Bread recipes
Photo courtesy of La Farm Bakery

Baker Lionel Vatinet, who opened his La Farm Bakery in Cary, North Carolina, eighteen years ago, makes this bread every Christmas. “Chocolate breads are so fun and delicious and indulgent this time of year,” he says. “I love the festive play on colors and textures with the dark bread and the bright, chewy cranberries.”

recipe heading-plus-icon

yields

Makes 1 loaf

    Ingredients
  • 3½ cups flour
  • 1¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon yeast
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • ½ cup butter (at room temperature)
  • 1½ cup water at 60 degrees
  • 1/3 cup cocoa
  • ½ cup chocolate chips
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
steps
  1. In a stand mixer fitted with dough hook attachment, combine flour, salt, yeast, sugar, and butter. Start mixing on low speed and slowly add water. Stop mixer after 5 minutes and scrap sides and bottom of bowl with dough scraper to loosen all dry ingredients. Start mixer again and increase speed to medium, mixing for 2 more minutes. Slowly add cocoa, chocolate chips, and cranberries. Mix for 2 more minutes, then stop and check temperature of dough. If dough is between 72 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, transfer to a bowl that has been lightly dusted with flour. Dough should feel stiff and very firm, but moist. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a location that maintains a temperature of 75 degree. Let dough rise for 1½ hours.
  2. Gently fold dough and shape into boule. Transfer to a sheet tray lined with parchment. Cover with plastic wrap and let dough rise again, away from drafts, for 1 hour. Lightly dust top of dough with flour and score with a razor blade down the middle of the dough. Place in preheated 400-degree oven for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on a bakers rack.
  • Recipe By
    Lionel Vatinet of La Farm Bakery in Cary, North Carolina

Comments 4

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  • Dave
    November 5, 2023 at 2:13 am

    The first time I made this, I followed the instructions and it turned out totally underbaked.

    The second time it turned out delicious – wonderful flavor and almost cake-like consistency.

    Round 2:
    Flour = bread flour
    Water temp = 76 degrees
    Proofing = 1.5 hours @ 75 degrees + 1 hour at 80 degrees
    Baking = 25 mins @ 400 degrees in a covered Dutch oven + 20 mins @ 400 degrees uncovered.

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