Best German Farmers Bread Recipe Bauernbrot

rye flour

🥗Healthier: whole wheat flour

💰Cheaper: all-purpose flour

Whole wheat flour offers more nutrients and fiber.

bread flour

🥗Healthier: spelt flour

💰Cheaper: all-purpose flour

Spelt flour is a nutritious alternative with a nutty flavor.

yeast

🥗Healthier: sourdough starter

💰Cheaper: baking powder

Sourdough adds depth of flavor and is often easier to digest.

caraway seeds

🥗Healthier: fennel seeds

💰Cheaper: anise seeds

Fennel provides a similar anise flavor profile.

Start with the dough starter by adding the water, honey and yeast in a large bowl and mix it up.

When mixed, add the flour and rye flour and mix it up again.

Take a large tupperware with lid and add 3 cups of flour, caraway seeds, salt and yeast. Shake it up to mix well.

Pour this mixture in the center of the bowl with the first mixture, leaving the sides open.

Cover the bowl with a light towel and put it in a quiet dark place for 24 hours.

After 24 hours, add the mixture to a bread mixing machine on low and add the oil, or do it by hand. Mix until it forms a nice dough.

Knead the dough about two or three times into a round ball.

In a cleaned bowl, add about 1 tablespoon of oil in the bottom and turn your dough in there to coat all sides with oil.

Cover and put it back in the dark place for 2 hours.

After 2 hours, take out of the bowl onto a lightly floured counter and knead again three to four times by hand.

Coat your bread form with flour and add your dough to it, lightly brushing flour on top.

Flip over onto your parchment paper covered baking pan and put back in its dark place for 1 more hour.

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.

Add a small oven-safe pan or small skillet to the very bottom of the oven for ice or cold water.

Set the oven rack in the middle.

In a new bowl, beat 1 egg to baste the top of the bread with and prepare something to cut or poke with.

After 1 hour, remove the bread form and brush the top of the bread with the beaten egg and poke holes in the bread or slice it on top.

Put your bread in the preheated oven and add the ice in the skillet, closing the oven door quickly.

Bake for 15 minutes at 450 degrees, then turn it down to 400 degrees for about 52 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 190 degrees.

Take your bread out and let cool on a wire rack.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens