Steakhouse Black Bread

Ingredients

• 1 1/3 cups strong brewed coffee, room temperature
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• ¼ cup dark molasses
• 2 Tbs brown sugar
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 cup rye flour
• 2 cups bread flour
• 2 Tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1½ tsp salt
• 2½ tsp active dry yeast or bread machine yeast

Directions

1. Place all ingredients in bread machine pan in order suggested by manufacturer. Select Dough cycle. When the machine indicates the end of the final rise, remove the dough.
2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Shape the dough into 12 dinner rolls, or one 9×5 inch loaf. Let rise until doubled in size while the oven preheats, they should rise quickly.
3. Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven for rolls, or 35 minutes for a loaf, or until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
4. Optional:  Brush the rolls or bread with beaten egg, then sprinkle some uncooked oatmeal on top before baking.

User note:  I did not use a bread machine but used all the same ingredients called for. I first dissolved my yeast in warm coffee. I then added my brown sugar and let it set a few minutes to get frothy. Next, I added the salt, molasses and oil. I stirred this well and then added in the cocoa powder. One cup at a time, I added the whole wheat flour, rye flour, and 1 cup bread flour. I then kneaded in the last cup just until the bread was smooth and elastic (it did not take the full last cup). This has a great texture and was super easy to make. It made two medium sized loaves.