Whole Wheat Bread

I love the smell of home cooked bread.  This is a really yummy and easy recipe that will make your whole house smell wonderful as it cooks.  I use freshly ground hard white wheat, but you can use a combination of white and wheat flour.   I have tried several variations of this recipe depending on what I have in my pantry.  My last batch I used 2/3 cup of Molasses and 1/4 cup of brown sugar because I didn't have any honey. It turned out great. 

3 C. warm water
3 C. Warm Milk
2/3 C. oil
2/3 C. honey
1/4 C. Molasses (#1194)
2 Tbsp. salt
2 Tbsp. SAF Instant Yeast*
2 tbsp.  Vital Wheat Gluten (optional but makes a better bread)
2 Tbsp. Dough Enhancer (optional)
Whole wheat flour (about 11 -12 cups) (many need a little more depending on your elevation)

In a mixing bowl add water, milk, oil, honey and molasses. Add 2 cups of flour and yeast, mix together. Gradually add in salt, dough enhancer and gluten.  Add more flour while kneading until dough comes together and begins to pull away from the side of the bowl.  Let the dough rest before adding in all the flour, this will allow the flour to soak up more moisture.
When the sides of the mixing bowl stay clean, continue kneading for 10 minutes. This will develop the gluten and negate having to raise the dough multiple times for a light bread. Dough should be sticky. 

(You can use a dough hook if you have a stand mixer)

Let the dough rise until it is double in size, usaully 30 minutes.   Divide the dough into portions to suit your bread pans. Spray pans with Vegalene or Bak-Klene Bread Pan Coating.  As my grandma would say "spank" the dough to get all the air bubbles out. Mold dough portions into smooth loaf shapes and gently place into pans. Let bread rise for 30 minutes or until a nice rise above the edge of the pan.

Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 35 minutes or until golden brown.  (May have to adjust cooking time depending on your oven) I get 4 loaves out of this recipe.

I spread the top with butter, or spray with Vegalene Buttery Delight and store it in Bakery Bread Bags (#5494).

*(SAF yeast is a fast acting, high potency yeast that can be added directly to your dry ingredients without it having to be activated in water first. SAF Instant Yeast is more than twice as active as regular compressed yeast, allowing you to reduce the amount of yeast called for).
If you are not using SAF yeast then you need to double the yeast amount to 4 tablespoons.

*Warning* Never leave bread dough unattened! You may come back to a courious 4 year old decorated in dough.