Whole Wheat Bread

hisfavoritemavis's Note:

I got this recipe from someone a lot healthier than me. It substitutes a date (or honey) and applesauce for the sugar. While being healthier, it also gives it the bread a wonderful, soft texture. This recipe was originally for a bread machine. I just doubled it and make it with my stand mixer. So if you want, feel free to chop it in half and throw it in your machine.

• Total Time: 3 hrs
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 2 hrs 30 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 6

Yield: 2.0 loaves

• 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 tablespoons applesauce
• 2 dates (softened) or 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 cups hot water
• 2 -4 tablespoons oil
• 2 -4 tablespoons gluten flour (optional)

Directions:

1. Pour the hot water over the honey/date and applesauce (the cold applesauce usually cools it down to the right, mediocre temperature). If using the dates be sure to mash them up. Sprinkle the yeasty beasties on top and let sit.
2. Mix a couple cups of flour with the rest of the ingredients, add yeast mixture, and proceed to add the rest of the flour, a cup at a time.
3. Knead (or let your Kitchen Aid do all the work).
4. Cover with plastic wrap. Let rise for an hour.
5. Punch down. Form into two loaves and place in greased loaf pans. Cover in plastic again and let rise for 45 minutes.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
7. Dump out, brush tops with butter (for a softer crust), and let cool on racks.
8. Or, chop this recipe in half and toss it in your bread machine on "quick".

Reviews

[lazypanda]

I am very happy to be the first to review this bread recipe! The recipe is almost perfect, but the salt needs to be greatly reduced or omitted completely. I found that it made the bread taste funny, and it doesn't need it at all. This recipe has so many good things about it with the apple sauce and the whole wheat and the honey, that I think it will be perfect saltless. I'm going to try baking this bread again today, omitting the salt, and see how it tastes. I want to make note that the oil I used was Coconut oil, which turned out great for this healthy bread. I also used a breadman machine by cutting the recipe in half, and put the liquids on the bottom, solids on the top. I am hoping after today when I make it that it will taste sweet.