Homemade Wholewheat bread

by kathryn
(Hampshire)

This homemade wholewheat bread recipe has a delicious mild honey taste and it's great for toasting, sliced up for sandwiches and perfect hot from the oven with a little butter.

Try adding a handfull of seeds such as sunflower, linseed or sesame seeds for a nutty taste, or for a healthier option use less bread flour, more wholewheat flour and a little less honey.

(Makes 3 homemade wholewheat bread loafs)

3 cups of warm water (710ml)
2 ( .25 ounce) active dry yeast (14g)
1/3 cup of honey (80ml )
5 cups of bread flour ( 685g )
3 tbs of butter, melted ( 45g )
1/3 cup honey (80ml)
1 tbs of salt ( 20g)
3 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour ( 420g)
2 tbs butter, melted (30 g)


Mix together the warm water, yeast, and 1/3 cup of honey, then add the 5 cups of white bread flour and mix again ( remember this makes 3 loaf's of bread so you do need to use a extra large mixing bowl). Leave to stand for 30 minutes, or until large and bubbly.


Add the (second) 1/3 cup of honey, butter(3tbs) and the salt, then give it a good stir. Add just 2 cups of the whole wheat flour and mix well (The dough will still feel wet and sticky at this point).

Place the dough on to a wholewheat floured surface and start to knead the dough, adding more whole wheat flour until its not too sticky (so that its pulling away from your surface but its still a little sticky to touch) This may take an extra 2 to 4 cups of flour.


Place the dough in to a large greased bowl and turn it once to coat the doughs surface. Cover the bowl with a dishtowel and find a warm place for it to rise until doubled.


Divide into 3 greased loaf pans(9x5), then push it down using your fist, this will flatten your dough a little so leave it to stand until your dough has risen again by about 1inch above the loaf pans.


Bake for about 25 to 30 minutes at 350F (175c). if you want to prevent your crust from getting hard brush with melted butter after baking.


And there you have it, homemade wholewheat bread, I hope you like it :-)