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Marble Rye Bread

Cherish
Discover the perfect marble rye bread recipe with a rich swirl and bold rye flavor. Follow this step-by-step guide to bake a bakery-quality loaf at home!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
fermentation 12 hours
Total Time 13 hours 20 minutes
Course Bread
Cuisine American, Eastern European
Servings 1 loaf (about 12-16 slices)
Calories 200 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the Dough:

  • 150 g sourdough starter active and bubbly
  • 500 g warm water
  • 80 g honey
  • 250 g rye flour
  • 500 g bread flour
  • 10 g salt

For the Dark Dough:

  • 1 tbsp cocoa powder Dutch-processed preferred
  • 1 tbsp molasses mild-flavored

Optional Additions:

  • 1 tbsp caraway seeds for traditional rye flavor
  • 1 egg wash 1 egg + 1 tbsp water, for a glossy crust

Instructions
 

Mix and Knead the Dough

  • Lightly oil two mixing bowls and set aside.
  • In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine:
  • Sourdough starter, warm water, honey, rye flour, bread flour, and salt.
  • Knead with a dough hook on medium-low for 7 minutes (or by hand for the same time).

Divide and Prepare the Dark Dough

  • Divide the dough in half. Transfer one half to a prepared bowl and cover.
  • Add cocoa powder and molasses to the other half. Mix until fully combined.
  • Transfer the dark dough to the second bowl, cover both, and set aside.

Bulk Fermentation & Stretch and Folds (4-6 Hours)

  • Let both doughs rest for 30-60 minutes.
  • Perform stretch and folds every 30 minutes for 4-6 hours, or until the dough doubles in size.

Shape the Marble Rye Swirl

  • Line a loaf pan with parchment paper.
  • Roll both doughs into 6x10-inch rectangles on a lightly floured surface.
  • Place the dark dough on top of the light dough, then roll tightly into a cylinder.
  • Pinch the seam closed and roll again for extra tension.

Cold Ferment (8-24 Hours)

  • Place the seam side down in the loaf pan.
  • Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Bake the Bread

  • Preheat the oven to 425°F.
  • Remove the dough from the fridge and score the top with diagonal slashes.
  • Cover with a second loaf pan (or tent with foil) and bake for 30 minutes.
  • Remove the cover and bake for another 25-30 minutes, until golden brown.
  • The bread is ready when it reaches 205-210°F internally.

Cool and Serve

  • Remove the loaf from the oven and let it cool for 30-60 minutes before slicing.
  • Serve fresh, toasted, or as the base for a delicious Reuben sandwich.

Notes

Nutrition Information (Per Serving)
  • Calories: 200 kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 38g
  • Protein: 5g
  • Fat: 2g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Sugar: 3g
  • Sodium: 250mg
Keyword marble rye bread, marble rye bread recipe, rye bread recipe