Since becoming more comfortable with making my own bread, I’ve started to be more adventerous in the type of bread I make. My husband loves Pumpernickel Bread, as do I, but I just wasn’t sure that I was ready to tackle it. I rarely hear of people making Pumpernickel Bread, so I just assumed it was complicated.
Let me tell you now, it is not!
To get the best of the bread world, look no futher than right here. This recipe has Pumpernickel, Wheat and White bread all braided together. Thank goodness there is enough for 2 loaves, because it will go fast!
There are a lot of ingredients, and it does look slightly scary with all the steps, but all in all it isn’t bad at all.
Tri Color Bread Braid
2 packages yeast (or about 4 ½ tsp)
2 1/3 cup warm water
¼ cup softened butter
2 Tbsp Honey
3 tsp salt
3 1/3 to 3 2/3 cup all purpose flour
Wheat Dough:
2 Tbsp wheat germ
2 Tbsp Molasses
1 cup plus 2 to 5 Tbsp Whole Wheat flour
Pumpernickel Dough
2 Tbsp baking cocoa
2 Tbsp molasses
1 cup plus 2 to 5 Tbsp Rye Flour
In mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast in water until foamy. Add butter, honey, salt, and 2 1/3 flour. Beat for 2 minutes. Divide evenly among 3 bowls.
To first bowl add enough all purpose flour to make a stiff dough. Turn onto floured surface and knead for 6-8 minutes. Put into greased bowl and cover. Let rise until double.
To the second bowl add the wheat germ and molasses and mix. Then add in the wheat flour until a dough forms. Proceed as you did with the first batch.
To third and final bowl, add the cocoa and molasses until mixed. Add in the Rye flour until dough forms and proceed as you did with the others.
Once all three have about doubled in size, punch down and divide each in half. Shape each portion into a 15 inch rope. Place a rope of each dough on a greased pan and braid just as you would hair. Seal the ends. I just tucked them up under the loaf. Repeat with remaining loaf.
Cover and let rise until doubled again. Brush with an egg white wash (1 egg white and 1 tbsp water) and bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes.
If you only need one loaf right away, the second loaf freezes quite nicely. 
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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, that's pretty amazing looking! I have to admit I haven't attempted breadmaking without a bread machine but I keep meaning to!
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Wow! It looks awesome! Going to try this for sure
-Bree
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That looks great! Good job!I am glad you joined us for TMTT this week.
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Oh that looks so good!! I love that it has a little something for everyone, though I love all three styles of bread, yum!
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That looks delicious! I'll have fix this for my in-laws when they come to visit in a couple of weeks. They would love it. I can't eat gluten, but I'm sure it is wonderful. Thanks for sharing!
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I make pumpernickel bread.=) I like to roll it in sesame seeds and make free form loaves, then cook slowly to make a crusty, hearty bread really good with cheese spread.
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GettingFreedom Reply:
February 3rd, 2011 at 12:04 pm
@DeputyHeadmistress, I just looked at your site, and your recipe site to find your pumpernickel recipe. Did I miss it, or do you even have it posted? I would love for you to share it!
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I will like to know who to make color bread. the color i need is blue.
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Carmen R Vazquez Reply:
January 19th, 2011 at 8:14 pm
@Carmen R Vazquez,
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You have discovered an oversight- I hadn’t realized that I had never posted my recipe. I will get that done in the next day or two.
Thanks for pointing that out!
I think people mostly don’t mention making pumpernickel bread because it’s not as popular as others. Your braided loaves are lovely, btw.
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GettingFreedom Reply:
February 4th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
@DeputyHeadmistress, Oh yay! I was hoping you would get my reply! Wasn’t sure if you would considering you left the original comment back in April of 2010!
I’ll be looking for it, thanks!
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This one is my favorite. It isn’t technically a true pumpernickel, I guess, but I guarantee that if you like pumpernickel, you’ll like this flavor, and if you don’t like pumpernickel, you won’t like this. Some people object to the sesame seeds, but you could leave them out.
here’s another.
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