Cranberry Pecan Boule

Enjoy the wholesome goodness of stone-ground whole wheat in this delicious and easy to make boule. Cranberries add a balanced touch of tart and sweetness, while the toasted pecans impart a more rich flavor and aroma. Perfect for morning toast slathered with our Cultured Butter and jam. A short preferment of the poolish also adds more flavor to this hearty loaf and extends shelf life.

Yield: One boule

Timing: Start this bread at least 7.5 hours before serving.

Ingredients

Only six ingredients and water are needed to make this beautiful boule.

Levain (Starter):

*Measure flour by dipping the cup into a container, then removing the excess with the flat side of a knife.

Main Dough

Ingredient	Volume	Grams
Water	1 C	236
Unbleached bread flour*	2 ¼ C	300
Stone-ground wheat flour*	½ C	50
Salt, fine	2 tsp	11
Instant yeast	1 tsp	3.2
Dried cranberries	½ C	72
Toasted pecans, coarsely chopped	½ C	57

*Measure flour by dipping the cup into a container, then removing the excess with the flat side of a knife.

Equipment

Get Ready

Set the Proofer to 73°F (23°C) and put the water tray in the middle of the warming plate. Pour ¼ C (60 ml) water into the tray and place the rack on top of the tray.

Mix and ferment the levain

Mix all of the ingredients for the levain in a large mixing bowl. The mixture will resemble a thick batter. Place the bowl in the Proofer for 4 hours, until it inflates into a bubbly, soft, and sweet-smelling sponge.

Mix leaven with main dough

Increase the Proofer temperature to 80°F (27°C) and check to see that there is still water in the water tray. Refill tray if necessary. Remove bowl with leaven from the Proofer, add the 1 C / 236 ml of warm water, and mix gently to loosen it up. Then add the yeast, flours, and salt until a rough dough forms.

By hand

Lightly dust a kneading surface with flour and turn the dough out. Knead until a smooth and elastic dough forms, about 10 minutes. Add as little flour as possible during kneading so that the bread doesn’t become dry or tough.

By stand mixer

Using a dough hook, mix about 6 minutes on medium speed.

Add the cranberries and pecans and work them into the dough until they are evenly distributed.

Rise the dough

Form the dough into a ball, transfer to a lightly oiled bowl, and place back in the Proofer at 80°F (27°C). Let the dough rise for 60 minutes or until it has doubled in volume. The dough is somewhat heavy due to the addition of nuts and cranberries so it will take a little while to rise fully.

Shape and proof the boule

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and shape the dough into a tight round ball. Place the dough ball seam side up into a well-floured rising basket or a bowl / colander lined with a heavily floured linen cloth. Dust the exposed surface of the loaf lightly with flour and place back into the Proofer. Let the dough rise 1 hour, or until almost doubled in bulk. A gentle depression made with a floured finger should spring back slowly.

Preheat the oven

About 20 minutes before you are ready to bake, place the Bread Steel in the lower ⅓ of your oven and preheat to 475°F (246°C). The steel heats quickly, and when the oven is ready, the Bread Steel will be too. There is no need to preheat the Baking Shell.

Bake.

Turn the loaf out onto a well-floured bread peel or a piece of parchment paper. Using a sharp knife or bread lame, score a ¼-inch deep “x” across the top of your dough.

Slide your loaf onto the hot steel and immediately cover it with the Baking Shell. Bake for 15 minutes with the shell on. Remove the shell, turn the oven down to 450°F (232°C), and continue baking for another 15 to 18 minutes until the loaf is a deep brown color and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. The internal temperature should be about 205°F (96°C).

Allow the loaf to cool before slicing.