The rich, chocolate-brown color of rye and pumpernickel bread is just as sweet as it looks, doubly so if you make your own caramel coloring. Consisting of only sugar, water and cream of tartar, homemade caramel coloring is as close as you can get to high-quality, class I caramel coloring -- the only natural commercial caramel coloring. Classes II through IV contain varying amounts of dextrose, high-fructose corn syrup, ammonium and sulfites, so there's nothing caramel about them save the color. There are several substitutes, but real caramel coloring takes about 15 minutes to make and is as natural as the ingredients you put in it.

Dissolve 3 parts sugar in 1 part water in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over low heat, which takes about 5 minutes. You need about 3 tablespoons of sugar and 1 tablespoon of water for a loaf of pumpernickel.

Set the heat to medium-high and bring the simple syrup to a simmer. Cover the saucepan and simmer for 2 minutes; then uncover. The syrup should be golden brown and bubble vigorously.

Add a pinch of cream of tartar to the syrup and continue simmering until it develops a dark-brown to burnt-sienna color. Remove the pan from the heat, and bring 2 parts water to a boil in a separate saucepan.

Put an oven mitt on, and pour the boiling water in the syrup; keep your face angled away from the pan when you pour the water to avoid errant splatters.

Stir the water into the caramel until it's dissolved. Let the caramel color cool to room temperature. Use immediately, or store it in an airtight container at room temperature until you need it.