Buttermilk Wheat Bread

By Bostoncook

Recipelink

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup water, very warm
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup cracked wheat
• 2 1/4 cups white bread flour

Preparation

Step 1

1. Proof yeast in water with a pinch of sugar.

2. Heat buttermilk to lukewarm, combine with yeast, oil-salt. Stir in baking soda, wheat flour and cracked wheat. Beat until smooth, then add white flour, until you have a soft dough. Turn out onto floured surface and knead, adding flour to keep from sticking, about 10 mins. Put into greased bowl, let rise until doubled, about 1 1/2 hours.

3. Punch down and let rise again until doubled.

4. Shape into 2 loaves, put into sprayed 8" pans. Let rise until doubled.

5. Bake at 375 about 40 mins.

Notes: You can leave the crust plain, or egg wash it and sprinkle with sesame or other seeds.

This was Fantastic! Really easy and delicious and made for a wonderful, hearty bread with a nice crunch. Substituted cornmeal for cracked wheat, just because I didn't have any. A favorite so far!