Birnen und Nuss Brot
A hearty and flavorful Swiss bread studded with dried pears and walnuts. This dense, slightly sweet bread is perfect for breakfast, snacking, or served alongside cheese.
🧂 Ingredients
- 200 g Dried pears(chopped)
- 250 ml Hot water(for soaking)
- 250 g Whole wheat flour
- 250 g Rye flour
- 100 g Walnuts(roughly chopped)
- 7 g Active dry yeast
- 150 ml Warm water(for yeast)
- 2 tbsp Honey
- 1.5 tsp Salt
- 30 g Butter(melted)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Soak the chopped dried pears in 250ml hot water for at least 1 hour, or until softened. Drain well and pat dry.
- 2
In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast and honey in 150ml warm water. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- 3
In a large bowl, combine the whole wheat flour, rye flour, chopped walnuts, and salt. Make a well in the center.
- 4
Pour the yeast mixture and melted butter into the well. Gradually mix in the flours until a shaggy dough forms. Add the drained pears and mix until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- 5
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. The dough will be somewhat sticky due to the pears.
- 6
Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
- 7
Punch down the dough and shape it into a round or oval loaf. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or in a greased loaf pan.
- 8
Cover loosely and let rise for another 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F).
- 9
Bake for 10 minutes at 200°C (400°F), then reduce the oven temperature to 180°C (350°F) and bake for another 40-45 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- 10
Let the bread cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Soaking the dried pears makes them plump and easier to incorporate into the dough.
- ✓Using a mix of flours adds depth of flavor and texture.
- ✓If the dough becomes too sticky, lightly flour your hands and the work surface, but avoid adding too much extra flour.
🔄 Variations
- Add a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom to the dough for extra spice.
- Substitute other dried fruits like apricots or figs for the pears.