Whole Wheat Bread
Any basic bread dough can be made into many tasty variations limited only by your imagination. Why not try Marilyn's Whole Wheat Bread recipe for a basic bread dough and fashion it into pizza, cinnamon rolls, bread sticks, onion cheese bread, etc?
WHOLE WHEAT PIZZA
Use approximately one loaf of bread dough(1 1/2 pounds dough) for each pizza crust. If you are not baking the crust on a Pizza Stone, you will be much more successful if you pre-bake the crust for 6-8 minutes, and then cover it with toppings of your choice. Be sure to have all your toppings ready, or wrap and freeze pizza crusts for future meals.
CINNAMON PULL-APARTS
Pinch dough off into walnut size balls. Dip in melted butter and then roll in cinnamon sugar mixture (1T cinnamon to 1/2 C. sugar or sucanat). Place balls in layers, at least two layers or one-half to two thirds full), in a regular loaf pan or bunt pan. Let rise until doubled in bulk, bake at 350� for 20-30 minutes.
CARAMEL NUT PULL APARTS
Make caramel sauce by melting 1/4 cup butter, 1/2 Cup brown sugar, and 1/2 C. maple syrup in a saucepan, add 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans if desired. Pour this mixture into the bottom of a bundt pan or 9X13" baking pan. Place walnuts sized pieces of dough in layers in the pan. Let rise until doubled, bake at 350� for 20-30 minutes.
MOCK RYE BREAD
For each loaf of bread, cut in 1 T caraway seed and 1 tsp. anise seed.
BREAD STICKS
Roll 1/2 Cup portions of dough into finger-thin ropes and cut to the desired length. Brush with melted butter. Sprinkle with a desired topping: Parmesan cheese, garlic salt, or powder, Italian Seasonings, sesame seeds, etc. Place the "sticks" onto a lightly greased baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Let rise 10-15 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees for 18-18 minutes.
ONION CHEESE BREAD
For each loaf, knead in 1/4 cup chopped onion (or reconstituted minced onion) and 1/2 C. grated, sharp, cheddar cheese. Proceed with regular rising and baking.
CINNAMON-RAISIN BREAD
Knead in 1/2 cup raisins and 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans plus 1 1/2 tsp. cinnamon.
GARLIC-HERB PARMESAN BREAD
For each loaf, add 1/3 cup parmesan cheese and 1 tsp. garlic powder or more to taste, and 1 tsp. of herb of choice (optional).
JALAPENO-RANCH SHARP CHEESE
Add 1/2 Cup grated sharp cheese, 2 TB ranch salad dressing mix, and 2 chopped fresh jalapeno peppers.
ONION HAMBURGER BUNS:
Add 1 TB onion powder. Roll to slightly less than 1/2 inch thickness and cut with a can about 4 inches diameter. (Cut out both ends for air to escape) If desired, moisten the top of buns and sprinkle with onion flakes before rising. Bake 18-20 minutes at 350�.
ONION-DILL
For each loaf, add 2 slightly heaping tablespoons of dried onion flakes (or 1 TB onion powder) and 2 tsp. dill weed.
DRIED TOMATO AND ROSEMARY BREAD
For each loaf, add 3 TB snipped dried tomatoes, 1 tsp. crushed rosemary, and 1/4 tsp. paprika.
CINNAMON ROLLS WITH APPLE FILLING
In a medium mixing bowl, combine 2 C. finely chopped or grated apple, 1/2 C. raisins or dates, 2 T honey or brown sugar, 2 tsp. cinnamon or apple pie spice, dash of salt. For each loaf of bread, roll out the dough into a 12 X 18 rectangle, spread the apple mixture over the dough, roll up tightly, seal the roll, and cut rolls into 3/4-1 inch slices with dental floss.
Ingredients
- 1/3 C honey
- 1/3 C oil
- 2 1/2 C Warm Water
- 1 1/2 TB Saf Instant Yeast
- 2 1/2 tsp Real Salt
- 6-7 C Fresh whole wheat flour
- 1 1/2 TB Dough Enhancer or wheat gluten
Preparation
Step 1
Combine the warm water, yeast, and 2 Cups of fresh whole wheat flour in a large mixing bowl. Allow to sponge for 15 minutes. Add the honey, oil, dough enhancer, salt and 4-5 C (12-16 C if using the Mix N Blend or (Bosch) additional flour until the dough begins to clean the sides of the mixing bowl. Do not allow the dough to get too stiff (too dry). Dough should be smooth and elastic. It is a common mistake for the beginning bakers to add too much flour.
Knead the bread by hand 7-10 minutes or until it is very smooth, elastic, and small bubbles or blisters appear beneath the surface of the dough. Six to ten minutes of kneading by electric mixer (Use speed 1 on the Bosch Universal, and use speed 4 on the Mix n Blend - or use the Auto-Knead function) should be sufficient to develop the gluten if you are using fresh flour. If you are kneading by hand, be sure to add the minimum amount of flour to keep the dough soft and pliable by using a tsp of oil on your hands and kneading surface.
Form the dough into 2 loaves if using the hand method or 5-6 loaves if using the Mix N Blend or Bosch Universal, method. Place the dough into greased loaf pans. Allow to rise in a slightly warmed oven or other warm place until doubled in size (about 30-60 minutes).
Bake loaves for 25-30 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Bread is cooked through when it sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom, and when the top and sides are a golden brown color.