Coffee Walnut Loaf (Sponge dough starter method)

Breadmaking during weekday has become quite a routine now that I have a BM.  Saves me the time of mixing the ingredients, while I get to eat my dinner.

Last week, I came across a coffee loaf recipe by Kimmy-cookingpleasure and decided to give it a try.  It was a loaf using the sponge dough method.  I prepped the sponge dough starter a night before, and left it in the fridge till when I was ready to bake the following day.

More than double the size it got after just 30 min of proofing!

A few hours later, a loaf of nice smelling and wonderfully soft loaf of bread emerged. Hubby gave a thumbs up :) This recipe is really a keeper!

The soft and pillowy texture lasted 2 days and was all gone by then.

Recipe by Kimmy-cookingpleasure
Coffee Loaf (Sponge dough method)

Ingredients for Sponge Dough

150 gm bread flour

150 gm plain flour

3.5 tsp instant yeast 

200 ml water

• Mix all ingredients into a soft rough dough.  Cover and leave to proof for at least 1-2 hours or put in plastic bag, tied up without proofing and keep in fridge for at least 4 hours.  Thaw for 15 minutes before adding bread dough ingredients.

Ingredients for Bread Dough

270 gm bread flour
30 gm cocoa powder 
1 tbsp skimmed milk powder

3 tbsp sugar

1.5 tsp  salt
1 large egg

3 tsp instant coffee granules dissolved in 130 ml hot water

60 gm butter 

I added some chopped walnuts for the extra bite

• Add all the ingredients [except butter] to the sponge dough.  Knead until well combined and dough is soft for about 10 minutes then add in butter.  Continue kneading until soft, smooth and elastic.   Knead a further 10 minutes and dough does not stick to the fingers.
• Shape into a ball and cover with a clean cloth to proof for 15 minutes or until double in size.    Punch down dough.
• Divide dough into 2 equal portions.  Roll and fold each portion into thirds, then roll swiss roll style into a log (I spread the chopped walnuts across the rolled out dough and then roll it up swiss roll style).  Place in baking tin [Pullman's tin] and leave to proof in oven for more than an hour or until double in size.  [You can divide dough into any number of equal portions to make smaller loaves within 1 Pullman's tin ].
• Bake in preheated oven at 180 degrees C for 25 minutes.  Remove to cool on rack immediately after baking.