Best Whole Grain Wheat Bread Recipes

100% WHOLE GRAIN WHEAT BREAD

Steps:

• Place the first five ingredients in the bowl and mix.
• Add: 2 Cups 100% Whole Grain Wheat Flour. (to cool the water and end up with warm dough) Mix then add 2 Tbs of Dry Active Yeast. If your not sure about your yeast proof it in a little warm water first.
• Add: 4 Cups of 100% Whole Grain Wheat Flour.
• Mix until the consistency is some what even. Then continue to slowly add flour 1/2 Cup at a time until the dough quits sticking to the sides of the bowl. It should be tacky to the touch. The trick is to have enough consistency to stand up with the least amount of flour so the bread will be fluffy. It will most likely be 6 1/2 cups but in any case do not exceed 7 1/2 cups of wheat flour. You can trade one cup of wheat flour for one cup of all purpose white if you wish. Don't over mix or the bread will be tough.
• When your dough is finished, leave it in the mixer, cover the bowl and let it rise for about 30-45 minutes. The dough will be larger but it doesn't need to double.
• Grease two bread pans with Crisco. You can also flour the pans to reduce sticking.
• Mix the dough again just enough to knock it down at least close to the original size.
• Drop the dough on a floured surface so you can work the dough and shape it. Shape it with your hands to make a nice ball getting enough flour on it so it isn't sticky. Divide the ball in half and do it again. Shape the loaves by turning the dough under it's self over and over. When the dough is shaped the sides and ends will be sealed and all you will see is a nice oblong shaped loaf with smooth sides and top. Drop the loaves in your bread pans and let them rise until almost doubled. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 for 36 minutes. If you forgot to preheat 41 minutes. (gas oven).
• When done turn the bread out of the pan to a rack to cool. You can eat it right away (a great time for real butter) don't wrap it until completely cooled. (Condensation will make it soggy) Put in tinfoil to store on the counter. If you put it in the refrigerator it will turn into a brick. Enjoy.

MULTI GRAIN WHOLE WHEAT-MACHINE BREAD

Steps:

• 1. Gather all 6 ingredients.
• 2. also the brown sugar, salt and yeast.
• 3. Put all ingredients into your bread machine in the order for your bread machine directions. Close lid. For the Seiko machine. Press select until the desired bread selection is selected. I select #6 for a 2 pound loaf (in a Seiko) Press start. Bread will be done in the number of hours as indicated.
• 4. Picture of the cooked bread, shown with my CREAMED CABBAGE CHOWDER recipe. If you need the 1-1/2 pound bread recipe or the 1 pound recipe...let me know You might want to check out the bread machine cookbooks on JAP for some great recipes.

HONEY WHEAT OATMEAL BREAD - ALL WHOLE GRAIN VERSION

Steps:

• Put ingredients into bread pan in the order suggested by the manufacturer of the bread machine.
• If you're going to use a timer, it is vital to keep the yeast away from both the liquids AND the salt.
• I make this on the white bread cycle and it comes out great, but you may wish to use the whole wheat cycle.
• I never noticed any difference except that the whole wheat cycle took a lot longer.
• Your machine may yield different results, tho.
• If you like crusty bread, just let the finished bread set on a rack to cool.
• If you want a softer crust, slip the hot bread into a plastic bag so that the crust will get steamed and be nice& soft- and good for sandwiches.

FIVE-GRAIN BUTTERMILK-CRANBERRY BREAD (WHITE WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Grease cookie sheet with shortening or cooking spray. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the cereal.
• In large bowl, mix remaining cereal, the flour, brown sugar, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt. Cut in butter, using pastry blender (or pulling 2 table knives through ingredients in opposite directions), until mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Stir in dried cranberries.
• In small bowl, beat egg and buttermilk with whisk until well blended. Reserve 1 tablespoon buttermilk mixture. Stir remaining buttermilk mixture into dry ingredients, stirring just until mixture is moistened; dough will be soft. On floured surface, knead dough 5 or 6 times.
• On large cookie sheet, shape dough into 7-inch round. Cut large X shape, 1/4 inch deep, into top of dough, using sharp knife. Brush top of dough with reserved buttermilk mixture; sprinkle with reserved cereal.
• Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until top is golden brown. Cool 30 minutes. Using serrated knife, cut into slices or wedges to serve.

