Description
This Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread recipe recreates the famous soft, slightly sweet loaves with a rich blend of whole wheat and all-purpose flours, enhanced by molasses, honey, coffee, and cocoa powder. The bread is topped with oats for a rustic finish and baked to golden perfection, delivering a tender crumb and complex flavors perfect for serving warm with butter.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups whole milk
- ¼ cup molasses
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup salted butter, softened
Dry Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 pack active dry yeast (about 2 ¼ tsp)
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 ½–2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon instant coffee powder
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup oats (for topping)
Instructions
- Warm Milk: Heat the milk in the microwave until just warm to the touch, ensuring it’s the ideal temperature to activate the yeast without killing it.
- Activate Yeast: In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm milk, brown sugar, and active dry yeast. Stir gently and let it sit until the yeast blooms, becoming foamy on the surface.
- Add Remaining Ingredients: Mix in the molasses, honey, softened butter, whole wheat flour, 2 cups of the all-purpose flour, instant coffee powder, and cocoa powder into the yeast mixture.
- Form Dough: Use a wooden spoon to combine all ingredients thoroughly until a sticky dough forms.
- First Rise: Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl, cover it with a clean cloth or plastic wrap, and set it aside in a warm place to rise until doubled in size, approximately 1 hour.
- Knead Dough: Lightly flour a surface and knead the risen dough for 3-5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Shape Loaves: Divide the dough into 3 equal portions. Roll each into an 8-inch long loaf shape and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Add Topping and Second Rise: Sprinkle ¼ cup of oats evenly over the tops of the loaves. Cover and let them rise again for 30-40 minutes until puffed.
- Preheat Oven: While the loaves rise, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Bake: Place the loaves in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Cool and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the loaves cool slightly on a rack. Serve warm, ideally with whipped butter for spreading.
Notes
- Ensure the milk is warm, not hot, to avoid killing the yeast.
- Browning the coffee and cocoa adds depth but keep amounts balanced to avoid overpowering the bread.
- Kneading is essential for gluten development for a tender but sturdy crumb.
- Adjust flour quantity as needed; dough should be soft but manageable.
- Using parchment paper helps prevent sticking and eases cleanup.
- Warm loaves taste best when served fresh and slightly warm with butter.
