Classic Whole Wheat Bread Recipes

Steps:

• In a small mixing bowl, dissolve the sugar and yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the yeast mixture with the milk, vegetable oil, whole wheat flour, 1 cup of the all-purpose flour and the salt; beat well. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Grease two 8x4 inch bread pans. Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal pieces and form into loaves. Place the loaves into the pans. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Brush the risen loafs with lightly beaten egg. Bake at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 30 minutes, or until the bottom of the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.

Steps:

• 1. Combine yeast, honey, and 1¼ cups (300 ml) warm water and set aside to proof, about 5 minutes.
• 2. When starting with whole kernel wheat: Place wheat, and if desired, salt into the Vitamix Dry Grains Container and secure lid. Select Variable 1. Turn machine on and slowly increase speed to Variable 10, then to High. Grind wheat for 1 minute. (Do not over process) Stop the machine and allow the flour to cool for a few minutes.
• 3. When starting with whole wheat flour: Place flour and, if desired, salt into the Vitamix Dry Grains or Standard Container and secure lid.
• 4. Select Variable 1.
• 5. Turn machine on and slowly increase speed to Variable 6. Blend until a hole forms in the center of the mixture, about 5 seconds. Turn machine off and remove the lid.
• 6. Pour oil, lemon juice, and yeast mixture into the hole in the flour. Secure the lid.
• 7. To mix the dough, turn the machine on High for 1 second. Stop the machine. Remove lid.
• 8. While the dough rests, lightly coat a loaf pan with vegetable cooking spray or shortening.
• 9. To knead dough, two steps are required: Step 1: Use a nylon spatula to scrape the sides of the container. Pull the dough away from the container sides and into the center of the mixture. Step 2: With the switch on High, quickly turn the machine on and off five times.
• 10. Repeat the above two-step process five times, or until the dough binds together in a soft elastic mixture.
• 11. To remove the dough from the container, turn the machine on and off five times (to lift the dough up and away from the blades). Invert the container over the prepared pan and let the dough fall into the pan. Use a wet nylon spatula to remove any remaining dough.
• 12. Use a wet (or oiled) nylon spatula to shape the loaf. Allow the dough to rise until the top of it reaches the top of the pan, about 15 to 20 minutes.
• 13. Bake at 350°F for 35 minutes. Makes one loaf.

Steps:

• Mix the warm water, honey, and yeast in a stand-mixer bowl until mixture becomes foamy, about 5 minutes.
• Add half the whole wheat flour, olive oil, and salt to the mixture. Mix with a spatula or wooden spoon until incorporated. Let sit for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Mix with a dough hook attachment on low speed, slowly adding the remaining whole wheat flour, increasing the speed to high. Mix on high until the batter is combined and not sticking to the sides of the bowl, about 7 minutes. Cover the bowl with a towel and let rest for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, prepare a 9x5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper. Flour a surface to work the dough.
• Place the dough onto the floured work surface and shape into a loaf. Use more flour if necessary. Place into the prepared loaf pan.
• Let shaped dough sit in a warm place until it has risen over the top of the pan, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake in the preheated oven until top of the loaf sounds hollow when tapped, about 35 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for 15 to 20 minutes before removing from the pan and transferring to a wire rack. Let cool an additional hour before slicing; otherwise it will feel doughy.

Steps:

• Mixing: I.
• In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients and stir till the dough starts to leave the sides of the bowl.
• Transfer the dough to a lightly greased surface, oil your hands, and knead it for 6 to 8 minutes, or until it begins to become smooth and supple. (You may also knead this dough in an electric mixer or food processor, or in a bread machine programmed for "dough" or "manual.")
• Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl, cover the bowl, and allow the dough to rise till puffy though not necessarily doubled in bulk, about 60 minutes, depending on the warmth of your kitchen.
• Shaping:
• Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled work surface, and shape it into an 8-inch log.
• Place the log in a lightly greased 8 1/2 x 4 1/2-inch loaf pan, cover the pan loosely with lightly greased plastic wrap, and allow the bread to rise for about 1 hour, or until it's crowned about 1 inch above the edge of the pan. A finger pressed into the dough should leave a mark that rebounds slowly.
• Baking:
• Bake the bread in a preheated 350°F oven for about 40 minutes, tenting it lightly with aluminum foil after 20 minutes.
• Test it for doneness by removing it from the pan and thumping it on the bottom (it should sound hollow), or measuring its interior temperature with an instant-read thermometer (it should register 190°F at the center of the loaf).
• Remove the bread from the oven, and cool it on a wire rack before slicing. Store the bread in a plastic bag at room temperature.

Steps:

• In saucepan, heat milk not to boiling.
• Remove from heat and add sugar, salt and 1/4 cup butter, stir until blended.
• Cool to lukewarm.
• Sprinkle yeast over water in large bowl.
• Stir to dissolve yeast- stir in lukewarm milk mixture.
• Add 4 cups whole wheat flour, beat vigorously with wooden spoon until smooth.
• Gradually add remainder of whole wheat flour.
• Mix in last of it with hands until dough is stiff Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface.
• Knead dough for about 5 minutes until dough is smooth and has some elasticity.
• Place in greased large bowl.
• Turn dough so greased side is up.
• Cover with towel; let rise in warm place (85F is good), until it doubles in size, about an hour.
• Turn dough again on floured surface.
• Divide into halves.
• Cover about 10 minutes.
• Cut each of the two halves into two pieces.
• Roll each piece into about a 12 inch strip.
• Twist two strips together.
• Repeat the process.
• Roll into a ball to fit into a 9x5x2-3/4 greased pan.
• Mold evenly into pan.
• Repeat process with remaining two pieces.
• Brush tops of two loaves with a little butter, margarine or oil.
• Let the two loaves rise in a warm place until dough rises to tops of pans- about an hour.
• Preheat oven 400F.
• Bake in middle of oven for 35- 40 minutes.
• Turn out pans onto racks, brush top with melted butter.
• Makes 2 loaves.