Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread Recipes

WHOLE WHEAT SANDWICH BREAD RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk the water, honey, and yeast. Let sit for 5 minutes, until the yeast has bloomed.
• NOTE: It may be tempting to use all whole wheat flour in this recipe, but, in our testing, that method resulted in dense, tough, squat breads that barely rose when we tried to proof them. Using some all-purpose flour was necessary to give us the rise and soft, pillowy texture we wanted in a good sandwich bread.
• Pour in the wheat flour, all-purpose flour, oil, and salt, and mix until the dough comes together in a ball that does not stick to your fingers.
• NOTE: You can also do the first 2 steps in a standing mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment, mixing on low speed until the dough no longer sticks to the sides.
• On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough a few times until it really starts to form a tight ball.
• Form the dough into a ball shape and transfer to a greased bowl, turning the dough to coat it in grease. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a wet towel and store in a warm place for 1 hour.
• Allow the dough to proof until it has doubled in size. Save the plastic wrap or towel as you'll be using it again.
• Transfer the proofed dough to a lightly floured surface and press the dough - don't stretch - into a 7x7-inch (18x18 cm) square.
• Fold the top 3rd of the square down, and the bottom 3rd up to form an even rectangle. Pinch the top fold to seal the dough.
• Roll the dough over so that the seal faces upward and fold both ends up toward the center, so that the dough has formed an even log shape about the size of your loaf pan.
• Transfer the dough to a greased loaf pan and cover with with the same plastic wrap or towel used before.
• Let the dough rise for 1 hour, until it has poofed over the edge of the loaf pan about 1½ inches (4 cm).
• Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
• Remove the plastic wrap or towel and transfer to the oven and bake for 50-55 minutes, until the dough has browned slightly and formed a light brown crust.
• Immediately remove the loaf from the pan and set aside to cool for at least 1 hour before slicing.
• Store in an airtight container or bag. The bread can be stored in freezer up to 6 months.
• Enjoy!

50% WHOLE WHEAT SANDWICH BREAD

Steps:

