Bauernbrot Recipe (German farmer-style rye bread) (2024)

Bauernbrot Recipe (German farmer-style rye bread) (1)

(German farmer-style rye bread)

Authentic-tasting German bread is easier to make than you'd think. Bauernbrot, or farmer's bread, is a hearty rye bread that is the standard loaf in many German homes, especially in the south.

Bauerbrot was traditionally made from scratch in farm homes and baked in age-old, wood-fired ovens. At home, ittakes a few hours from start to finish, but most of that time is spent resting the dough or baking it. The final product has a dense crumb, full flavor and a chewy crust.

1 large loaf

Ingredients

Dough Starter

  • Bread flour -- 3/4 cup
  • Rye flour -- 3/4 cup
  • Honey or malt syrup -- 3 tablespoons
  • Lukewarm water -- 1 1/2 cups
  • Instant yeast -- 1/2 teaspoon

Flour mixture

  • Bread flour -- 2 1/2 cups
  • Caraway seeds -- 2 tablespoons
  • Salt -- 1 1/2 teaspoons
  • Instant yeast -- 1/2 teaspoon
  • Oil -- 1 tablespoon
  • Cornmeal -- for the baking tray

Method

  1. Add the ingredients for the starter to a large bowl and mix together until smooth. Set aside for 10 minutes for the yeast to activate.
  2. While the starter is resting, mix together the remaining ingredients except for the oil and cornmeal. Pour the flour mixture over the starter. Do not stir. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean towel and set aside for at least two hours and up to five hours. The starter will bubble up through the flour mixture. This long rest will give your loaf a big boost of added flavor.
  3. Add the oil to the flour mixture and use a wooden spoon to stir the flour mixture into the starter. As the mixture comes together, remove the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead for about 10 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. The dough might be a little sticky. Knead in just enough extra flour to keep the dough from sticking to your hands.
  4. Set the dough aside to rest for about 10 minutes, then knead for another 5 to 10 minutes.
  5. Set the dough in a large, lightly oiled bowl and lightly oil the top of the dough. Cover with plastic wrap or a clean towel and set in a draft-free area of the kitchen to rise until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Remove the dough to a lightly floured work surface. Punch down the dough and lightly knead it 3 or 4 times. Form into a ball, return to the bowl, cover and let rise for another 45 minutes or so.
  6. Preheat oven to 450°F and set the shelf at the lowest level. Put a small metal pan in the oven (you will use this later). Lightly press down on the dough and form it into a ball. Sprinkle the cornmeal onto a baking sheet and set the dough onto the baking sheet, with any seams on the bottom. Lightly oil the top of the dough and cover it with plastic wrap. Set aside to rise for another hour.
  7. Use a sharp knife or razor blade to slash the top of the dough in 3 parallel lines, each about 1/4-inch deep. Then slash with another set of 3 lines perpendicular to the first set. Use a spray bottle to mist the dough with water.
  8. Set the baking sheet in the oven and pour about 1 cup of water into the small pan to create steam. Shut the door immediately and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 400°F and bake for another 35 to 45 minutes. (An insta-read thermometer inserted into the middle of the loaf should register 190°F.)
  9. Set the loaf on a cooling rack and let cool completely.

Bauernbrot Variations

  • Flour: Vary the proportion of rye flour and bread flour to your liking. Or eliminate the rye flour altogether and use all bread flour. You can also make a whole wheat loaf by replacing about 1/2 of the bread flour with whole wheat flour. You will need to add a little more water if you do.
  • Other Additions: Mix 3 tablespoons sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, linseeds, flaxseeds, cracked wheat, rye or spelt into the flour mixture for added texture.
  • Rising Time: For even better flavor, let the starter ferment for an hour a room temperature. Then set it in the refrigerator to ferment slowly for another 8 to 24 hours. Return it to room temperature before proceeding with the recipe. This works well if you want to start bread the night before for lunch or dinner the next day.
  • For the Crust: For a darker crust, brush the dough with some buttermilk, yogurt or dark coffee just before baking. Use a baking stone for even better crust development. Set the stone in the oven about an hour before baking to preheat it thoroughly. After the final rise, move the dough directly to the stone to bake.

Germany

Breads

Rye

Baking

Disclaimer

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Bauernbrot Recipe (German farmer-style rye bread) (2024)

FAQs

Is Bauernbrot rye bread healthy? ›

Health Benefits

Rye bread is a lot richer in protein, calcium, iron, and potassium as compared to wheat bread. This bread is low in gluten, high in lysine (the amino acid that is good for the human body), and very low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium.

