100% Whole Grain Wheat Bread (Veg and Vegan)

Easy Fresh Whole Grain Bread is just a few steps away! I'm making this bread to use for my kids lunches this week. If you have a kitchenaid mixer then you can save yourself a lot of time on this recipe, please see my note at the bottom.

2 3/4 cups of hot water

1/3 cup of oil, olive is fine

1/4 cup of raw sugar

2 tablespoons molasses

1 tablespoon salt, sea salt is good

7 1/2 cups (max) of 100% whole grain wheat flour

2 tablespoons of dry active yeast



Directions:

Place the first five ingredients in the bowl and mix.

 Add: 2 Cups 100% whole grain wheat flour. Mix, then add 2 tablespoons of dry active yeast. If your not sure about your yeast proof it in a little warm water first.

 Add: 4 cups of 100% whole grain wheat flour.

Mix until the consistency is some what even. Then continue to slowly add flour 1/2 cup at a time until the dough quits sticking to the sides of the bowl. It should be tacky to the touch. The trick is to have enough consistency to stand up with the least amount of flour so the bread will be fluffy. In any case do not exceed 7 1/2 cups of wheat flour. You can trade one cup of wheat flour for one cup of all purpose white if you wish. Don't over mix or the bread will be tough.

When your dough is finished, Cover the bowl and let it rise for about 30-45 minutes. The dough will be larger but it doesn't need to double when using a heavy mixer.

Grease two bread pans with Crisco. You can also flour the pans to reduce sticking.

Mix again just enough to knock it down at least close to the original size.

Drop the dough on a floured surface so you can work the dough and shape it. Roll it in the flour and shape it in your hands to make a nice ball getting enough flour on it so it isn't sticky.

Divide the ball in half and do it again.

Shape the loaves by turning the dough under it's self over and over. When the dough is shaped right the sides and ends will be sealed and all you will see is a nice oblong shaped loaf with smooth sides and top.

Drop the loaves in your bread pans and let them rise until almost doubled. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 for 36 minutes. If you forgot to preheat 41 minutes. (gas oven)

When done turn the bread out of the pan to a rack to cool. You can eat it right away. Don't wrap it until completely cooled. (Condensation will make it soggy) Put in tinfoil to store on the counter. If you put it in the refrigerator it will turn into a brick. Enjoy.


Note: I used my kitchenaid electric mixer with the bread hook to do all my kneading.  After it was well mixed i let the bowl sit until the dough had doubled.  Then I used the hook again.  Cut it to fit my two loaf pans, shaped it and then let it rise in the pan until doubled.  Then I baked it.  Easy.

Recipe from Vegweb.com Photos by Laura Spear