Best Wheat Berry Bread Recipes

WHEAT BERRY BREAD

Steps:

• Place the wheat berries in a strainer, rinse well under running water, and drain.
• Bring 1 1/2 cups tap water to a boil in a small saucepan and add the berries.
• Cover the pan, reduce the heat to low, and simmer until the berries are soft and the water is absorbed, about 1 hour.
• After the berries have cooked for 20 minutes, stir together the yeast, 1/2 cup of the warm water, and 1/2 cup all-purpose flour in a large bowl.
• Let rise for about 40 minutes.
• Stir the remaining 1 cup warm water, the oil, molasses, honey, salt, and whole-wheat flour into the yeast mixture.
• Add the flax seeds, sunflower seeds, and 1 cup all-purpose flour.
• When the mixture becomes too stiff to stir, turn it out onto a floured work surface and knead.
• Flatten the dough and press in the cooked wheat berries.
• Knead in the remaining 1/3 cup all-purpose flour until the dough is elastic and springs back when lightly pressed, about 6 minutes.
• Form the dough into a ball, place it in an oiled bowl, and turn the dough in the bowl to coat it well with oil.
• Cover with plastic wrap and let rise until the dough does not spring back when lightly pressed, about 2 hours.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface, press it flat, fold both the sides in and roll the dough into a log.
• Pinch the seam closed and set it into an oiled 10 x 4 x 3-inch loaf pan.
• Push the dough down flat.
• Place the pan in a plastic bag and tuck the bag opening under the pan to close.
• Let rise until the dough domes up and does not spring back when lightly pressed, about 1 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Remove the pan from the plastic bag.
• Using a sharp serrated knife, cut 3 diagonal slashes across the top of the loaf.
• Place the bread in the oven, spritz the inside of the oven a few times with water from a plant mister, and quickly close the door.
• Bake 15 minutes.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake for another 15 minutes.
• To test for done-ness, remove the bread from the pan and rap the bottom.
• It should sound hollow.
• If it is not quite done, continue baking out of the pan up to 10 minutes more.
• Cool on a wire rack.

HONEY WHEAT BERRY BREAD

Steps:

• **To cook wheat berries**.
• Combine 1/2 cup rinsed wheat berries and 2 cups water in saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer, covered for about 1 ½ to 2 hours, stirring occasionally, adding water if necessary. ( Cook until soft and some are popping open)
• Drain any standing water before adding the cooked wheat berries to the dough.
• Add drained wheat berries and 1 cup of cold water in the bread machine pan, Cool to lukewarm.
• Add the rest of the liquid ingredients followed by the dry ingredients on top, yeast will be last.
• Set bread machine to dough setting. Check in a few minutes, if dough looks too dry or too wet add a few tablespoons of warm water or flour to get a good soft dough consistency.
• When dough setting is complete (my machine is 1 ½ hours) remove dough from bread machine pan onto a lightly floured surface. Shape into a roll. Put in a bread pan that has been sprayed with cooking oil spray. Let rise for about 40 minutes to 1 hour or until about 1 ½ inches above pan.
• Cook on 350 degrees on middle rack of oven for about 30 to 35 minutes. Should be golden brown ( when thumped with your finger on the bottom of the loaf it should sound hollow )
• Remove bread from pan to cooling rack to cool. Let it cool at least 1 hour before slicing.

SPROUTED WHEAT BERRY BREAD

Steps:

• Sprinkle the yeast over 1 cup lukewarm water in a large mixing bowl and let sit for 5 minutes. Stir to dissolve yeast. Add the remaining water, salt, honey and oil. Mix well.
• Stir in white flour and beat dough by hand or with a dough hook in an electric mixer until smooth. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.
• Stir in the wheat berry sprouts and just enough whole wheat flour to make a soft, sticky dough. Turn the dough out onto a floured board and knead, with more flour if necessary, until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.
• Place in a greased bowl, turning to grease to of dough; cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 60 minutes.
• Grease 2 9x5-inch loaf pans. Turn dough onto lightly floured board and knead briefly.
• Divide in 2, shape into loaves and place in pans. Cover and let rise again in a warm place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375°F
• Bake loaves 25 minutes. Lower oven heat to 300*F. and bake 35 more minutes, or until bottom of loaf sounds hollow when turned out and tapped. Cool on wire rack. Enjoy!

BUTTERMILK WHEAT BERRY BREAD

Steps:

• 1. In a medium saucepan, cover the wheat berries with water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 2 hours, or until tender, adding more water as needed. Drain off any excess water, and cool to room temperature. 2. In a microwave safe container, or a small saucepan, heat the buttermilk until just warm to the touch. 3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the warmed buttermilk, yeast and honey. Add the egg, salt, oil and flour. Mix with the dough hook on low until combined and then for 5 minutes on medium speed. The dough should be soft and slightly sticky but come clean from the sides of the bowl. Add the wheat berries and mix until combined. 4. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise for 1 hour, or until doubled. 5. Coat 2 standard loaf pans with cooking spray. 6. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide in half. Flatten each into an 8-by-12-inch rectangle. One rectangle at a time, start with a short end and roll up the loaf, pinching to seal. Place each loaf in a prepared pan with the pinched edge at the bottom. 7. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and allow to rise again until doubled in size. 8. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. 9. Using a sharp knife, make deep diagonal slashes across the tops of the loaves. Bake 35 to 40 minutes, or until deep golden brown and hollow sounding when tapped. The interior temperature should read 200 degrees. Remove the loaves from the pan and let cool before slicing. Nutrition information per slice (values are rounded to the nearest whole number): 214 calories; 38 calories from fat; 4 g fat (1 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 13 mg cholesterol; 36 g carbohydrate; 7 g protein; 2 g fiber; 217 mg sodium.