How to Make Honey Whole Grain Bread

We know that whole grain bread is better for us, but too often whole grain bread is as edible as packing peanuts. Here's a recipe that makes healthy bread that's moist and delicious.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 6oz. starter
• 1 1/4c. room temperature water
• 1Tbs. honey
• 1tsp. dried yeast
• 1 1/2c. all purpose flour
• 3/4c. wheat flower
• 1 1/2Tbs. corn meal
• 1 1/2Tbs. ground flaxseed
• 1/2c. rye flour
• 1 1/2tsp. kosher salt
• oil

1. Mix the starter, water, honey, and yeast on low with the paddle attachment for three minutes.

2. Add the remaining ingredients and mix with the paddle attachment until combined. Switch to the dough hook and mix for 7 minutes on medium speed.

3. Turn the dough out of the mixer into a lightly oiled bowl. Let rise for two hours. Punch down. Let rise for another hour.

4. Shape dough into a boule, batard, or baguette and let rise until doubled.
   
   In the meantime, heat a baking stone in an oven to 425 degrees F. Transfer the loaf to a floured peel. Bake for 40 minutes, misting with water four times in the first half hour.

5. After the first half hour, reduce heat to 400 degrees F. Test loaf for doneness by inserting an instant-read thermometer into the center of the loaf. It should register at least 205 degrees F. Alternatively, tap the bottom of the loaf. If it's fully baked, it will sound hollow.

6. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack before slicing.

Tips & Warnings

• I use a fairly liquid starter instead of a more solid barm. See how it turns out with the starter you have, and adjust liquid if the dough feels like it needs more or less.
• You can use any kind of starter you have on hand: whole wheat, rye, or regular.
• This recipe assumes you're using a mixer to prepare your dough. If you aren't mix the ingredients by hand in a bowl, then knead the dough on the counter for 10-14 minutes instead of using a dough hook.
• A baking stone makes for a crispier crust, but it's not necessary. If you don't have one, shape and rise your loaf on the back of a large baking pan, and put the whole pan in the oven to bake the bread.

Resources

• How to Make a Sourdough Starter

[juliemcmurchie]

on 11/17/2009 Good recipe for honey whole grain bread. I use my baking stone for bread all the time. It works great and the whole loaf is beautiful. It is perfect for making rustic, country loaves.

[mikeg21v]

on 11/10/2009 Delicious! Thank you! 5* and rec

[jbs2212]

on 11/2/2009 I could eat a ton of that stuff! 5* and a rec

[roseanne09]

on 10/5/2009 Excellent article, pictures, and tips to making homemade honey whole grain bread. Thank you for sharing. 5*

[pamelaa75]

on 8/23/2009 This honey whole grain bread sounds good 5*s and rec