Sourdough Pumpernickel Bread

Recipe by King Arthur Test Kitchen
109 Reviews 4.2 out of 5 stars

This bread, made without the help of commercial yeast, is a great accompaniment to borscht or any other hearty soup. It's made with whole grain rye flour, a.k.a. pumpernickel. Rye flour has less gluten-forming protein than wheat, and so creates a denser bread. For an even heartier loaf, substitute a cup of whole wheat flour for a cup of the all-purpose.

After you've put the dough together and shaped it, it'll need to rise for 2 or 3 hours. If you make one loaf, it'll need to bake for about 45 minutes. Two loaves will each take about 35 minutes. Take this timing into consideration before you start.

Prep
25 mins
Bake
40 to 45 mins
Total
4 hrs 10 mins
Yield
1 large loaf
Sourdough Pumpernickel Bread

Instructions

Prevent your screen from going dark as you follow along.

  1. To make the sponge: Measure the starter into a bowl. Add the water, coffee, or potato water; the pumpernickel, and onion. Stir together, cover, and let rest at room temperature overnight.

  2. To make the dough: The next day, stir the oil, salt and molasses into the sponge. Stir in the flour 1 cup at a time, until the dough comes together.

  3. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead, adding only enough additional flour to keep it from sticking to your hands.

  4. Once the dough has come together, shape it into a ball (boule). Place the boule smooth side down in a flour-dusted or lined brotform or bowl. 
     

  5. Cover and let rise in a draft-free spot until puffy. This will take anywhere from 1 to 3 hours depending on the temperature of the space where the dough is rising and the strength of your starter. 

  6. About an hour before the boule is finished rising, preheat the oven to 425°F with a baking stone on the center rack. Place an empty cast-iron skillet on the lowest rack.

  7. Turn the boule, smooth side up, very gently onto a baker's peel dusted with semolina or cornmeal, or onto a piece of parchment. Use a lame or very sharp knife to make several slashes across the top of the loaf. 

  8. Transfer the boule to the hot stone, and add steam to the oven: Pour about 1 cup of boiling water into the cast iron frying pan. Steam will billow from the pan upwards to envelop the baking bread; be sure to wear good oven mitts to shield your hands and arms. Quickly close the oven door to trap the steam.

  9. Bake the boule for 40 to 45 minutes. It's done when the center temperature is 200°F when measured with a digital thermometer. Remove the boule from the oven and cool it on a rack before slicing. 

  10. Store any leftover bread, loosely wrapped, at room temperature for several days; freeze for longer storage.

Tips from our Bakers

  • Don’t have any starter? Here’s a recipe for homemade sourdough starter. If you're making it from scratch, you'll need to feed it for 5 to 7 days before it’s ready for baking. Want a head start? Purchase our classic fresh sourdough starter — it’ll be ready for baking soon after it arrives at your door. Looking for tips, techniques, and all kinds of great information about sourdough baking? Find what you need in our sourdough baking guide.

  • Using potato water yields a slightly stickier dough, and bread with enhanced keeping qualities. Using coffee tightens the dough a bit, making it easier to handle; and results in a slightly taller loaf than bread made with potato water.

  • When you knead dough that contains rye flour, it will never completely lose its tacky feel. Instead of adding extra flour, which would make the loaves dry and heavy, oil your hands and work surface to prevent sticking.

Baker’s Resources