Whole Grain Wheat Sandwich Bread Recipe

Ever since I got one of these for my birthday, I've been developing excuses to bake. Chocolate chips in the cabinet leftover from my holiday baking binge? Better turn those into cookies, STAT. Out of bread? I suppose I'll just have to make some rather than risking the trek across the street to the corner market.

I pulled this recipe from the manual that came in the box with the stand mixer, figuring that if I was going to lose my bread-baking-virginity I should probably stick to careful instructions. The result was a loaf of bread that looked, and I quote a friend, "weird...it actually looks like real bread."

What I learned from this endeavor is that anyone can bake bread with the right equipment and a little patience.

Whole Grain Wheat Sandwich Bread

Ingredients:

1/3 cup plus 1 Tablespoon brown sugar, divided
2 cups warm water (105F-114F)
2 packages active dry yeast
5 to 6 cups whole wheat flour
3/4 cup powdered milk
2 teaspoons salt
1/3 cup oil

Directions:

1. Dissolve 1 Tbsp. brown sugar in warm water in a small bowl or measuring cup. Add yeast and let mixture stand.

2. Place 4 cups flour, powdered milk, 1/3 cup brown sugar and salt into mixer bowl. Attach bowl and with dough hook, mix on Speed 2 (low speed) for about 15 seconds, until ingredients are combined. On the same speed, gradually add yeast mixture and oil to flour mixture and mix about 1 1/2 minutes longer. Stop and scrape bowl as necessary.

3. Continuing on same speed, add remaining flour, 1/2 up at the time and mix until dough clings to hook (it will be very sticky and thick). Knead dough on speed 2 until sides of the bowl are clean.

4. Place dough in a greased bowl and cover with a dish towel. Let rise in a warm place, free from draft, about 1 hour or until doubled in bulk.

5. Punch dough down and divide in half. Shape each half into a loaf* and place into a greased loaf pan. Cover and let rise in a warm place, free from draft, about 1 hour or until doubled in bulk.

6. Bake at 400F for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350F and bake 30 minutes longer. Remove from pans immediately and cool on wire racks.

*To shape dough into a loaf, roll into a large rectangle, about 9x14 inches. Starting at the short end, roll dough tightly and pinch to seal the seam. Pinch ends down and turn them under, placing the dough seam side down in a loaf pan.

Comments

[Daryl]

I was lucky enough to enjoy a slice of this and it is absolutely incredible.

[Erin]

It looks great. I've yet to attempt bread!

[Heidi Renée]

I LOVE homemade bread. Usually I buy frozen dough because I am lazy. If I ever get a stand mixer, I'll have to try making it myself.

[Kristen]

LOL - I love it when people lose their bread baking virginity. It really is so much easier than people anticipate and it is one of the most complimented things I do in the kitchen. Looks delicious!

[susan]

That looks delicious- I love bread and I don't know that I have ever had it homemade.

[Elra]

Nothing beat the homemade bread. THey are the best.
Cheers,
Elra

[mandy]

I got my kitchenaid right before Christmas and have been on a cookie baking binge. I need to make some bread. This looks so yummy!

[Heather]

yum! that looks lovely :D there's nothing like having fresh bread around the house.

[ANG*]

well how did it turn out?!
baking bread is an impressive feat!

[lisa (dandysugar)]

Don't ya just love your Kitchen Aide? I got mine for my b-day a few years back and I love it. Your bread looks wonderful too. Love homemade bread, especially the intoxicating aroma!

[Jude]

Nice loaf! After the first loaf of homemade bread, nothing else just tastes as good.

[Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)]

Great first project for that new mixer!

[biz319]

I love my stand mixer - and homemade bread!

Great job!!

[thatShortChick]

that picture? is the quickest way to induce (embarrasing amounts of) drooling.

i LOVE freshly baked bread. especially the smell.

[Sara]

Looks beautiful - I love the wheat bread recipe in Baking with Julia, I make it at least once a month.

[Run DMT]

I love hummus! It's healthy snack that is so EASY to make! YUM!

Thanks for visiting my blog. Hope to see you again soon!

[Joanna]

Oh yum, what a great-looking loaf of bread! I don't have a stand mixer, so when I attempt to make bread, I'll probably go the no-knead route, and I can only hope mine comes out as well as yours.