This post is for my friend (and cousin-in-law) Anna because I still have not had a chance to show her how to make bread! I went for years wishing that I could make homemade bread, but never tried it because it seemed too hard and time-consuming. Then, I finally broke down and bought a bread maker. But every loaf I made came out tough and overcooked. So the bread machine sat in my cupboard for another couple of years before I finally tried to do it by hand.
And it was surprisingly easy! Here are my step-by-step instructions for making homemade white wheat bread:
You will need the following ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon plus 1-and-half teaspoons active dry yeast (or two 1/4-ounce envelopes)
- 2-and-1/4 cups of 110-degree water
- 3 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons honey (I use a local clover honey)
- 4 tablespoons melted organic unsalted butter (plus more for bowl, pans and brushing)
- 5 cups organic white all-purpose flour (700 grams)
- 1 cup organic white wheat flour (140 grams) (but you could use another cup of white flour if you prefer)
- 2 tablespoons coarse salt (I use Hawaiian red sea salt)
1. Warm water in the microwave or on the stovetop to 110 degrees. Sprinkle yeast into 1/4 cup of water. Whisk in 2 teaspoons of honey until the yeast dissolves. Let sit for about 5 minutes or until it foams.
2. In a large stand mixer bowl, combine yeast/water mixture with melted butter, remaining 3 tablespoons honey and remaining 1-and-3/4 cups water.
3. In a separate large bowl, whisk salt with flours. Add 3 cups of flour/salt mixture to yeast mixture and mix on low speed with a dough hook. Add remaining 4 cups of flour/salt mixture (1 cup at a time) and mix until dough comes away from sides of the bowl.
4. Knead dough on a surface covered with flour for about 5 minutes or until smooth and elastic (it will still be a little sticky).
5. Shape the dough into a ball and put in a large buttered bowl. Cover the bowl with a hand towel and let stand in a warm place (I use the microwave) for about 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.
6. Remove dough from bowl, punch it down and divide in half.
7. Shape each dough half into a rectangle that is about 1/2-inch thick and about 9 inches long. Fold the long sides of the dough into the middle and press to seal. Put each dough half (seam side down) in a buttered loaf pan.
8. [alternatively] If you would rather have rolls, divide each dough half into 12 pieces. Shape each piece into a ball and place the balls into a buttered muffin pan.
9. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Brush each loaf (or each roll) with melted butter. Cover with a towel and place in a warm place for about 45 minutes.
10. Reduce oven temperature to 450 degrees. Bake until tops are golden brown (about 20 minutes).
11. Let cool slightly before removing from pans and placing on wire racks. Let cool completely before slicing.
And that’s it! Happy baking!