Whole Wheat Bread

This is our new go-to bread. My sister-in-law, Mollee, shared it with me several years back when she was eating a whole foods diet. It's super basic and it turns out well each time, despite my forgetfulness when baking it! It's 100% whole wheat and my kids gobble it up.  I make a slight change to the original recipe, but I added that last. I hope you enjoy!

 

2 1/2 c warm water
1 1/2 T yeast
1/2 c sugar or honey
2 T oil
1/4 c gluten (if you knead it a bit longer, the gluten is not needed)
1 T salt
6-8 c flour

(I add 1/2 cup ground flax seed or 1/2 cup mixed grain cereal and emit 1/2 cup of flour.)
Combine water, yeast sugar, oil, gluten, and salt and let sit for 5 min. Gradually add flour while kneading. (If using a Kitchen-Aide, mix in half the flour and knead for 10 min then add flour 1 cup at a time until dough is barely sticking to the sides.) Turn off the mixer, grease bowl, cover, and let rise until double.

Punch down and shape into 2 greased loaf pans, cover lightly with plastic wrap and let rise until double. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Remove from pans and cool on a wire rack. 

Heavenly whole wheat bread

Ever had a recipe that everyone loves? This bread is one of those.  Even my kids love it! They've been a little picky about homemade bread, but this one is my "go-to" recipe. A lot of whole wheat bread recipes tend to be a bit dense, but this one has the perfect texture. Props to my super friend Adri for sharing it with me!

2 cups water
 1/2 stick butter
2 1/4 tsp salt
1/3 c. sugar
1/2 c. oatmeal
1/4 c. 9-grain cereal (or wheat germ, or oatmeal- I use wheat germ and ground flax seed)
1/8 c. wheat gluten
1 1/2 c. white flour (plus extra for kneading)
3 c. whole wheat flour
1 TBSP yeast
1 or 2 eggs

Microwave water and butter on high for 1 minute (120-130 degrees).  Meanwhile, mix salt, sugar, oatmeal, cereal, flour and yeast.  Add egg(s) and water/butter and mix for 1 minute, until combined.  Put bread hook on mixer and mix (knead) for 10 minutes, adding flour until it doesn’t stick to the bowl any longer.  After 10 minutes of kneading, cover and let rise 1 hour.  Divide dough in 2 loaves, roll under, and put in prepared loaf pans.  Raise, lightly covered, for 30 minutes or until double in size.  Bake at 350˚ for 28 minutes.  Cool on wire rack.

My kids love to put Nutella on it and eat it like dessert!