Project Description

Photo by Jaclyn Coleman.

This is a very versatile basic whole wheat bread, and you can make anything from sandwich loaves to dinner rolls (above) to hamburger buns with it. Making a great loaf is actually pretty easy – most of the “work” is just letting it rise. This bread is 100% whole wheat, so expect something slightly denser than white bread, but still light and fluffy. Plus, you get all the nutrition from that whole grain goodness! You can add sugar or honey to your taste – we think it adds a nice touch of sweetness.

Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread

Makes 2 loaves.
Recipe from It’s Just Laine.

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp. yeast
  • 1 cup warm water (just not hot or else it kills the yeast)
  • 1 Tbsp. white sugar
  • 1 cup warm milk
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar (or honey, although you’ll need more flour if you use honey)
  • 1/3 cup vegetable/canola oil
  • 2 tsp. salt
  • 5-6 cups Community Grains Hard Red Winter Wheat Whole Grain Flour

Baking Instructions

  1. In mixing bowl, dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon of sugar in 1 cup of warm water. Whisk together and let sit until mixture is bubbly and foamy.
  2. Add warm milk and brown sugar to yeast mixture, and whisk together.  Let it sit for about 2-3 minutes.
  3. Add oil, salt and 4 cups of flour.  Stir together.
  4. Add the fifth cup of flour and knead by hand or in your stand mixer for 6-8 minutes, adding flour as needed to form a smooth, elastic dough that is shiny but not sticky to the touch. Add water or flour by teaspoons if needed.
  5. Put your ball of dough into a greased bowl, cover with a towel and put it into the oven with a bowl of hot water on the rack below it.  Allow to rise for about one hour, or until doubled in size.
  6. After the dough has risen “punch it down” with your fists to squish out any air bubbles.  Using a sharp knife, divide the dough in half.  Shaping your bread loaves (if making rolls or buns, use the knife to cut the dough in as many pieces as you need and shape from there). Place each loaf in a greased bread pan.
  7. Cover the bread and allow to rise for another 35 minutes.
  8. Bake at 400ºF for 10 minutes, and then reduce heat to 350º and continue to bake for another 15 minutes.
  9. Immediately remove bread from pans and cool on wire racks.
  10. Once cool, slice it up and eat with your favorite sandwich toppings!