Honey Wheat Bread

My husband makes the BEST bread. I think this recipe turns out better than the honey wheat bread from the local bakery. We usually eat a loaf right out of the oven - good thing it makes three!

Ingredients:

• 3 cups warm water
• 2 pkg. dry yeast (approximately 1/4 oz.)
• 1/3 cup honey
• 5 cups bread Flour
• 3 Tbsp. butter, melted
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 Tbsp. salt
• 3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 Tbsp. butter, melted

Directions:

Mix water, yeast, and 1/3 cup honey. Add 5 cups of bread four; stir to combine. Let rise for 30 minutes until big and bubbly.

Mix 3 tablespoons butter, 1/3 cup honey, and salt into the dough. Mix in 2 cups whole wheat flour. Flour flat surface and knead dough into whole wheat flour, adding more flour as you go. You will knead in an additional 1 1/2 cups of wheat flour, or so, before the bread is tacky rather than sticky.

Place in a greased bowl turning once to coat both sides of dough. Cover with dishcloth and let rise in warm place until doubled (we use oven set to 125 degrees F).

Punch down dough and divide into three loaves or rounds. If making loaves, put dough in 9x5 inch loaf pan. Place back in warm oven and allow to rise until dough has topped the pans by 1 inch.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes. Lightly brush tops of loaves with 2 tablespoons melted butter when done to prevent crust from hardening.

Note: It is important that you use bread flour as it contains extra gluten, which helps the yeast do their thing, resulting in an airy loaf of bread.

Source: www.allrecipes.com

By Stephanie from Hillsboro, OR