Oatmeal Applesauce Bread

By MJH

This light and moist bread is both healthy and delicious. Perfect for sandwiches and for snacking.

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup lukewarm water
• 1 Tablespoon active yeast
• 3 Tablespoons honey or molasses
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 3 Tablespoons canola oil
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 cup freshly ground spelt flour
• 1 cup unbleached white flour, plus more as needed
• 3/4 cup rolled oats

Details

Adapted from simplebites.net

Preparation

Step 1

In a large bowl, sprinkle yeast over warm water and stir to dissolve. Stir in sweetener.

Stir in applesauce and spelt flour and beat well to form a thick batter. Cover bowl and allow batter to rise for 45 minutes.

Sprinkle salt and oil over batter and gently fold in, being careful not to cut through the dough.

Fold in oatmeal and additional unbleached flour (about 1 cup, or more as needed) until dough comes away from the sides of the bowl.

Keeping dough slightly sticky, knead on a lightly floured surface until dough is smooth, about 10 minutes.

Place dough in a large greased bowl and cover.
Let rise until doubled in size, about 50 minutes.

Punch dough down and let rise until doubled again, about 40 minutes more.

Shape loaf and place in greased pan.
Let rise 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Sprinkle loaf lightly with rolled oats, if desired, and bake for 1 hour or until golden brown and hollow sounding when tapped lightly.
Remove from pans right away and cool on wire rack.