The Sweet Symphony: Chocolate Cherry Sourdough Bread Recipe

Sweet meets tangy in this decadent chocolate cherry sourdough bread that blends rich dark chocolate with bright, juicy cherries.

sourdough lovers will delight in the complex flavor profile of this artisan-style loaf.

Each slice promises a delightful harmony of deep cocoa notes and bursts of fruity sweetness.

The gentle tang of sourdough provides a perfect backdrop for the indulgent chocolate and tart cherries.

Bakers seeking a show-stopping bread that elevates breakfast or afternoon tea will adore this recipe.

This rustic bread offers a perfect balance of sophistication and comfort in every single slice.

You’ll want to share this delectable creation with everyone at your table.

Chocolate Cherry Sourdough: Bakery Perfection

• Indulge in the delightful marriage of deep chocolate and tangy dried cherries, creating a gourmet bread experience that elevates your baking game.
• Learn the intricate sourdough technique that transforms simple ingredients into a professional-quality loaf with complex flavors and beautiful texture.
• Easily adapt the recipe by experimenting with different chocolate types or adding nuts for a personalized touch that suits your taste preferences.
• Serve this showstopping bread as a stunning centerpiece that looks and tastes like it came straight from an artisan bakery, guaranteed to wow friends and family.

What You’ll Need for Cherry Sourdough

• Bread Flour: High-protein flour that provides the essential structure for a chewy sourdough texture.
• Cocoa Powder: Rich chocolate ingredient that adds deep flavor and dark color to the bread.

• Water: Hydrates the flour and activates the sourdough starter's fermentation process.
• Sourdough Starter: Live fermentation culture that provides leavening and distinctive tangy flavor to the bread.

• Sugar, Salt: Enhances overall flavor and helps control fermentation.
• Chocolate Chips, Dried Cherries: Delicious mix-ins that add sweetness, texture, and bursts of flavor throughout the bread.

Tools for Sourdough Mastery

• Dutch Oven: Essential for creating steam and achieving a crispy, golden crust with perfect bread texture.
• Large Mixing Bowl: Crucial for combining ingredients and mixing dough thoroughly.
• Whisk: Perfect for blending dry ingredients smoothly without lumps.
• Banneton Basket: Helps shape the dough and creates beautiful design lines on bread surface.
• Sharp Knife or Bread Lame: Needed for scoring the bread before baking to allow proper expansion.
• Wire Cooling Rack: Allows air circulation when cooling bread, preventing soggy bottom.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient proportions for consistent results.

Chocolate Cherry Bread Directions

Step 1: Awaken the Starter

Bring your sourdough starter to life by feeding it 6-12 hours before baking.

Warmer kitchens around 75F need about 6 hours, while cooler spaces between 65-68F might require up to 12 hours.

Watch for bubbly, active signs of fermentation.

Step 2: Create Dough Base

• Bread flour
• Cocoa powder
• Sugar
• Salt
• Warm water
• Sourdough starter

Whisk dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

Pour in warm water and starter, mixing thoroughly until no dry flour remains.

Let the mixture rest for 20 minutes, allowing flour to hydrate and gluten to relax.

Step 3: Fold in Delightful Treasures

Moisten your hands to prevent sticking.

• Chocolate chips
• Dried cherries

Perform a series of stretch-and-fold techniques, adding ingredients in portions.

Complete 4 total folds, resting 20 minutes between each fold.

Step 4: Allow Fermentation Magic

Cover the dough and let it rise until nearly doubled.

Look for visible fermentation bubbles.

Rise time fluctuates between 4-12 hours based on kitchen temperature and starter strength.

Step 5: Shape and Chill

Transform dough into a beautiful loaf.

Dust a banneton with rice flour and place dough seam-side up.

Refrigerate overnight for 12-16 hours of cold proofing.

Step 6: Bake to Perfection

Preheat Dutch oven to 450F.

Score the dough’s surface, add ice cubes for steam.

Bake covered for 45 minutes.

Remove lid and continue baking 5 minutes for desired crust color.

Step 7: Patience Rewards

Let bread cool completely on a wire rack for 2-4 hours.

Slice and savor your delicious creation.

Sourdough Tips for Best Results

• Feed your sourdough starter when it's most active, typically 6-12 hours before baking, to ensure maximum rising power and rich flavor development.
• Rest the mixed dough for 20 minutes to help flour fully absorb water, creating a smoother, more elastic texture that enhances overall bread quality.
• Incorporate chocolate chips and dried cherries gradually through stretch-and-fold techniques, preventing ingredient clumping and ensuring even distribution throughout the dough.
• Monitor kitchen temperature carefully, as it directly impacts fermentation speed and bread rise – warmer environments speed up the process, while cooler spaces slow it down.
• Add ice cubes during baking to create steam, which helps develop a crispy, golden-brown crust with beautiful caramelization and professional-looking finish.

Unique Mix-Ins for Cherry Sourdough

• Gluten-Free Chocolate Cherry Bread: Replace bread flour with a gluten-free blend, using xanthan gum to improve texture and binding. Ensure all mix-ins are certified gluten-free.
• Vegan Chocolate Cherry Sourdough: Substitute dairy-based starter with plant-based sourdough starter made from whole wheat or rye flour. Use vegan chocolate chips and organic dried cherries.
• Low-Sugar Alternative: Reduce sugar content by using dark chocolate chips with higher cocoa percentage. Replace sugar with monk fruit sweetener or stevia for lower glycemic impact.
• Nutty Cherry Chocolate Version: Add chopped almonds or pecans alongside chocolate chips for extra crunch and nutritional complexity. Toast nuts lightly before incorporating to enhance flavor profile.

