Whole Wheat Bread
Move over Martha Stewart! Boston Girl Bakes is here to prove that you too can bake bread from home! She even provides insight as to why it’s necessary to include specific ingredients. Grab your pen and paper – it’s time to go back to home economics.
Ingredients:
- Warm water – This will help the yeast activate and start the rising process. It should be between 105-110°F
- Orange Juice – Add orange juice to this whole wheat bread, which helps cut that bitterness of the whole wheat flour
- Honey – It adds a bit of sweetness and gives the yeast something to activate with
- Yeast – Instant yeast or active dry
- Kosher salt – Just a pinch to draw out the flavors of the honey and flour
- Oil – Olive oil, or melted butter
- All-purpose flour
- Whole wheat flour
Directions:
Step 1: Make Your Dough
In the bowl of your stand mixer, mix all ingredients at once using the paddle attachment
Step 2: Knead
Switch to the dough hook attachment and knead dough for about 5 minutes, starting on low and moving it to high speed once it comes together. The dough should be smooth and pull away from the bowl
Step 3: Let the Dough Rise
Spray the top of the dough with cooking spray and turn over the dough. Spray the top of the dough. Cover with a damp cloth and then allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
Step 4: Shape the loaves and let rise again
Once it has risen, use your fist to gently press the dough down. This will remove the large air bubbles.
Then scrape the dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide the dough in half. Then shape into loaves. This is really easy. Just flatten the dough into a rectangle (about 9×5) then roll the dough up. Tuck the ends under and place into two well oiled 9×5 inch loaf pans.
Step 5: Bake & Enjoy!
Allow to rise for 1 -2 hours depending on kitchen temperature. Dough should bounce back when touched, and be slightly higher than the pan (about 1 inch higher).
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes. Let the bread cool completely before slicing.
