Food
Icelandic Brown Bread
Mar
Vinarterta Tribe Tactic: Bake!
Here’s our traditional family recipe for Icelandic Brown Bread. Brúnt Brauð has a special sweetness, lightness, and density. I love to make it entirely by hand and enjoy the process!
This is a bread that connects directly with the heart of Icelanders in North America. A must-have, lightly buttered, (divine toasted) with coffee, or with Smoked Lamb (or Ham), or Rolled Spiced Cured Rúllupylsa.
Ingredients:
3 Cups (675 ml) Warm Water
9 Tsp (24 g) Yeast (3 Canadian Traditional Yeast Packages)
3/4 Cup (170 ml) Molasses
6 Tsp (30 ml) Oil
3/4 Cup (165 g) Brown Sugar
3 Tsp (18 g) Salt
6 1/2 Cups (750 g) All Purpose Flour (Plus 1/4 -1/2 C for kneading)
3 Cups (360g) Whole Wheat Flour
Method:
Fast method: Measure yeast, molasses and sugar in the warm water. Let set in a covered bowl until frothy. (Approx 20 minutes). Measure and add dry ingredients to a large bowl. Add the liquid ingredients and the oil all at once. Knead well and place in a greased bowl. Let rise until double in bulk. Shape into 5-6 medium-sized loaves and place in well-greased pans. Allow dough to rise until double in bulk. Brush lightly with milk. Bake at 350 degrees F for 50-60 minutes.
Slower method for better yeast activation: Add yeast to 1 ½ Cups Warm Water. Let sit for 20 minutes or until frothy. Add 1 Cup of Flour and stir until lightly mixed. Let sit for 20 minutes more. Add Molasses and Sugar to 1 ½ cups Warm Water in a measuring cup or bowl. Then the recipe method is as above: Measure and add dry ingredients to a large bowl. Add the liquid ingredients and oil all at once. Knead well and place in a greased bowl. Let rise until double in bulk. Shape into 5-6 medium-sized loaves and place in well-greased pans. Allow dough to rise until double in bulk. Brush lightly with milk. Bake at 350 degrees F for 50-60 minutes.
For bakers in a dryer or higher altitude than Ontario – suggest starting with 1 Cup less Flour, and increase Oil to 1/4 Cup. Add flour as needed.
If you try it let us know how it goes!
Stay safe. Stay healthy. Stay home.
Sending lots and lots of love,
