Our Favorite Whole Wheat Bread

Are you intimidated by the whole "Bread making" process?
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Have you tried making bread, but seemed to just not be able to get it right?
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Have you looked all over for the PeRfEcT homemade bread recipe?
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LOOK NO FURTHER!

I have been searching and searching for a wonderful whole wheat bread recipe for a looonnnnngggggggg time! I have been unsuccessful in finding one that has a light and fluffy texture, rises like white bread, and tastes as good as it should! It seems to me like there's always something missing! I've made recipes that taste good, but the texture is way off and you could add a little mortor and use it to brick your house! I've made some that taste like glue, but had a bit of a fluffy-ER texture than others! But none of them belonged in my recipe box.  But...... my search is OVER!  I will never, EVER, ever even attempt to look at another whole wheat bread recipe! Yes!! It is THAT good!!!

Now... before you turn your head because you think making bread is just too difficult, you just get back here and listen very closely to what I have to say!

THIS IS NOT ONLY DELICIOUS, BUT IT'S EASY!!!

I hope you heard that!  I don't want to have to hollar again!  :)

Now... there are alot of steps, but PLEASE, don't let that scare you!  The steps are necessary in making the perfect THREE loaves of Whole Wheat Bread!  There are also a couple ingredients you might not have in your cupboards... DO NOT OMIT THEM!  They too, are necessary in this recipe! Believe me... you want to do this right!

I like the steps, because they are all easy steps and I can get so much other stuff done while the bread is doing it's own thing.  As a matter of fact, I got lots done in the resting, rising and baking stages! 

The three rising processes in this bread give it it's very fine texture and it is the lightest ever 100% whole wheat bread!

You MUST try this recipe!  I PROMISE YOU WON'T BE SORRY :)

Our Favorite Whole Wheat Bread
From Cupboard to Cupboard
printable version

4 Cups whole wheat flour
3 Tablespoons yeast ( I use Fleischmann's instant dry yeast)
4 cups warm water

Mix the yeast and flour together first then add water and mix until well blended.  Cover with plastic wrap and let sit 30-60 minutes until double in size! This is called the SPONGING PROCESS.  It allows the yeast to get a head start on the bread before all the ingredients are added...

1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup honey
3 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup *dough enhancer
1/4 cup *vital wheat gluten
6-8 cups (7 cups worked perfectly for me) whole wheat flour.  (Just enough to where the dough won't stick to your hands when you have oil on them.  Not too stiff!)

Add butter, honey and salt to SPONGE.  Next add dough enhancer and vital wheat gluten.  Mix well.  Add flour one cup at a time until the dough thickens.  When all the flour is added knead about 5-10 minutes longer if you have an electric mixer.  If you are kneading by hand, knead about 15-20 minutes. (excellent workout!) 

 Put dough in oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and damp cloth and let rise until double in size.  It should take about 30 minutes.  Remember the yeast has had a head start, so by this time, it's really booking it on the whole rising process.  Punch down risen dough and knead again by hand for a few minutes.

 Divide into loaves (I make three loaves but if you are using smaller pans, you could get more) and let rest (covered) for 5 minutes.  Shape into loaves and put into greased pans! Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until double in size!  This won't take long!

Bake at 350 degrees for about 30-40 minutes. (Mine was perfect at 35 minutes.) If you tap the top of the loaf it should sound hollow!  Take out of oven and remove from pan immediately so the crust can crispen.  Lightly brush the top with butter. 

* Vital Wheat Gluten & dough enhancer can be found at Kitchen Kneads, Walmart, or perhaps your local grocery store in their specialty baking section*

DON'T FORGET TO GO HERE AND ENTER TO WIN A SET OF 6 LE CREUSET SILICONE BAKING CUPS!

and.....

keep checking back for the next edition of Kids in the Cupboard! :)

Happy Cooking!

Teauna

Apple Scones with Whole Wheat & Cinnamon

Apples.... cinnamon.... whole wheat-- all in the form of a scone! What a great way to start a morning! This is a healthy little snack that has just the right amount of sweet, just the right amount of spice, & is the perfect size! You could sweeten this up by adding a drizzle of glaze or even sprinkling sugar on the tops after glazing them with the beaten egg whites before placing them in the oven to bake! When my daycare kids come at 5:00 am, I have nothing better to do than bake, so that's just what I do! Then, when everyone else awakes, they come out of bed to a most amazing smell of something good baking up for their breakfast! Perfect beginning to anyone's morning!

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1/4 cup granulated sugar

2 3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

4 Tablespoons butter, chilled and cut into pieces

1 cup apple, peeled, cored, and diced

1 large egg

1/2 cup buttermilk

Glaze:

egg white, slightly beaten

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine dry ingredients in a medium-sized bowl. Add the butter and cut into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or two knives to make a coarse meal. Add the diced apple and stir with a spoon until all the apple pieces are coated with the flour mixture.

In a separate bowl blend the egg and the buttermilk together with a whisk or fork.

Combine the dry and wet ingredients, and mix them together just until blended. Use a rubber spatula to slice into and turn the ingredients.

Turn the dough onto a floured surface, knead lightly, roll dough 1/2 to 3/4-inch thick and cut into rounds with a floured 2-inch biscuit cutter, carefully kneading and rerolling the scraps as necessary. Put on an ungreased baking sheet about an inch apart and brush with the slightly beaten egg white.

Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden.

Makes 15-18 rounds.

Happy Cooking!

Teauna

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR PRINTABLE RECIPE!

Recipe adapted from "Sharing Scones and More"....