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Whole Wheat Bread ~ Sooooo Soft & Yummy!

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I’ve always had it in my mind that making bread takes forever and a day, so I usually avoid it.  Except, of course when it comes to cinnamon rolls, which are totally worth any wait. But, when I saw that my blog buddy, Shandra of Deals to Meals, shared a recipe for ‘The Best Wheat Bread’, I had to try it.  You know how once you stumble on a food blogger that seems to have similar taste buds as you, you’ve got to try everything of theirs??  Well, she’s one of those gals, and I’ve never been disappointed.

I was so surprised out how fast I whipped this wheat bread up, and how fast it was devoured.  Four huge loafs lasted 2 days at my house.  The husband said, ‘You should stop buying bread at the store.  This is delicious…nom, nom, nom.’  And my kids, who are anti-wheat bread, haven’t even batted an eye because it’s totally a pail color and they love it.  We all keep talking about how it stays so soft…yum!  I’ll totally make this a million more times.

To make this, you’ll need:

12 cups whole wheat flour
2/3 cup vital wheat gluten
2 1/2 TBS. instant yeast
5  cups hot water (120-130 temp)
2 TBS. salt
2/3 cup canola oil
2/3 cup honey
2 1/2 TBS bottled lemon juice

In a mixer, combine 7 cups of the wheat flour, the vital wheat gluten, and yeast.  Add the hot water and mix for about a minute.

Cover the mixer and let the mixture rest for about 10 minutes (“sponging”).

Add the salt, oil, honey and lemon juice and mix for another minute.  Add the remaining flour (up to 5 cups…I think I did 4).  You want to add the flour until the dough pulls away clean from the sides, but no more.  Don’t keep adding more after it gets to that point.

Grease four 8×4″ pans with oil, butter and flour, or my favorite thing in the world, baking spray (oil mixed with flour)…it makes life SO much easier.

Heat your oven for just a few minutes, then turn it off (so it’s barely warm.)  I like to microwave a bowl of hot water, until it’s super hot, then put it in the warm oven to create moisture.  It helps speed up the rising time of the dough.

Anyway, spread some oil on the countertop (or however you like to do it) and dump out your dough.  Cut into four even pieces.  Shape each piece into a loaf shape and place into the bread pan.

Set your loafs into the warm/moist oven and let it rise for about 15 minutes, or until the dough reaches the tops of the pan.  Once it gets to that point, leave them in the oven and turn it on to 350.

Bake for about 30 minutes, or until slightly golden on top.  I baked mine for about 25 minutes.  Remove from pans and let cool.

Serve, eat, gift, enjoy!

Emilie’s Whole Wheat Bread
From Deals to Meals Blog

Makes 4 8×4″ loaves

Print

Whole Wheat Bread

Ingredients

  • 12 cups whole wheat flour
  • 2/3 cup vital wheat gluten
  • 2 1/2 TBS. instant yeast
  • 5 cups hot water 120-130 temp
  • 2 TBS. salt
  • 2/3 cup canola oil
  • 2/3 cup honey
  • 2 1/2 TBS bottled lemon juice

Instructions

  1. In a mixer, combine 7 cups of the wheat flour, the vital wheat gluten, and yeast.
  2. Add the hot water and mix for about a minute.
  3. Cover the mixer and let the mixture rest for about 10 minutes ("sponging").
  4. Add the salt, oil, honey and lemon juice and mix for another minute.
  5. Add the remaining flour (up to 5 cups...I think I did 4). You want to add the flour until the dough pulls away clean from the sides, but no more. Don't keep adding more after it gets to that point.
  6. Grease four 8x4" pans with oil, butter and flour, or my favorite thing in the world, baking spray (oil mixed with flour)...it makes life SO much easier.
  7. Heat your oven for just a few minutes, then turn it off (so it's barely warm.) I like to microwave a bowl of hot water, until it's super hot, then put it in the warm oven to create moisture. It helps speed up the rising time of the dough.
  8. Spread some oil on the countertop (or however you like to do it) and dump out your dough.
  9. Cut into four even pieces. Shape each piece into a loaf shape and place into the bread pan.
  10. Set your loafs into the warm/moist oven and let it rise for about 15 minutes, or until the dough reaches the tops of the pan. Once it gets to that point, leave them in the oven and turn it on to 350.
  11. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until slightly golden on top. I baked mine for about 25 minutes.
  12. Remove from pans and let cool.

Photobucket

Comments

    • orsoshesays says

      Karen, I just found it in the baking aisle, by the bags of wheat germ and more specialty stuff like that. Any decent grocery store should have it. Sometimes I’ve seen it in the cereal aisle too.

  3. Shandra says

    Mariel, I am glad you enjoyed this recipe 😉 It really is the easiest and best wheat bread recipe EVER! I wish I could claim it as my own. One tip to save you money…if you plan on making this bread often, here is where I buy the items for it in bulk to save money:

    *White wheat flour–grind your own wheat that you purchase from Costco or Sam’s Club (or when it goes on sale during case lot time). Grinding your own wheat flour will save TONS of money..purchasing it is convenient but super expensive 😉
    *Vital Wheat Gluten–you can get this from Honeyville Grains (downtown SLC) or on their website http://www.honeyvillegrains.com. It is much less from them 😉
    *Lemon juice–Costco is always the least expensive and you’ll get it in a large bottle.
    *Honey or sugar–Costco (or case lot sales)
    *Yeast–Costco…it is always MUCH less expensive here, buy several and keep it in your freezer until you open it. Then, keep the open one in your fridge while you go through it. It will last longer this way and stay fresh.

    Hope that helps save a little money 😉 Glad you enjoyed this recipe and thanks for posting about it and our blog!

    Shandra
    http://www.dealstomeals.blogspot.com

  4. Patricia @ ButterYum says

    That’s got to be the prettiest whole wheat bread I’ve ever seen. Pinning this one!

  8. Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse says

    There is nothing better than fresh baked bread. Makes the house smell so wonderful. Thanks for the visit and sweet comment at The Dedicated House. It means the world. Would love it if you would share this post or any other my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. It runs all week. http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com/2012/10/make-it-pretty-monday-week-17.html Hope to see you at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

  11. Stacie r says

    My neighbor showed me this recipe a year or two ago, and now it is the only bread recipe I make. It is so good!

  12. Michelle Jones says

    Have you ever tried using Dough Enhancer? It is sold by Honeyville, I believe. It is awesome for adding extra softness to whole wheat bread. I used to work at Bosch Kitchen Center, and this was the recipe we always used in our cooking classes.

    Your bread looks beautiful! Wish I didn’t have Celiac disease so I could make it 🙁 Oh well, I’m experimenting with alternatives right now, and having some luck here and there. Check out my “mormon mommy” food blog sometime. 🙂 funnytummycafe.com

  14. Kris Dobbins says

    If I want to cut this recipe in half do I cut all ingredients exactly in half?

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