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+ servings
a slice of marble rye bread on a white plate.
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4.50 from 2 reviews

Marble Rye Bread Recipe

Homemade Marble Rye Bread has a beautiful swirl of light and dark bread. This loaf has great flavor and a moist crumb. You can start the night before to have fresh bread for lunch. This recipe makes 1 large loaf. The exact number of servings will vary based on how the loaf is sliced.
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Bake Time: 30 minutes
Rising Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 9 hours 10 minutes
18 servings

Ingredients 

Light Dough

  • 8 oz warm water (1 cup)
  • 1 teaspoon dry yeast
  • 2 ½ oz rye flour (½ cup)
  • 7 ½ oz bread flour ( cups)
  • ½ oz barley malt syrup (2 teaspoons (see note))
  • 1 teaspoon table salt

Dark Dough

  • 8 oz brewed coffee (1 cup)
  • 1 teaspoon dry yeast
  • 2 ½ oz rye flour (½ cup)
  • 1 tablespoon cocoa powder
  • 7 ½ oz bread flour (1 ½ cups, see note)
  • ½ oz barley malt syrup (2 teaspoons )
  • 1 teaspoon table salt

Assembly

  • 1 egg white
  • 1 tablespoon caraway seeds

Instructions

Make the light dough

  • Combine 8 oz warm water, 1 teaspoon dry yeast, 2 ½ oz rye flour and ½ cup of the bread flour in a mixer bowl. Mix until a thick batter is formed. Cover the bowl and set the sponge aside for 30 minutes. (Start the sponge for the dark dough at the same time.)
  • If you're using a stand mixer, switch to the dough hook. Add ½ oz barley malt syrup, 1 teaspoon table salt and and remaining bread flour. If the dough is extremely sticky sprinkle in a few more tablespoons of bread flour.
  • Knead the dough on medium speed for 5 minutes until the dough begins to clear the sides of the bowl and forms a ball around the hook. Turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. If working by hand, stir in as much of the flour as you can then turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 4-5 minutes.
  • The dough may be a little sticky so keep your hands well floured. Place the dough into a lightly oiled bowl, turning once to coat the dough. Cover the bowl and set aside to rise for 1 to 1 ½ hours or until doubled in size.

Make the dark dough

  • Combine 8 oz brewed coffee, 1 teaspoon dry yeast, 2 ½ oz rye flour, 1 tablespoon cocoa powder and ½ cup of the bread flour in a mixer bowl. Mix until a thick batter is formed. Cover the bowl and set the sponge aside for 30 minutes.
  • If you're using a stand mixer, switch to the dough hook. Add ½ oz barley malt syrup, 1 teaspoon table salt and remaining bread flour. If the dough is extremely sticky sprinkle in a few more tablespoons of bread flour.
  • Knead the dough on medium speed for 5 minutes until it begins to clear the sides of the bowl and forms a ball around the hook. Turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. If working by hand, stir in as much of the flour as you can then turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 4-5 minutes.
  • The dough may be a little sticky so keep your hands well floured. Place the dough into a lightly oiled bowl, turning once to coat the dough. Cover the bowl and set aside to rise for 1 to 1 ½ hours or until doubled in size.

Assemble and bake

  • Turn the light dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead briefly then roll the dough into a 8"x10" oval. Do the same with the dark dough.
  • Lay the dark dough on top of the light dough then roll the dough to form a tight log. Place the loaf on a wooden peel (if you're using a baking stone or steel) or sheet pan sprinkled liberally with corn meal.
  • Cover the loaf with plastic wrap and leave in a warm place until doubled in size, and the dough springs back slowly when poked, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 °F. If you have a baking stone place it in the oven to preheat.
  • Make 5 diagonal slashes in the dough with a single edge razor or very sharp knife. Brush the dough with egg white and sprinkle with caraway seeds, if desired. Slide the dough onto the preheated stone or slide the sheet pan into the oven.
  • The bread is ready when the internal temperature of the loaf is 200 °F. Baking time is approximately 30 minutes.
  • Cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.

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Notes

If measuring the flour by volume use the “dip & sweep” method. That is, dip the measuring cup into the flour bin, overfill it, then sweep away the excess.
In place of barley malt syrup you can use honey or half honey and half molasses.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 121kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 262mg | Potassium: 67mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 0.5IU | Vitamin C: 0.001mg | Calcium: 8mg | Iron: 0.5mg
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