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

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

FAQs

What do you eat with Bauernbrot? ›

"German Farmer Bread similar to what is found in when purchasing Bauernbrot in a Bavarian bakery in Germany. Great with butter and cold cuts, or just plain butter. My sons' favorite is with salami and aged "Moon Cheese"."

What is the German name for rye bread? ›

Such bread is often known as black bread (German: Schwarzbrot, Russian: чёрный хлеб) from their darker color than wheat bread (enhanced by long baking times, creating Maillard reactions in the crumb).

How to make farmer bread? ›

The method is simple: Flour, salt, water, and a little yeast, create a no-need dough. However, the dough has to ferment for at least 14 to 16 hours. I usually mix my dough on a Saturday at 9:00 am and bake my bread the next day at 9:00 am.

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.

What do Germans eat on rye bread? ›

Traditional accompaniments for German rye bread include butter, cream cheese, pickles, and various types of cold cuts such as salami or ham. These pairings complement the rich and earthy flavors of the rye bread.

What do you eat with Schwarzbrot? ›

Schwarzbrot is very versatile. It goes well with wurst and cheese slices and it also taste great with just some butter. It also goes great with fried or scrambled eggs. It can also be cut into cubes, roasted in a pan, and enjoyed over soups and salads.

How healthy is German rye bread? ›

High in iron, potassium, calcium, zinc and soluble fibre, rye bread is a dark, dense bread with a distinctive earthy taste. Rye bread is considered more nutritious than wheat bread. As well as being super filling, it also contains more fibre and B vitamins than wheat breads.

Is German rye the same as pumpernickel? ›

In the U.S., pumpernickel is crafted into a more familiar rounded loaf. It contains an airier texture, has a crust, and offers additional flavors for an aromatic result. This deviates from the original German concoction, which uses only dark rye flour for a very dense bread. Both are delicious but are quite different.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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).

Is eating rye bread good for you? ›

A diet that includes rye bread helps build healthy bones and tissues throughout the body. This is thanks to a swath of nutrients, like the calcium and manganese it contains, as well as iron that builds red blood cells and B vitamins that promote cell growth and repair.

How do you eat Bauernbrot? ›

A slice of Bauernbrot with its soft crumb and lovely crust is perfect with any topping, ranging from cold meat or cheese to sweet jam or honey.

What do Germans eat with Brötchen? ›

"Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper." Traditional German breakfast is a simple breakfast. It consists of different varieties of Brötchen (bread rolls), marmalade or jam, chocolate spread, cheeses, hams, salami, Schwarzwälder, and honey.

What is focaccia eaten with? ›

Besides the aforementioned soups and stews, focaccia also goes fantastically with salads, antipasto mixes, and pasta dishes. On its lonesome, it can be served with olive oil and balsamic vinegar (like we said, it's amazing at sopping up delicious liquids) as a pre-meal snack.

What do Germans eat with pumpernickel bread? ›

German pumpernickel is often sold sliced in small packets in supermarkets, where it may be paired with caviar, smoked salmon, sturgeon, and other expensive products on an hors d'oeuvres tray.

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