Bread Baking Day #47

It probably won't surprise you all to see this entry appear on the last posssible day, but nevertheless here it is. Another month of the Bread Baking Day-event initiated by Zorra, and this month hosted by Lisa ("Parsley, Sage, Desserts and Line drives"). She choose the theme "BREAD with CHOCOLATE", so maybe I should have baked this for Valentine's day. But a lovely theme and Valentine's day or not, these chocolate buns disappeared like snow for the sun.

I changed the recipe a little, I added some oil to make them moister and more chocolate too... 'cause it wasn't quite chocolaty enough for me. And when in need of more chocolate, you can always spread a little chocolate paste on them!

Chocolate Buns

(makes 12 small buns)

(PRINT recipe)

270-320 g bread flour
pinch of salt
45 g caster sugar
6 g dry yeast
1/2 tsp baking soda
25 g cocoa powder
175 g milk, luke warm
1 tsp vanilla extract
20 g vegetable oil
55 g walnuts, finely chopped
50 g mini dark chocolate chips

Place 160 g bread flour in the mixing bowl, add salt, sugar, yeast ,baking soda and mix. Pour in the luke warm milk and oil and start mixing with the doughhook. When the dough is starting to get together add the nuts and chocolate chips. Now start kneading and add as much extra flour as you need to get a souple dough. Don't add too much or the rolls could be too dry. Place in a greased bowl, cover and let rise until doubled.

Divide the dough into 12 equal pieces, shape each piece like a ball, oval, snail or whatever shape you fancy. Place them on a baking sheet covered with baking parchment, cover with greased plastic. Let the rolls rise for about 1 hour in a warm place.

Meanwhile preheat the oven to 190ºC.

Bake for about 15 minutes until done. Let the cool on a wire rack.

(adapted from "The Ballymaloe Bread Book")