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Fresh Milled Flour Brown Bread Loaf topped with rolled oats on a cutting board partially sliced.

Brown Bread Made With Fresh Milled Flour (Cheesecake Factory Copycat Recipe)

This Brown Bread made with fresh milled flour is totally a Cheesecake Factory inspired loaf recipe. This free formed Brown Bread is a deliciously balanced copycat recipe, and is packed with flavor. Get ready to enjoy every bite!
5 from 5 votes
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
rise time 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 45 minutes
Course Appetizer, bread
Servings 2 free form loafs

Ingredients
  

  • 5&1/3 cup Fresh Milled Flour 630g I used 500g of hard white wheat, and 130g of Kamut
  • 2 TBSP brown sugar or Sucanat 26g
  • 1/8 cup molasses 34g
  • 1/4 cup honey 84g can sub for sugar 50g
  • 2 TBSP cocoa powder 16g
  • 1/4 cup softened butter 57g 1/2 a stick
  • 1&1/2 tsp salt 8g
  • 1&3/4 cup water 415g May need slightly more or less depending on the stiffness of your dough.
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats 40g save for topping the loaf
  • 2 tsp instant yeast

Instructions
 

  • Firstly, Mill The Flour, you want to make sure you choose a hard wheat variety for most of the flour. That will allow gluten development for a nice stretchy dough. I chose mostly hard white wheat and a little Kamut (Khorasan wheat)
  • In a stand mixer, add water, brown sugar, molasses, honey, cocoa powder, softened butter, and salt. Then, mix to combine.
    wet ingredients in the Ankarsrum stand mixer to make brown bread
  • Then, add the fresh milled flour, and mix to combine, making sure there is no dry flour left. It should be a bit wet at this point.
  • Cover and let sit for 15 minutes. Because this allows the freshly milled flour to start absorbing the liquid, and the bran to start to soften. (If you decide to use active dry yeast rather than instant yeast, this is where you need to activate your yeast with a portion of the water and honey from the recipe. It should get nice and foamy during this rest period.)
  • After this rest period, then add the yeast. Start mixing in the yeast until combined.
  • Knead the dough in the stand mixer until it becomes nice and stretchy. (The kneading times will vary based on your mixer, and the strength of your wheat. So, this could take anywhere from 6-25 minutes.) Make sure the dough is not too dry, you don't want it to be in a tight ball, if it seems too dry, add a splash of water.
    kneading dough in my Ankarsrum stand mixer
  • Once the dough is nice and stretchy, then it is time to let the dough do it's first rise. Oil the dough ball, and bowl. Then, cover.
    hand pulling on stretchy dough
  • Allow the dough to rise until almost double. This can take anywhere from 1 to 2 hours, depending on the warmth in your home.
  • After the dough has risen, remove it to a clean work surface. I like to lightly oil my worksurface and hands, because this helps keep things from sticking, and prevents too much flour getting added to the dough.
  • Divide the dough in half with your bench scraper. Flatten one piece of dough into a rectangle pressing most the air bubbles out.
    hands flattening fresh milled flour brown bread dough
  • Then, fold one third of the dough from the long side towards the middle. Then, fold the other side towards the middle to meet the first side. Now, fold the dough in half longwise pressing both the folded sides together.
    hands shaping the dough
  • Use your hands, and cup under the loaf to make sure there is surface tension on the loaf. The loaf should end up being about 10-12 inches long.
  • Repeat this with the other piece of dough also.
  • Prepare your baking sheet with parchment paper, and place each loaf on the pan.
  • Then, lightly wet the tops of the loafs, and sprinkle with rolled oats. Lightly press the oats onto the top of the loaf, so they stick just a bit better.
    hand pressing the oats on the fresh milled flour brown bread dough
  • Spray the loafs with a bit of oil, and then cover with some cling film for their second rise.
  • Let the loafs rise until almost double. This may take anywhere from 45-90 minutes, depending on the warmth in your house.
  • Towards the end of the rise, preheat your oven to 350*F.
  • Bake the loafs for 25-35 minutes until the internal temperature of the center of each loaf reaches 190*F.
  • Remove loaf to a wire rack to cool. Let cool for at least 20 minutes before you slice into the loaf. These loafs are best enjoyed the same day and warm! However, I will put directions below on how to store as well.
    Fresh Milled Flour Brown Bread Loaf topped with rolled oats on a cutting board partially sliced.

Notes

How To Store: To store this fresh milled flour brown bread for short term use, just wrap in cling film and leave on counter for 3-4 days. For longer storage, place in a freezer safe container or bag in the freezer for 4-6 months. Just let the bread thaw to room temperature before eating. 
Keyword brown bread, Cheesecake factory copy cat bread, chocolate bread, cocoa bread, freeform bread, fresh milled flour bread, oat bread, rolled oat bread