Serving Sourdough Bread Like a Pro

• Sweet Morning Companion: Pair this rich chocolate cherry sourdough with a steaming cappuccino or smooth latte for a decadent breakfast treat.
• Dessert Delight Platter: Slice bread into thin pieces and serve alongside vanilla ice cream, drizzle with dark chocolate sauce, and sprinkle toasted almond slivers for an elegant dessert presentation.
• Gourmet Cheese Pairing: Create a sophisticated charcuterie board featuring this bread with creamy brie, tangy goat cheese, and a small pot of cherry preserves to complement the bread's deep chocolate notes.
• Breakfast Toast Transformation: Toast slices and spread with mascarpone cheese, add a dollop of cherry jam, and garnish with fresh mint leaves for a quick and luxurious morning meal.

Sourdough Bread: Best Storage Advice

• Wrap cooled bread tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container. Keeps fresh for 3-4 days at cool temperatures, maintaining soft texture and preventing moisture loss.
• Slice bread before freezing, then place individual portions in freezer-safe ziplock bags. Stays good for up to 3 months when wrapped securely, preventing freezer burn.
• Store in a bread box or paper bag at room temperature for 1-2 days. Avoid plastic bags which can create condensation and make crust soggy.
• Warm slices in toaster or oven at 350F for 3-5 minutes. Refresh crispy crust by wrapping in aluminum foil during reheating, which helps retain moisture and restore original texture.

FAQs

• How do I know if my sourdough starter is ready for baking?

Look for a bubbly, active starter that has doubled in size and shows visible fermentation. It should have a pleasant, slightly tangy smell and pass the float test – a spoonful of starter should float in water when dropped.

• Can I use different types of chocolate in this recipe?

Yes, you can experiment with dark, milk, or even white chocolate chips. Just ensure they’re chopped into small pieces to distribute evenly throughout the dough without disrupting the bread’s structure.

• Why do I need to do stretch-and-fold technique?

Stretch-and-fold helps develop gluten strength, evenly distribute ingredients, and create a more structured crumb. It also incorporates air into the dough, contributing to better texture and rise.

Chocolate Cherry Sourdough Bread Recipe

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4.6 from 31 reviews

• Total Time: 25 hours 55 minutes
• Yield: 16 1x

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Description

Rich chocolate cherry sourdough bread melds deep cocoa notes with tangy sourdough complexity. Crimson cherries and dark chocolate create a harmonious flavor profile that delights passionate bakers who seek adventurous culinary experiences.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Dry Ingredients:

• 480 grams (4 cups) bread flour
• 60 grams (3/4 cup) Dutch-processed cocoa powder
• 50 grams (1/4 cup) granulated sugar
• 10 grams (3.5 tablespoons) Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt

Wet Ingredients:

• 420 grams (1.75 cups) warm water (80-90°F)
• 100 grams (1/2 cup) active sourdough starter or fresh sourdough discard

Mix-ins and Additional Ingredients:

• 85 grams (1/2 cup) semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 80 grams (1/2 cup) dried cherries, roughly chopped
• Rice flour for dusting banneton
• 2 ice cubes for steam

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Instructions

1. Activate the sourdough starter 6-12 hours before baking, ensuring peak bubbling and vitality. Timing depends on ambient kitchen warmth: shorter in warmer environments (around 75F), longer in cooler spaces (65-68F).
2. Combine bread flour, cocoa powder, sugar, and salt in a large mixing vessel. Pour warm water and active starter, blending thoroughly until no dry flour remains. Allow mixture to rest 20 minutes for flour hydration and gluten relaxation.
3. Using moistened hands, gently unfold dough and progressively integrate chocolate chips and dried cherries through strategic stretch-and-fold techniques. Distribute ingredients evenly across 4 repetitive folding cycles, pausing 20 minutes between each manipulation.
4. Monitor dough during fermentation, observing volume expansion and emergence of fermentation bubbles. Fermentation duration ranges 4-12 hours, influenced by kitchen temperature and starter potency.
5. Craft dough into a compact loaf, positioning seam-side up in a rice flour-coated banneton. Refrigerate overnight (12-16 hours) to develop complex flavor profiles and enhance structural integrity.
6. Heat Dutch oven to 450F. Artfully score dough surface, introduce ice cubes for moisture generation. Bake covered for 45 minutes, then uncover for additional 5 minutes to achieve desired crust caramelization.
7. Transfer bread to wire cooling rack, allowing 2-4 hours of complete cooling before slicing to preserve internal moisture and texture.

Notes

• Handle Moisture Carefully add chocolate chips and dried cherries in small batches to prevent excess liquid from disrupting dough hydration and texture.
• Temperature Matters Monitor kitchen warmth closely, as fermentation speed directly impacts dough development and final bread quality.
• Customize Mix-ins Experiment with alternative mix-ins like dark chocolate chunks, white chocolate, or tart dried cranberries for flavor variation.
• Storage Strategy Store bread wrapped in parchment paper at room temperature for 2-3 days, or slice and freeze for longer preservation without compromising texture.

• Prep Time: 25 hours 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 16
• Calories: 150
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 0.6 g
• Fat: 2 g
• Saturated Fat: 1 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg