Amish Soft Honey Whole Wheat Bread

I've been looking for a soft all whole wheat bread, and I finally found it! This is in an Amish cookbook that I have, and I am writing it as it is written. I mix it with my KitchenAid. :) This is our sandwich bread that we have all the time on hand and the recipe can easily be cut into 1/3 to make just one loaf. :) 10/8/07 Corrections made to make bigger loaves. I usually use How to Rise Yeast Dough in a Cool or Drafty Kitchen to have a great rise.

• Ready In: 3 hrs 30 mins
• Serves: 60
• Yields: 3 loaves

Ingredients

• 3  cups warm water (110-115 degrees)
• 1  teaspoon sugar
• 2  tablespoons  yeast
• 3  eggs
• 3⁄4 cup honey
• 3⁄4 cup  Crisco (I use butter flavored)
• 2  tablespoons salt
• 11 -12  cups whole wheat flour
• 4  tablespoons wheat gluten (optional)

Directions

1. Mix water with yeast and sugar and let sit until foamy (about 10 minutes). In the meanwhile, put the 3 eggs (in the shell) in a bowl of hot water (to bring the eggs to room temperature).
2. Put flour, salt, and gluten in bowl.
3. Pour in yeast mixture and stir until combined. Add in honey, eggs, and crisco until combined, scraping sides. (I usually use an egg beater for this).
4. Add more wheat flour and knead until smooth.
5. Let set in warm place for about an hour until double in size.
6. Divide into 3 loaves. Let rise again in warm place until doubled (about 1-1/2 hours).
7. Bake as regular bread (I bake about 35 minutes at 375 or until the interior of the bread is 190 degrees using electric thermometer if you have one).
8. Enjoy!