My Favourite Breads
The basic ingredients for this bread are dates, cocoa powder and chocolate. I added some milk and egg too, with a splash of melted butter. The dough was very soft and easy to knead by hand. I finally bought myself a Kenwood masterchef, but I didn’t use it. I love the feel of dough in my hands. If you love dates, and chocolate, then this bread is a must try for you. I wish you a happy baking!
- Ingredients
- 600g (5 cups US, 1.3Ib, 4 cups Australian) all-purpose four
- 2 teaspoons Fleischmanns instant yeast
- 60g (¼ cup, 2oz)) sugar
- 4 tablespoons (¼ cup) cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (240ml) milk
- 120ml (½ cup) water (start with ¼ cup)
- 60g (¼ cup, 4 tablespoons, 2oz) butter, melted
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 150g dark chocolate, chopped
- 200g (7oz) dates, chopped and soaked in 2 tablespoons boiling water
- Icing (confectioners) sugar to dust
Please always assemble all ingredients before you start. Preheat oven to 360ºF (180ºC) ten minutes before baking. Line a baking sheet with parchment and sprinkle with some cornmeal (maize flour).
Sift or whisk the flour, yeast, sugar, cocoa and salt into a bowl. Make a well in the centre.
Add the milk, ¼ cup water and beaten eggs,
and mix to a soft but not sticky dough, adding more water only if necessary. Turn onto a lightly floured surface
and knead 8-10 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a plastic wrap.
Leave in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
knock back the dough, divide into two and roll each into a rectangle 12 x 15 inches. Scatter half the chocolate and dates, evenly, on each rectangle. Roll up each dough tightly from the short side, and press the edges together firmly to seal. Gently roll the log to even it out to a length of 12-inches.
Transfer to prepared sheet and cover with a plastic bag or tea towel and set aside for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Use a sharp knife, to make 8-10 diagonal slashes on each loaf, then bake at 360ºF (180ºC) for about 30-40 minutes or until loaves sound hollow when tapped on the base.
Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Dust loaves with icing (confectioners) sugar.
The bread tasted amazing, but for some reason, my kids don’t like dates
I ate most of it, with some friends, who were visiting with us
If you love dates, this will be a good addition to your repertoire
Chocolate and Date Bread
Preparation time: 30 minutes; Resting time: 2 hours; Baking time: 30-40 minutes; Makes: two loaves
Ingredients
- 600g (5 cups US, 1.3Ib, 4 cups Australian) all-purpose four
- 2 teaspoons Fleischmanns instant yeast
- 60g (¼ cup, 2oz)) sugar
- 4 tablespoons (¼ cup) cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup (240ml) milk
- 120ml (½ cup) water (start with ¼ cup)
- 60g (¼ cup, 4 tablespoons, 2oz) butter, melted
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 150g dark chocolate, chopped
- 200g (7oz) dates, chopped and soaked in 2 tablespoons boiling water
- Icing (confectioners) sugar to dust
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 360F (180C) ten minutes before baking. Line a baking sheet with parchment and sprinkle with some cornmeal (maize flour).
- Sift or whisk the flour, yeast, sugar, cocoa and salt into a bowl. Make a well in the centre. Add the milk, 1/4 cup water and beaten eggs, and mix to a soft but not sticky dough, adding more water only if necessary. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead 8-10 minutes, until smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a plastic wrap. Leave in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- knock back the dough, divide into two and roll each into a rectangle 12 x 15 inches. Scatter half the chocolate and dates, evenly, on each rectangle. Roll up each dough tightly from the short side, and press the edges together firmly to seal. Gently roll the log to even it out to a length of 12-inches. Transfer to prepared sheet and cover with a plastic bag or tea towel and set aside for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Use a sharp knife, to make 8-10 diagonal slashes on each loaf, then bake at 360F (180C) for about 30-40 minutes or until loaves sound hollow when tapped on the base. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Dust loaves with icing (confectioners) sugar.
Cup measures based on American cup of 240ml (125g flour). Australian cup = 250ml (150g flour).
Points to Note
- Please note that oven temperatures are given as a guideline only. You may need to add or reduce the suggested temperature depending on your oven. I baked the bread at 360ºF (180ºC), for 35 minutes.
- For cup measures: spoon the flour into the cup, heaping it up over the top, then slide a knife across the top to level off the extra. Be careful not to shake or tap the cup to settle down the flour or you will have more than you need.
- The dough weighed 1132g.
myfavouritepastime.com
Love LOVE dates!
Me too!
Liz
Yum, this sounds amazing!!
Thank you
Liz
It looks pretty. I’ll have to try this.
Happy trying and enjoy the weekend!
Liz
Hi Liz – dang you have been busy this week! Kids don’t like dates? Fine, more for you! Love these flavors together and now I know what to do with my leftover dates. -Kat
Kids don’t like dates but mum loves them and almost never has left over dates. Have a wonderful Sunday.
Liz
Fantastic. I haven’t tried chocolate and dates in a bread yet. I can imagine it tastes quite delicious though.
Give it a go, sometime. Tastes really good!
Liz
Hi Liz, this sounds absolutely amazing ! Thank you for stopping by at my blog, Lynne’s Recipe Trails and for the ‘like’ on my Cheese and Bacon Fondue. I look forward to visiting your lovely blog. Have a great weekend. 🙂
Hi Lynne,
It was my pleasure and I do love bacon and cheese. Have a lovely weekend, too!
Liz
These look delicious! Love the dates and chocolate combo 🙂
Thank you. It’s an incredible combo
Liz
Yum! It looks fantabulous!
Thanks! Happy Friday
Liz
What a gorgeous bread there Liz!❤️
Thanks, Sonal. Enjoy the weekend!
Liz
That looks irresistibly delicious!
Virtual hugs,
Judie
Thank you,
Virtual Hugs to you too!
Liz