Maple Whole Wheat Bread

My obsession with baking probably started with a Whole Wheat Bread recipe from a bag of King Arthur Flour. Although I still love that recipe, I did it just a few too many times. To reenergize my bread baking, I was on a search for a new recipe. I'm always a little wary because some bread recipes are dry or quickly become dry. However, my fears were diminished with this recipe from Recipe Girl. Below you'll fine step-by-step instructions for the bread, as well as instructions for kneading! (It's not hard, but really therapeutic.)

This method for making bread is different than the usual ones I use, in that you don't dissolve the yeast separately. You simply combine your dry ingredients, heat your liquids in the microwave and then add to the dry. Stir until a dough starts to form.

After this you can start kneading. It seems like everyone's excuse for not making bread is the kneading. Well, I'm hear to tell you it's not that hard and really it gives you time to reflect and relax. So, no more excuses, let's knead!

The above pictures show the steps of kneading.

• Step 1 (Top Left Picture) - Find a seam in the dough. It should magically appear. If not, simply hold your dough from the top, or vertically.
• Step 2 (Top Right Picture) - Form your hand into a fist.
• Step 3 (Middle Left Picture) - Punch dough in the center of the seam.
• Step 4 (Middle Right Picture) - Fold dough in half
• Step 5 (Bottom Left Picture) - Pick up dough and find new seam. Start all over by punching in the middle of the seam and folding in half. Continue until dough is desired texture.

If this is too confusing, take a look at my kneading video. Let me know if you have any questions. Once you figure out kneading, the rest is really simple and fun!

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 cups bread flour
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 2 1/4 tsp instant yeast

• 1/8 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 + 1/3 cup water (Just in case that's confusing, add about 0.83 cups of water or 1/2 cup plus 1/3 cup)
• 1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 2 tbsp Earth Balance buttery spread

Instructions

Mix all dry ingredients from first column in large bowl.

Heat all liquid ingredients from second column in medium sized microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for about one minute. The liquids should measure around 105 degrees Fahrenheit.

Add heated liquids to dry and mix until a dough forms. Once formed, knead for 5 minutes. Oil your bowl and return completed dough. Allow to rise for one hour.

After first rise transfer dough to cutting board and roll into a 10 x 12 inch rectangle. Then roll the loaf up into a log. Transfer to a greased 9 x 5 loaf pan. First place in seam side up. Then invert and place seam side down. Allow to rise an additional hour or until loaf rises above pan.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake loaf for 20 minutes. Check to see if dough measures 190 degrees. If not, cover loaf with aluminum foil and bake an additional 5 minutes or until dough measures 190 degrees.