FRESH MILLED GRAIN WHOLE WHEAT BREAD IN BREAD MACHINE

Steps:

• Grind about 5 cups of hard red or hard white spring wheat. This should make a little more than 600 grams of flour. Weigh the flour out.
• Tip for using Vitamix--store grain in freezer so it does not get hot during grinding. Do only 1 cup at a time. You can re-grind the larger pieces.
• Measure it out on a scale because the weight of flour is different depending on the grind. This is key. It will be around 4-5 cups, but you won't get bread that is as good if you use volume over weight.
• In your bread machine, add everything EXCEPT yeast and about 1 cup of flour.
• Turn on your bread machine and let it mix. It'll be kind of gloopy, that's fine. You might need to help get all the wheat wet by mixing it inches It doesn't have to be perfect, but we want the wheat wet. Stop once it's mixed (turn off machine). Of course you can do that by hand if you want to.
• Set the timer on your bread machine for at least 8 hours later and use the dough cycle for the best bread. You can wait up to 24 hours.
• The wait is so that the whole wheat can do a few important things; develop a good gluten and break down phytic acids. By using buttermilk (you can make your own or use water and 2 tsp apple cider vinegar) you give it an acidic environment to do it's thing.
• Pour the remaining flour on top of the dough and make a little "bowl" in the flour and carefully pour the yeast into the indent so that it is separated from the dough. If you don't, it will activate too early. Even better if you have a bread machine with a separate yeast chamber. If so you do not need to hold back any flour.
• When the machine beeps the next morning, the dough should be nicely risen, although you might expect it to be a bit higher if you're used to using regular bread flour. Worry not, my friend.
• Wash your counter very well and spray a little oil on it. Oil up your hands and turn the dough onto the counter. Fold it over itself a few times and then tear the dough in half. Just using your hands make it into a rectangle and roll it up tightly. Place it into an oiled bread pan. Cover with a towel and allow to rise for another hour or so. I just turn on my oven for a bit at low heat and then turn it off.
• Take the towel out of the oven (very important part) and bake for 25-30 minutes at 350.

100% WHOLE WHEAT GRAIN BREAD

Steps:

• Place sugar and yeast in bowl with 1/2 the warmed water. Stir and let sit 5-10 minutes until foamy.
• In bowl of stand mixer add: remaining water, gluten, egg yolks, honey, olive oil, buttermilk, 2 cups of the flour, 7 grain cereal, and proofed yeast.
• Stir into batter, cover with towel, and let sit 30 minutes (will rise some).
• Place bowl onto stand mixer, add salt, and remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time -- mixing with paddle attachment until dough pulls away from sides and forms ball around the paddle.
• Scrape dough off paddle and replace with dough hook. Set on 2 and knead with dough hook x8 minutes. Cover with towel and allow to rise until doubled.
• Remove dough and divide in half. Form each half into a loaf and place into greased standard size loaf pan - push dough into corners and sides to form to pan. Spritz with pan spray (preferably olive or canola), cover with towel and let rise until 1 - 2 inches above top of pan.
• Place into pre-heated 350* oven and bake x30 minutes.
• Remove from pans, brush lightly with butter using paper towel to remove excess so dough does not get soggy, and place on cooling rack to cool.
• Cool at least 20-30 minutes before cutting (if you cut while really hot the crumb does not have time to set and will feel very heavy and sticky).

ROASTED HAZELNUT RAISIN WHOLE GRAIN WHEAT BREAD - DIRECT METHOD

Steps:

• Mix the flour and water either by hand or mixer until all of the flour is wetted. Cover and let that sit at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Roast hazelnuts at 375F for 14 minutes. Cool and remove skins by rubbing the hazelnuts between your hands. Crush the nuts roughly or leave whole.
• Add salt and yeast, butter and honey and knead for 5 minutes.
• Add nuts and raisins and knead for about 3 more minutes to mix them in uniformly.
• Remove dough and place in a straight-sided clear container noting the level of the dough.
• Cover with oiled plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in volume. After 20 minutes, remove the dough and stretch and fold it as you would a letter from top to bottom and side to side. Return to the container.
• Divide the dough into 2 pieces and roll each piece until the length is about 8 inches each. Place each into 8" x 4" loaf pans sprayed with oil.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Cover the pans with oiled plastic wrap and let rise until risen 1 1/2 times the volume or 1/2 inch above the pan tops.
• Bake for 15 minutes and rotate the loaves for even baking.
• After 35 to 45 minutes (total) check the temperature. Remove when the loaves are 195 F to 205°F.
• Tip the loaves out onto racks and let cool to room temperature.

