Wholemeal Rye Fruit Bread Sticks

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In our ongoing exploration of dark rye, we move beyond the classic round loaf to create something both playful and profoundly satisfying: the Wholemeal Rye Fruit Bread Stick. Imagine a demi-baguette, not of airy white flour, but one with the dense, earthy soul of wholemeal rye and natural leaven. On one tray, you might find a line of sticks nestled with the sunny, aromatic combination of Walnut and Lemon. Alongside them, another tray holds the classic, comforting union of Hazelnut and Raisin. The sweet, chewy bursts of raisin are grounded by the toasted, buttery crunch of hazelnut, creating a flavor profile that is both nostalgic and wonderfully complex. But the possibilities, as any baker knows, are truly endless. Let’s get started!

Wholemeal Rye Fruit Bread Sticks

Course: baking
Cuisine: French
Keyword: dark rye bread, dry fruit, seigle
Difficulty: Advanced
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Make a day ahead: 0 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 8 bread sticks
Calories: 125kcal
Cost: $15
They are the perfect base for creating endless sweet and savory snacks…

Equipment

  • 1 Pizza stone
  • 1 Stand mixer 7qt/L
  • 1 Cooling rack
  • 1 Baker's couche
  • 2 Medium size bowls for the bulk fermentation
  • 1 Plastic dough scraper
  • 1 Metal dough scraper
  • 1 Sieve to dust flour
  • 1 Digital thermometer
  • 1 Digital scale
  • 1 Spray bottle
  • 1 Pizza Peel

Ingredients

Wholemeal Rye Dough

  • 1000 g Dark rye flour T170 or T130 at room temp
  • 900 g Spring water at 122ºF (50ºC)
  • 300 g Refreshed Natural starter (leaven) Recipe
  • 30 g Grey salt (Celtic)
  • 6 g Fresh yeast

For the Hazelnut-Raisins Sticks

  • 1100 g Wholemeal rye dough
  • 220 g Walnut halves
  • 1 each Lemon zest*

For the Walnut-Lemon Sticks

  • 1100 g Wholemeal rye dough
  • 110 g Whole hazelnuts, roughly crushed toasted and at room temp
  • 110 g Dried raisins

Instructions

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    Refreshed Starter

    • Take the amount of starter required for the recipe, then refresh and store the remainder for future use.

    Wholemeal Rye Bread

    • The day before baking, in the stand mixer fitted with the hook attachment, combine the hot water with salt. Add the flour, and mix on low speed for about 3 minutes, until it comes together.
    • Add the natural starter cut into pieces and the yeast, and mix on medium speed for 8 to 10 minutes, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
    • The dough will be very sticky, so use wet hands and wet tools when handling or scraping it. After mixing, the dough should reach a temperature of approximately 90°F (30-32°C).
    • Split the sticky dough into two equal portions (2X1100g).

    Hazelnut-Raisins

    • In the first half, add the toasted hazelnuts and raisins using the hook or paddle attachment. Mix until combined.

    Walnut-Lemon

    • In the second half, add the lemon zest and walnuts. You can definitely add poached lemons (≈50g) instead of zest. Smooth out the surface of the dough with a wet dough scraper.

    Cold Bulk Fermentation

    • Cover the bowls and let it undergo bulk fermentation in the refrigerator at 5ºC for 12 hours.

    Shaping

    • Dust flour on the proofed dough and work surface. Turn the dough out onto it and gently shape dough into a thick slab.
    • Then turn slab into a log, and cut in half.

    Dividing Dough into Sticks

    • Divide each log lengthwise to create 4 sticks. Do likewise with the second batch (make 3 or 4 sticks). It can also be cut into larger portions or individual (50g) mini breads.

    Proofing

    • Arrange wholemeal rye fruit bread sticks onto a floured bakers couche, and cover with another bakers couche or fragrance free kitchen towels.
    • Let proof for about 1½ hour at 25°C, 2 hours at 22°C, or 3 hours at 19°C. It is ready when the surface appears bubbly and starts to crack.

    Preheating Oven

    • About 40 minutes before baking, preheat your conventional oven to 250°C (480°F) with a pizza stone placed on a rack in the lower third. The stone must be heated to 250–260°C before flipping the bread.

    Baking

    • Lightly flour the bread, and flip 3 or 4 sticks onto the hot pizza stone. To create steam, immediately spray water into the oven. Bake for 22 minutes at 250ºC. The internal temp should be at 98ºC or slightly under. Turn off the oven, prop the door slightly ajar, and let the bread rest inside for an additional 5 minutes.
    • Let it cool completely on a wire rack for at least 2 hours before slicing.

    The Best Pairing for Wholemeal Rye Fruit Bread Sitcks

    • Delicious on their own, these wholemeal rye fruit bread sticks can also be sliced and toasted just like crostini.
    • Served with a drizzle of honey, fresh figs or into preserves, and strong cheeses, they are the perfect base for creating endless sweet and savory snacks.

    Storage

    • Properly stored, wholemeal rye fruit bread sticks will keep for up to 2 days when wrapped in a linen bag, parchment paper, or best plastic wrap. For longer storage, it can be frozen for up to three months.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 50g | Calories: 125kcal
    Print Recipe

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