture along with the yeast mixture to the flour.
- Stir in the walnuts and raisins.
- Mix all with a mixer with dough hook, or by hand with a wooden spoon.
- Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 to 6 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Or continue mixing in the mixer and knead only 2 minutes or so.
- Add more flour if necessary.
- Grease a large bowl and place the dough into it, turning to grease all sides.
- Cover and let rise in a warm place until dough has doubled insize, about 2 hours.
- Knead the dough a few times, cover with plastic wrap and let rest for few minutes.
- Roll the dough into a large oval shape and roll up like a jelly roll, placing the seam side down.
- Roll from the narrow end to make it fit into the pan size you prefer.
- Use a loaf pan or a round casserole type pan.
- Butter a piece of plastic wrap and place loosely over the dough.
- Let rise again until doubled in size; about 1-1/2 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350F and place bread near the center of the oven, not too high.
- Bake for 25 minutes, then cover loosely with foil and continue baking 30 to 40 minutes longer.
- Let cool for 10 minutes, then remove from pan and finish cooling on wire rack.
- Serve with butter and honey for a real treat.
warm water, sugar, sugar, yeast, milk, butter, bread flour, salt, cocoa powder, coffee, eggs, vanilla extract, black walnuts, raisins, honey, butter
Taken from www.foodgeeks.com/recipes/2004 (may not work)