8 GRAIN WHOLE WHEAT BREAD

Steps:

• Day 1, mix together 2 cups of bread flour, instant yeast, honey and water into a large bowl till smooth. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to sit for 24 hours on the counter. After 24 hours add the day 2 ingredients to the mixture; mix till smooth and cover with plastic wrap and allow to sit for 2 hours. Take the bowl and place into the refrigerator for another 24 to 72 hours. The night before you want to bake the bread you will need to create the soaker. You need to add the 8 grains to a bowl and add the 1 cup of water. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to sit on the counter overnight. When you are ready to make the bread. remove the dough from the fridge and allow to sit on the counter for 2 hours. Pour mixture out onto a flat surface and add the soaked grains. Knead for 6 minutes. The dough should be slightly sticky, but not wet. So, if you need to add a little more flour go a head. Add just a tablespoon of flour at a time. Place dough in a lightly oiled large bowl and turn a few times to lightly coat. Allow to rest for 1 1/2 hours. Afterwards, pour dough out onto a flat surface and punch down. Cut dough into 3 equal parts. Flatten each piece and roll up like a jelly roll; be sure that they are rolled tightly. Place loaves on top of parchment that is sprinkled with cormeal. You may only be able to bake two first and the third one separately. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rest for 1 hour. Dust with flour and score the tops just before placing into oven. Place into a preheated 400 degree oven with a baking stone. Create steam by placing a cast iron pan on the bottom of the oven the same time that you turn on the oven. Once you place the breads onto the baking stone pour about a cup of boiling water into the hot pan and close the door. Bake for 30 -35 minutes or till when tapped on the bottom of the loaf it sounds hollow or a meat thermometer reads 180F in the center. Remove and cool on a wire rack.

WHOLE WHEAT MULTI-GRAIN (RED RIVER CEREAL) BREAD

Steps:

• If not using Red River Cereal, prepare Grain/Seed Blend: 1 part brown flax; 1 part golden flax; 4 parts steel cut oats; 4 parts creamy buckwheat cereal. I make a large batch and store it in the freezer.
• Put yeast into mixing bowl of stand-mixer. Heat water with honey (I put it in the microwave on high for 1 minute and then stir it up), and add to yeast. Add about 3 cups of the dry ingredients. Add the salt and oil. Mix thoroughly with paddle on medium for about a minute.
• Switch to the dough hook. Add the remainder of the dry ingredients. Mix on low until everything more or less coalesces -- not quite to the point of a dough ball. Cover with a dish towel and let stand for 10 minutes.
• While waiting for dough to rest, boil about 2 cups of water and place in a shallow pyrex dish on the bottom rack of the oven (turned off).
• Knead the dough for ~8 minutes on low, until dough is elasticy and stretchy. Place dough ball in a large oiled bowl and cover with dish towel. Place the bowl in the (turned off) oven with the hot water. Let rise for ~2 hours.
• Remove the dough from oven and divide in half. Place the first half on a large sheet of parchment paper on a cutting board. Fold the dough over 3 times (like a wallet) and punch down with knuckles. Then fold it again 3 times the other direction and punch down. Do the same for the second half of the dough. Cover the dough with the dish towel and let stand for 10 minutes.
• Take each half of the dough and pinch it under like a jellyfish -- such that you have one totally uniform flat side, and the jellyfish tentacles are underneath. Tentacles down, gently roll and shape the jellyfish/loaf until desired shape is achieved (I tend to go for long and skinny, as it's easier to make the crust crispier). Do the same for the other loaf. Keep in mind that the more you manipulate it, the tougher (and hence harder to shape) the dough will become.
• Sprinkle some cornmeal on the parchment paper and roll the underside of each loaf in it. Leave the loaves on the paper on the cutting board, with at least 3 in space between them. Cover with dish towel, and return to the oven to proof for ~40 minutes.
• Remove loaves from oven on cutting board. Place a pizza stone in the oven with the dish of water from earlier, and pre-heat the oven to 375 F.
• Dissolve about 1 tsp of corn starch in about 2 tbsp of water. Brush the outside of each loaf liberally with the solution. Using a sharp knife, cut a series of slits in each loaf (the short, not long direction) about 1/2 inch deep.
• Transfer the loaves on the parchment paper from the cutting board to the pizza stone in the oven. Bake for ~35 minutes (until the centre is at least 195 F).
• Enjoy!

