Stout Chocolate-Cherry Bread

Yield: 20 servings (serving size: 1 slice)

Ingredients

• 4 1/4  cups  bread flour, divided
• 1  (12-ounce) bottle Guinness Stout
• 1  package dry yeast (about 2 1/4 teaspoons)
• 1  tablespoon  granulated sugar
• 1  teaspoon  salt
• 1/2  cup  dried tart cherries
• 4  ounces  bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• Cooking spray
• 1  teaspoon  water
• 1  large egg white, lightly beaten
• 1  teaspoon  pearl sugar (optional)

Preparation

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine 2 cups flour, beer, and yeast in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.

Remove mixture from refrigerator; let stand 1 hour.

Add 2 cups flour, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, and salt; stir until a soft dough forms. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 8 minutes); add enough of remaining flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, to prevent dough from sticking to hands (dough will feel tacky). Knead in cherries and chocolate.

Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 1 hour or until doubled in size. (Gently press 2 fingers into dough. If indentation remains, dough has risen enough.)

Punch dough down; cover and let rest 5 minutes. Shape dough into a 9-inch round; place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Lightly coat dough with cooking spray. Cover and let rise 1 hour or until doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 350°.

Uncover the dough. Combine water and egg white, stirring with a whisk, and brush over dough. Sprinkle the dough with pearl sugar, if desired. Make a 1/4-inch-deep cut down the center of dough using a sharp knife.

Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until bread is browned on bottom and sounds hollow when tapped. Remove from pan; cool on a wire rack.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

156 (14% from fat)

Fat:

2.4g (sat 1.3g,mono 0.2g,poly 0.2g)

Protein:

4.3g

Carbohydrate:

28.1g

Fiber:

1.3g

Cholesterol:

0.0mg

Iron:

1.4mg

Sodium:

121mg

Calcium:

5mg