• Make dough starter (sponge):
• In bowl of stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, whisk together water, honey, whole-wheat flour, and 1/2 teaspoon yeast until very smooth, about 3 minutes.
• In medium bowl, whisk together "Better for Bread" flour, milk powder, and remaining 3/4 teaspoon yeast. Sprinkle mixture over whole-wheat flour mixture (sponge) in bowl of mixer to form blanket on top of sponge. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let stand at least 1 hour, preferably up to 4 hours. (Starter can be made ahead and refrigerated, tightly covered with plastic wrap, overnight. There is no need to bring starter to room temperature before proceeding.)
• Mix dough:
• Attach dough hook to stand mixer and mix starter on low (#2 on Kitchen Aid) until rough dough forms, about 1 minute. Scrape down sides of bowl, then cover tightly with plastic wrap and let dough rest 20 minutes. Add vegetable oil and mix on low until incorporated, about 30 seconds. Add salt and mix on low until dough is smooth, sticky enough to cling to fingers, and pulls away completely from bowl, about 7 minutes. If dough is not sticky, using spray bottle, spray with small amount of water and briefly knead by hand just until sticky.
• First Rise:
• Using vegetable oil or nonstick vegetable-oil spray, lightly oil 3-quart or larger bowl (or dough-rising container). Transfer dough to bowl and lightly oil or spray top of dough. Using tape, mark outside of bowl to approximately double current height of dough. Cover container tightly with plastic wrap and let dough rise in warm place (75°F to 80°F, see Chef's Notes) until doubled in size, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• Using oiled dough scraper or spatula, transfer dough to lightly oiled work surface.
• Gently stretch bottom of dough and fold up to center, then repeat with left side, right side, and top. Round dough package then transfer to bowl, smooth side up, and lightly oil or spray top of dough. Using tape, mark outside of bowl to approximately double current height of dough. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let dough rise in warm place until doubled in size and depression holds when pressed gently with fingertip, about 1 hour.
• Shaping dough and final rise:
• Transfer dough, smooth side down, to lightly floured work surface and press gently to flatten to about 1/2-inch thickness. (Dough will still be slightly sticky but use only as much flour on work surface as absolutely necessary to prevent sticking.) Lightly coat sheet of plastic wrap with vegetable oil or nonstick vegetable-oil spray. Cover dough with oiled plastic wrap and let rest 20 minutes.
• Lightly coat loaf pan with vegetable oil or nonstick vegetable-oil spray. Using fingertips, dimple dough all over to eliminate air bubbles, then shape into rectangle about twice size of loaf pan. Fold right-hand-side of rectangle over to just past center, then fold left-hand-side over to meet right-hand-side. Roll down top edge of dough, using thumbs to push dough down and away from you. Continue rolling until you reach bottom then use thumbs to press and seal bottom edge. Transfer dough to prepared pan (dough should fill pan to 1/2 inch from top). Lightly coat sheet of plastic wrap with vegetable oil or nonstick vegetable-oil spray and gently cover pan with oiled wrap.
• Let dough rise in warm place until highest point is about 1 1/2 inches above sides of pan and depression very slowly fills in when pressed gently with fingertip, about 1 hour. Using razor or thin sharp knife, make 1/2 inch deep lengthwise slash along top of bread.
• Bake bread:
• While dough is rising, position rack near bottom of oven and top with baking stone or heavy baking sheet. Set aluminum-foil-lined cast-iron pan or heavy rimmed baking pan on floor of oven and preheat oven to 450°F for 1 hour.
• Using spray bottle, spray top of dough with water. Quickly transfer bread to hot baking stone (see Chef's Notes) and add 1/2 cup ice cubes to pan beneath.
• Bake bread, rotating pan 180 degrees halfway through, until top is golden brown and skewer inserted in middle comes out clean (instant read thermometer inserted into center will register about 205°F), 40 to 50 minutes. Transfer bread from pan to rack to cool completely. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• Chef's Notes:
• •Dough rises best around 75ºF to 80ºF. If your house is on the cold side, you can set a container of very hot tap water near the rising dough and cover the dough and the hot water with a large plastic container or bowl-you will need to reheat the water every 30 to 40 minutes. Alternatively you can place the dough (and the small container of very hot water) in a microwave oven (not turned on!) or a standard oven without a pilot light, but with the oven light turned on to provide gentle heat. •If you want to make this bread over a 2-day period, you can refrigerate it overnight after the first rise. Once it has doubled in size (first rise), gently press the dough down in the bowl, then cover with plastic wrap that has been lightly coated with vegetable oil or nonstick vegetable-oil spray and refrigerate. The next day, bring the dough to room temperature at least 1 hour before shaping and baking the loaf. Keep in mind that the time in the refrigerator replaces the second rise so there is no need for a second rise. •For proper texture, it's important for the bread to get a blast of heat as soon as it goes into the oven. For this reason, the oven needs to be preheated for a full hour, and it's important not to let too much heat escape when you put the bread in. When transferring the dough to the oven to bake, be sure to shut the door quickly.
• THE DOUGH PERCENTAGE
• flour: 100% water: 70.6% yeast: 0.8% salt: 1.8% oil: 5.5%

SOFT WHOLE WHEAT BREAD

Steps:

• Place the warm water in a large bowl and sprinkle the yeast on top. Set aside for 5 minutes to allow the yeast to proof.
• Add the honey and butter.
• Blend in 2 cups of the flour and the salt until moistened. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes.
• Stir in an additional 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 cups flour, until dough pulls away cleanly from the sides of the bowl.
• Knead on floured surface, adding 1/2 to 3/4 cup additional flour, until dough is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.
• Place dough in large greased bowl and cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let rise in warm place until doubled in size, 30 to 45 minutes.
• Lightly mist a 9x5-inch loaf pan with non-stick spray.
• Punch down the dough and shape it into a loaf.
• Place in prepared pan, cover loosely with greased plastic wrap, and let rise in warm place until doubled in size, 30 to 45 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Uncover dough, and bake 40 to 45 minutes or until loaf sounds hollow when lightly tapped.

