Whole Wheat Bread Recipe

🧂 Ingredients

• 5 1/2 to 6 cups whole wheat flour*
• 2½ cups warm water
• 1½ tablespoons instant yeast

  or 2 packages active dry yeast
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 tablespoon salt

Instructions

• 1 In a large bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer, add warm water and honey.
  Sprinkle the active dry yeast over the top and let sit for 5 minutes. If using
  instant yeast, add it with the flour and skip the 5 minute proofing timenm.
• 2 Add 4 cups of flour, oil, and salt to the yeast mixture; stir until
  incorporated. Then add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until the dough
  begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl.
• 3 If kneading by hand, transfer the bread dough to a very lightly floured surface,
  oil your hands, and knead for 6 to 7 minutes or until the dough is smooth. If
  kneading in a stand mixer, using the dough hook, knead for 4 minutes at medium
  speed until the dough is smooth. Adjust the dough as needed with additional
  flour or water if necessary.
• 4 Transfer the dough to an oil-coated bowl and let rise in a warm place for about
  1 hour, until the dough has doubled. Punch the dough down, cover, and let rise
  for 30 minutes.
• 5 Coat two loaf pans (8.5 x 4.5 inches or 9 x 5 inches) and set them aside. Divide
  the dough in half and form it into 2 loaves. I like to make a log and then
  tightly pinch the seam and the ends. Place seam side down in prepared pans,
  cover loosely, and let rise in a warm place until the center of the loaf has
  crowned, about 1-inch above the loaf rim—about 30 to 60 minutes.
• 6 Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• 7 Uncover the loaves and place them in the oven. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or
  until a digital thermometer reaches between 180° – 200°F. Tent a sheet of foil
  over the loaves after 20 minutes to prevent over-browning if desired.
• 8 Remove the bread from the oven and from the loaf pans. Transfer to a rack to
  cool completely before slicing. Brush melted butter over the warm bread for a
  delicious crust as it cools.

Nutrition Info