What is the difference between German rye bread and rye bread? ›

Pure rye bread contains only rye flour, without any wheat. German-style pumpernickel, a dark, dense, and close-textured loaf, is made from crushed or ground whole rye grains, usually without wheat flour, baked for long periods at a low temperature in a covered tin.

What is traditional German bread called? ›

Pumpernickel is a traditional German bread that is known for its dark colour, dense texture, and distinctive flavour. It is made from a mixture of rye flour, whole rye grains, and sometimes a small amount of wheat flour, as well as water, salt, and sometimes molasses or caramel colouring.

Is it OK to eat rye bread everyday? ›

If you do not have any dietary restrictions, rye bread can be a delicious and nutritious part of your diet. Just be sure to choose rye bread made with whole grains and limit your portion size to control your calorie intake. Something you can also do as part of a healthier lifestyle is to wear diabetic socks.

Is it healthy to eat rye bread every day? ›

Rye is great for the digestive system

In addition to aiding in weight loss, the impressive amount of fiber found in rye can help with constipation, ease stomach pain and cramps, reduce excess gas, and even help prevent serious conditions like ulcers, colon cancer, and breast cancer.

Is German style rye bread healthy? ›

Rye bread has been linked to many potential health benefits, including weight loss, reduced inflammation, better blood sugar control, and improved heart and digestive health.

What is the healthiest rye bread? ›

The healthiest rye breads are made from 100% whole-grain sprouted rye flour, in addition to other sprouted grain flours. Since sprouting increases grains' fiber content, sprouted rye is higher in fiber and healthier than non-sprouted rye. One slice (28 grams) of sprouted rye bread provides : Calories: 60.

Is German rye bread healthier? ›

Typical rye bread contains about three times more fiber than white wheat bread mainly because the starchy endosperm of rye contains twice as much cell wall components than wheat. Also, rye is typically used as whole grain unlike wheat. A clear sign for high fiber content is dark color.

What happens if you use too much yeast when making bread? ›

This can affect the bread by adding a "yeasty" taste if you put too much into the dough. General amounts of yeast are around 1 - 2 % of the flour, by weight. Too much yeast could cause the dough to go flat by releasing gas before the flour is ready to expand.

Is it cheaper to make my own bread? ›

In a nutshell, if you're buying basic, cheap sandwich bread, it's probably cheaper than you can make it at home. But if you compare two loaves similar to what you could make at home — one made with high-quality ingredients as opposed to one made with lesser quality ingredients — home baking becomes much cheaper.

What is the secret to making homemade bread? ›

12 tips for making perfect bread
  1. Use the right yeast. ...
  2. Store your yeast properly. ...
  3. Treat salt with care. ...
  4. Take your time. ...
  5. Try different flours. ...
  6. Consider vitamin C. ...
  7. Practice makes perfect. ...
  8. Don't prove for too long.

Is Schwarzbrot rye bread? ›

This is a rustic, dark rye bread that has a dense crumb, it is made with 70% organic whole rye and whole wheat flour . It's characteristic is a rich rye flavor achieved by a special seasoning which includes caraway seeds and a strong rye sourdough.

What do Germans call the end of bread? ›

In northern and western Germany, that would be "Kanten," or "Knust," to name just the most common terms. Bavarians and Austrians might call the crusty dry end of a loaf of bread "Scherzl"; elsewhere in southern Germany it's a "Rand." Jokingly, the heel is also known as "Hintern" (behind).

Why is German bread so special? ›

So Germans to this day tend to eat sourdough bread made with rye, spelt and wheat flours and packed with grains and seeds. German bread is heavy and has substance; it (literally) outweighs fluffy focaccia or ciabatta. That hefty tradition never caught on in the rest of Europe.

What is the healthiest rye bread to buy? ›

Look for sourdough or sprouted grain ryes.

Though not as common, loaves made through fermentation (i.e. sourdough rye) and/or with sprouted grains will really up the nutritional power, resulting in an even more digestible loaf with greater nutrient bioavailability.

Which rye bread is healthier? ›

The healthiest rye breads are made from 100% whole-grain sprouted rye flour, in addition to other sprouted grain flours. Since sprouting increases grains' fiber content, sprouted rye is higher in fiber and healthier than non-sprouted rye.

Is Bavarian rye bread good for you? ›

Rye bread isn't just delicious, it also is packed with a bevy of benefits. “Rye is a great source of vitamins and minerals, including magnesium, potassium and phosphorus, and antioxidants,” Sussi says. (Although, this is pretty on-par with the benefits of other whole wheat vs. whole grain breads.)

Is Bavarian rye bread healthy? ›

Rye bread has been linked to many potential health benefits, including weight loss, reduced inflammation, better blood sugar control, and improved heart and digestive health.

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