CLASSIC 100% WHOLE WHEAT SANDWICH BREAD

Steps:

• In the bowl of a standing mixer, combine warm water, yeast, and sugar. Stir until grains dissolve and let sit for 10 to 15 minutes until puffy.
• In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour and salt (and vital wheat gluten). Add flour mixture to standing mixer. Add your butter and egg soon after. Mix on low with a dough hook until dough pulls away from and cleans the sides.
• Turn dough out onto lightly greased surface and shape into a round. Transfer to lightly greased container. Cover and let rise until double, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Turn dough out onto lightly greased surface and punch down dough. Shape into a sandwich loaf and transfer to a lightly greased 9"x 5" bread pan. Cover and let rise until the dough reaches above the edges of the pan.
• Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit (176° Celsius).
• Bake for 20 minutes. Remove loaf and tent with aluminum foil.
• Bake for another 20 to 25 minutes. Bottom will sound hollow when thumped. Internal temperature will read 200° Fahrenheit (93° Celsius).
• Turn out onto a wire cooling rack and let cool completely before slicing and serving.

EASY WHOLE GRAIN SANDWICH BREAD

Steps:

• Add the water to a liquid measuring cup and add the yeast and honey. Stir to combine and set aside for a few minutes.
• To the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, or to a large mixing bowl (if you plan to make the bread by hand), add the milk, oil, egg and salt and whisk together until combined.
• Add the yeast mixture to the milk mixture and add the flours and multigrain mix on top (you can soak the multigrain mix for a few minutes in hot water first, if you want, but be sure to drain it well before adding. This step is not necessary).
• Stir everything together well until a dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface if making by hand, or knead the dough in your stand mixer with the dough hook attachment until the dough is smooth and elastic.
• If making by hand, flour your hands and begin the kneading process. When kneading bread dough, always start by putting your hand under the edge of the dough farthest away from you and pulling it up and toward you. Then, push it down and away from you, and into the rest of the dough. Keep repeating this motion while turning the dough 90 degrees clockwise every few kneads. It's also important to scoop up the doughy and floury bits on the counter and knead them into the dough as well. The goal is to end up with a smooth and elastic ball of dough.
• Add as little extra flour as possible when kneading, but continue kneading for about 5-10 minutes until the dough is very smooth and elastic. Under-kneading is a very common problem when making bread by hand and it results in loaves that are rock hard on the outside, too dense on the inside, and don't get enough height in the oven. It's almost impossible to over-knead bread when you're kneading by hand because it's such hard work. So if you think you've kneaded long enough, keep kneading for at least another few minutes.
• Return the dough to its bowl, cover it with plastic wrap and let it rest in a warm, draft-free place until it doubles in size (about 1 hour and 20 minutes should do).
• Once the dough has risen, grease 2 loaf pans with butter and set them aside.
• Flour your hands again and punch the dough down until it deflates completely. Divide the dough evenly into 2 pieces and let them rest on the counter for about 5-10 minutes before shaping into loaves. This will make the shaping process easier as it allows the gluten to relax and makes the dough softer and easier to work with.
• After letting it rest, shape the dough into a rectangle (with the short end about the same length as the long side of your loaf pan).
• Fold one short end into the middle and press with your fingers to seal.
• Fold the other short end into middle and press with your fingers to seal.
• Pinch the sides and pull them in slightly.
• Flip the whole thing over and tuck the ends under again. Place the loaf into the greased loaf pan.
• Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the shaped loaves in their pans under a clean tea towel (I have a few I reserve just for this purpose) and let them rise for 25 minutes.
• Check them after 15 minutes, to make sure they haven't over-risen. If they're ok, wait at least another 10 minutes before checking again. They should be larger but not so large that they're overflowing the pans.
• This second rise is very important. If the loaves under-proof they'll be dense and chewy. If they over-proof, they'll have large holes (especially right under the crust) and they'll fall apart easily.
• Bake the loaves at 400 degrees for about 20-25 minutes. Because every oven is different, watch the loaves after 18 minutes to ensure they're not becoming too brown on top.
• Let the loaves cool in their pans for about 5 minutes before turning them out onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
• As always, the loaves will continue to bake on the inside even after you've removed them from the heat of the oven, so it's important to resist the urge to cut into them until they have cooled almost completely.

