Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread Recipes

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk the water, honey, and yeast. Let sit for 5 minutes, until the yeast has bloomed.
• NOTE: It may be tempting to use all whole wheat flour in this recipe, but, in our testing, that method resulted in dense, tough, squat breads that barely rose when we tried to proof them. Using some all-purpose flour was necessary to give us the rise and soft, pillowy texture we wanted in a good sandwich bread.
• Pour in the wheat flour, all-purpose flour, oil, and salt, and mix until the dough comes together in a ball that does not stick to your fingers.
• NOTE: You can also do the first 2 steps in a standing mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment, mixing on low speed until the dough no longer sticks to the sides.
• On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough a few times until it really starts to form a tight ball.
• Form the dough into a ball shape and transfer to a greased bowl, turning the dough to coat it in grease. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a wet towel and store in a warm place for 1 hour.
• Allow the dough to proof until it has doubled in size. Save the plastic wrap or towel as you'll be using it again.
• Transfer the proofed dough to a lightly floured surface and press the dough - don't stretch - into a 7x7-inch (18x18 cm) square.
• Fold the top 3rd of the square down, and the bottom 3rd up to form an even rectangle. Pinch the top fold to seal the dough.
• Roll the dough over so that the seal faces upward and fold both ends up toward the center, so that the dough has formed an even log shape about the size of your loaf pan.
• Transfer the dough to a greased loaf pan and cover with with the same plastic wrap or towel used before.
• Let the dough rise for 1 hour, until it has poofed over the edge of the loaf pan about 1½ inches (4 cm).
• Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
• Remove the plastic wrap or towel and transfer to the oven and bake for 50-55 minutes, until the dough has browned slightly and formed a light brown crust.
• Immediately remove the loaf from the pan and set aside to cool for at least 1 hour before slicing.
• Store in an airtight container or bag. The bread can be stored in freezer up to 6 months.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• For the Biga: Combine 2 cups bread flour, 1 cup water, and 1/2 teaspoon yeast in large bowl and stir with wooden spoon until uniform mass forms and no dry flour remains, about 1 minute. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature (70 degrees) overnight (at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours).
• For the Soaker: Combine 3 cups whole-wheat flour, 1/2 cup wheat germ, and 2 cup milk in large bowl and stir with wooden spoon until shaggy mass forms, about 1 minute. Turn out dough onto lightly floured work surface and knead until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Return soaker to bowl, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight (at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours).
• For the Dough: Tear soaker apart into 1-inch pieces and place in bowl of stand mixer fitted with dough hook. Add biga, honey, salt, yeast, butter, and oil. Mix on low speed until cohesive mass starts to form, about 2 minutes. Increase speed to medium and knead until dough is smooth and elastic, 8 to 10 minutes. Turn out dough onto lightly floured counter and knead 1 minute. Shape dough into ball and place in lightly greased container. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and allow to rise at room temperature 45 minutes.
• Gently press down on center of dough to deflate. Holding edge of dough with fingertips, fold partially risen dough over itself by gently lifting and folding edge of dough toward middle. Turn bowl 90 degrees; fold again. Turn bowl and fold dough 6 more times (total of 8 folds). Cover and allow to rise at room -temperature until doubled in volume, about 45 minutes.
• Adjust oven racks to middle and lowest positions, place baking stone on middle rack, and heat oven to 400 degrees. Spray two 81/2 by 41/2-inch loaf pans with nonstick cooking spray. Transfer dough to well-floured counter and divide into 2 pieces. Working with 1 ball of dough at a time, pat each into 8 by 17-inch rectangle. With short side facing you, roll dough toward you into firm cylinder, keeping roll taut by tucking it under itself as you go. Turn loaf seam side up and pinch it closed. Place loaf seam side down in prepared loaf pan, pressing gently into corners. Repeat with second ball of dough. Cover loaves loosely with plastic wrap and allow to rise at room temperature until almost doubled in size, 60 to 90 minutes (top of loaves should rise about 1 inch over lip of pan).
• Place empty loaf pan or other heatproof pan on bottom oven rack and bring 2 cups water to boil on stovetop. Using sharp serrated knife or single-edge razor blade, make one ¼-inch-deep slash lengthwise down center of each loaf. Pour boiling water into empty loaf pan in oven and set loaves on baking stone. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees. Bake until crust is dark brown and internal temperature registers 200 degrees on instant-read thermometer, 40 to 50 minutes, rotating loaves 180 degrees and side to side halfway through baking.
• Transfer pans to wire rack and let cool 5 minutes. Remove loaves from pans, return to rack, and cool to room temperature, about 2 hours.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix warm water, yeast, and 1/3 cup honey. Add 5 cups white bread flour, and stir to combine. Let set for 30 minutes, or until big and bubbly.
• Mix in 3 tablespoons melted butter, 1/3 cup honey, and salt. Stir in 2 cups whole wheat flour. Flour a flat surface and knead with whole wheat flour until not real sticky - just pulling away from the counter, but still sticky to touch. This may take an additional 2 to 4 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.
• Punch down, and divide into 3 loaves. Place in greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pans, and allow to rise until dough has topped the pans by one inch.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25 to 30 minutes; do not overbake. Lightly brush the tops of loaves with 2 tablespoons melted butter or margarine when done to prevent crust from getting hard. Cool completely.

Steps:

• MIXING AND STORING DOUGH:.
• Whisk together flours, wheat germ, yeast, and salt in large bowl or lidded 5 quart container.
• Stir honey and melted butter into water; then add water, beer, and vinegar to the dry ingredients.
• Using rubber spatula, fold mixture, scraping up dry flour from bottom of bowl/ container until shaggy ball forms (use wet hands if needed).
• Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature until dough rises and collapses (or flatttens on top); 2 - 5 hours.
• Refrigerate in lidded (not airtight) container and allow to preferment for at least one day or up to 5 days.
• ON BAKING DAY:.
• Lightly grease a 9x4x3-inch nonstick loaf pan.
• With wet hands, pull up one end of the refrigerated dough. Using a serrated knife, cut off a 1 1/2 pound, or canteloupe-size, piece of dough. Dust the piece with flour and quickly shape into a ball by gently stretching the surface of the dough around to the bottom on all four sides, rotating the ball a quarter-turn as you go. Most of the dusting flour will fall off. The bottom of the loaf may appear to be a collection of bunched ends, but they will flatten out during resting and baking. The dough ball should be smooth and cohesive and take no more than 30 to 60 seconds to shape. Form an elongated oval and place into the prepared pan.
• Cover loosely with plastic wrap and allow to rest until doubled in size, approximately 2 hours.
• Twenty minutes before baking, preheat oven to 400 degrees, with an empty broiler tray or cast iron skillet on any other shelf that won't interfer with the rising bread.
• Place the loaf on a rack near the center of the oven. Pour 1 cup of hot tap water into the hot broiler tray or skillet and quickly close the oven door.
• Bake for 45 - 50 minutes or until golden brown and firm.
• Remove from pan and allow to cool on wire rack before slicing.