Whole Wheat Bread Recipes

Ingredients (Makes 1 Loaf)

1 1/2 cups warm water (just barely hot to the touch)

1 package active dry yeast (1/4 ounce)

2 1/2 tablespoons honey

1 tablespoon whole flaxseed (optional)

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted

2 1/2 tablespoons honey

1/2 tablespoon salt

1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour

1 tablespoon butter, melted

Directions

In a large bowl, mix warm water, yeast, 2 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon of flaxseed (optional). Mix in 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour. Let set for 30 minutes, or until big and bubbly.

Mix in 1 1/2 tablespoons melted butter, 2 1/2 tablespoons of brown sugar, and salt. Stir in 1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour. Flour a flat surface and knead with whole wheat flour until it pulls away from the counter but is still sticky to touch. This may take an additional 1 to 2 cups of whole wheat flour. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to coat the surface of the dough. Cover with a dishtowel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled (about 30 minutes).

Punch down and place in greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pan. Allow to rise until dough has topped the pan by one inch. Depending on your yeast this will take between
1 - 2 hours.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25 to 30 minutes; do not over bake. Lightly brush the tops of loaves with 1 tablespoon of melted butter when done to prevent crust from getting hard. Cool completely.

Substitutions and Additions

Brown sugar can be substituted for the honey in this whole wheat bread recipe.

Hard white winter wheat flour can be substituted for the 2 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour for an even lighter and fluffier whole grain bread.

To give this recipe a crunch, consider adding walnuts.

In this whole grain bread recipe we included the option for flaxseed because here at versagrain.com we are big proponents of incorporating flaxseed into your diet. Its high protein, fiber, and omega 3 fatty acids makes flaxseed a nutritional powerhouse your body can use to fight depression, cancer, and heart disease.