WHITE WHOLE WHEAT HOMEMADE SANDWICH BREAD

Steps:

• Microwave milk to between 95°F and 110°F. Add in yeast and 1 Tbs of sugar, stir and let sit until yeast is foamy and bubbled on top. About 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt butter and set aside. Measure white whole wheat flour and 5 ounces (about 1 cup) of bread flour into a bowl of a stand mixer* with the salt and remainder of sugar.
• When yeast/milk mixture is ready, add it to the flour mixture with the melted butter. Fit stand mixer with a dough hook and turn on to medium speed until dough comes together in a sticky shaggy dough.
• Begin adding remainder of bread flour 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time until dough pulls away from sides of bowl.
• Lightly flour a clean work surface and your hands, and turn dough out onto surface. Begin kneading by pushing down and out with the palms of your hands. Rotate and fold and repeat. The dough will become less sticky as you knead, simply flour board and hands if dough sticks too much to handle, but do not over flour.
• Knead until dough is smooth and elastic, but slightly tacky. Grease a large bowl with a little bit of butter (or oil) and form dough into a ball. Place in bowl, rotate it to coat all sides with grease, and cover with plastic wrap. Rise until doubled, 45 mins to 1 hour.
• Get loaf pan ready by a lightly floured work surface. Turn dough out onto surface and gently press into a rectangle the same length as your loaf pan, and about 6 inches wide. Try to keep the dough even thickness.
• Roll dough up from the long edge, keeping it tight. Place dough into the loaf pan and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise until peeking up over the edge of the pan, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
• After 35 minutes, preheat oven to 350°F. Check dough at 45 minutes, dough should fill out the pan, and when gently touched have a bit of resistance, but not feel dense. If needed let rise longer. When ready, brush top of loaf with reserved milk.
• Place in oven on middle rack and bake for 35 minutes.
• Remove from oven, and carefully remove from loaf pan immediately onto a cooling rack. Allow to cool completely before slicing or storing.
• Store in a plastic bag in a cool cupboard for up to 5 days. When slicing use a sharp serrated knife.

WHOLE WHEAT BREAD FROM « BAKING WITH JULIA »

Steps:

• Pour ½ cup of water into the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer fitted with a dough hook and add the yeast and honey. Whisk to blend and allow the mixture to rest until the yeast is creamy, about 5 minutes. Combine flours. Add the remaining 1¾ cups water, the oil, malt extract and about half of the flour mixture to the yeast. Turn the mixer on low to mix the flour and mixing on low add the rest of the flour. Increase the speed to medium beat until the dough comes together. Add up to 2 tb more flour if the dough does not come together. Add the salt and continue to beat and knead at medium speed for about 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic. You can also mix the dough in the machine for half that time and knead by hand on the lightly floured surface for 8 to 10 minutes. The dough will be a tad sticky even after proper and sufficient kneading. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and shape into a ball. Place in a large oiled bowl. Turn the dough around to cover with oil and cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and let the dough rest at room temperature until it doubles, about 1 ½ hours. Oil or butter two loaf pans (8 ½ by 4 ½). Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured work surface. Divide the dough in half and shape each part into a rectangle to fit into the loaf pans. Cover the pans with an oiled plastic wrap and allow them to rise at room temperature until they double in size growing over the tops of the pans, about 1 hour. While the breads rise, centre a rack in the oven and preheat to 375 F. When the breads are fully risen bake for about 35 minutes, or until they are golden. You should get a hollow sound when you rap the bottom of pan. Remove the loaves from their pans as soon as they come from the oven and cool the breads on racks.