Honey Whole Wheat Sandwich Loaf

Yet another easy bread recipe to add to my list of growing bread recipes.  These recipes help me to move to making fresher, healthier and better tasting bread for my family.  Once again, thanks to The Well Floured Kitchen for this recipe.

 

 

Ingredients

• 6 cups (1 lb 8 oz)White Whole Wheat Flour
• 2 Cups (16oz) Water
• 4 tsp Instant Yeast
• 3 Tbsp. (1.5 oz) Coconut Oil or Butter, Softened
• 3 Tbsp. (2.75 oz) Honey
• 1 Tbsp. Salt

Instructions

• All all ingredients to mixer fitted with the dough hook and stir until combined. Allow dough to rest for 15 minutes.
• Continue mixing for approximately 5 minutes, the dough will start to come together and become smooth (in bakers speak, the gluten will develop). Please note you can make this recipe without a mixer. In fact I recommend you make your first few loafs by hand. It is important to learn how the dough should feel , which is only something that can be learned by trial and error. You knead dough by pushing it away with the heel of your hand, then folding over and starting again. (There are some youtube videos on kneading if you are a visual learner) Your ultimate goal is a dough that is smooth , not sticky or dry. If you knead your dough by hand, it will take a little longer, about 10 minutes. If your dough is dry, add some water 1 tbsp. at a time, if it is too sticky, add flour 1 tbsp. at a time.
• At this point place the dough in a greased covered bowl to rise until doubled in volume, approximately 1-2 hours.
• Punch down the dough and split in half. Shape each half into a loaf: Gently flatten, fold in the sides slightly, then bring the top down, bottom up, pinch the seams and give it a gentle roll to smooth. Place shaped loaf into a greased 8x4 bread pan and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to rise until the dough has doubled again and is about an inch above the pan.
• Place your loaves into a preheated 350° oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the bread has reached a 190° internal temperature. Allow to cool in the pans for 5 minutes, then take them out of the pan to finish cooling on cooling rack.

Notes

You can use sugar or sucanat in place of the honey.

If you are new to whole wheat bread, you can use any ratio of white flour in this recipe, slowly adjust the recipe until you are eventually using all whole wheat.

Remember if your kitchen is very cold you may need an ounce or two more water, if it is very warm, you may need an ounce or two less water.

This bread freezes beautifully, I recommend slicing it first.

Don't throw away stale bread! Grind it in the food processor and store it in the freezer for homemade bread crumbs.