100% WHOLE GRAIN WHEAT BREAD

Steps:

• 1-Place the first five ingredients in the bowl and mix with mixer blade
• 2-Add: 2 cups 100% whole grain wheat flour. (to cool the water and end up with warm dough) Mix and then add 2 tablespoons of active dry yeast. If you are not sure about your yeast, proof it in a little warm water first.
• 3-Add 4 cups of 100% whole grain wheat flour. Mix on very low with mixer blade.
• 4-Change to dough hook. Mix until the consistency is somewhat even. Then continue to slowly add flour 1/2 cup at a time until the dough stops sticking to the side of the mixing bowl. It should be tacky to the touch. The trick is the have enough consistency to stand up with the least amount of flour so the bread will be fluffy. It will most like be 6 1/2 cups but in any case, do not exceed 7 1/2 cups of wheat flour. You can trade one cup of wheat flour for one cup of unbleached flour if you wish. Don't over mix or the bread will be tough.
• 5-When your dough is finished, leave it in the mixer, cover the bowl and let it rise for about 30-45 minutes. The dough will be larger but it doesn't need to double.. (Tip: if your home is on the cool side, preheat oven on WARM for 2 to 3 minutes, then turn off and let dough rise in the oven turned off oven)
• 6-Grease two bread pans with Crisco or butter. You can also flour the pans to reduce sticking.
• 7-Mix the dough again, just enough to knock it down to close to the original size.
• 8-Drop the dough on a floured surface so you can work the dough and shape it. Shape it with your hands to make a nice ball, getting enough flour on it so it isn't sticky. Divide the ball in half and do it again. Shape the loaves by turning the dough under itself over and over. When the dough is shaped on both sides and ends are sealed, all you will see is a nice oblong shaped loaf with smooth sides and top. Drop the loaves in your bread pans and let them rise until almost doubled. Bake in a preheated over for 36 minutes.
• 9-When done, turn the bread out of the pan onto a rack to cool. You can eat it right away (a great time for real butter, but do not wrap it until it is completely cooled. (Condensation will make it soggy) Put in tinfoil to store on the counter. You can freeze it in the foil but do not put it in the refrigerator as it will turn into a brick!

WHOLE GRAIN WHEAT SOURDOUGH BREAD

Steps:

• 1. Measure using a digital scale. Levain ingredients: Sourdough starter, Bread Flour, and water....Let rest for 6 hours....
• 2. 2 hours BEFORE the levain is ready, use a dough hook and mix on low 546 g. bread flour, 154 g whole wheat flour and 550 g. water. Mix until well incorporated and use a spatula to make sure. Rest in a covered bowl 2 hours.
• 3. Add Levain and sea salt to the Flour/water mix, mix on speed 2-3 for 2 minutes. Use a spatula to stir down.
• 4. Use a water bottle to spritz the counter down with a light dust of water. Dump out the dough and fold over several times with a plane to make a ball. Cut in half.
• 5. Put each ball in an 8 x 8 glass pan. Rest, covered for 45 minutes.
• 6. Coil folds: For the next 5 hours, every hour, use lightly wet hands to lift and fold the dough over itself. Start in the middle of the dough and lift up until the dough comes up off the dish. Fold. You are creating air pockets here and are redistributing the dough. Turn the dish and do this again 2 more times.
• 7. Use brown rice flour to dust a bannaton well. Flour the countertop really well. Flip out one of the loaves and shape the dough to your banneton. Proof dough, covered in the bannetons in the fridge overnight.
• 8. The next morning: Preheat the oven to 475F 1 hour with the cast iron Dutch oven inside---nice and hot. Flip dough from banneton onto parchment paper. Score using a lame. Bake covered for 20 minutes. (while dough is in oven, put empty bannetons at the back of the top of the stove to dry)
• 9. After 20 minutes, turn the heat down to 450 take bread out of the Dutch oven and place on the rack to continue baking for another 20-25 minutes. Let cool for 2 hours before slicing.

WHOLE GRAIN WHEAT BREAD

Steps:

• Starter Dough: Blend cooked grains and water in food processor or blender until creamy; pour into a large mixing bowl. Mix in oil, salt, and yeast. Add enough flour to make the mixture look like thick cooked cereal. Cover thee bowl with plastic wrap or a damp towel and leave for 12-24 hours at room temperature Once starter dough is fermented, it can be refrigerated up to a week before making the bread.
• To Make Bread: After the 12-24 hours, add sweetener to starter dough and stir. Add whole wheat flour, stirring it inches As you add the white flour, the mixture will be too difficult to stir. Knead it by hand on the bowl and continue to add white flour. When dough is lees sticky, transfer it to a floured surface an knead 10-15 minutes or until dough is soft and springy, but not too sticky. Wash and dry mixing bowl and oil it. Place dough in bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
• To Bake Bread: Mix water, honey, oil, and salt in a small cup and coat the top of each loaf with this mixture. (Makes about 3 loaves) Cover and let rise in greased pans for 45-60 minutes until the loaves have doubled in size. Test the bread for readiness. If you press the dough and it wants to stay in, but still has a little spring, it's ready to bake.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Bake 45-50 minutes. Bread will come out of pans after cooling 5 minutes. Let cool 30 minutes until slicing (if you can wait!).
• Omit the honey for non-apian vegetarians/vegans.