Whole Wheat Bread

I like whole wheat bread but sometimes the end result is a heavy and dry bread with a bitter taste. This recipe made up into a bread that is light and slightly sweet with great flavor. It is especially yummy toasted with peanut butter. I make bread by hand, but you can easily put this into a mixer and use a dough hook to knead it.

Honey Whole Wheat Bread
printable recipe

2 1/2 tsp. yeast dissolved in 2 T. warm water
3/4 C warm water
1/4 C orange juice
1/4 C olive oil
1/4 C honey
3 C white whole wheat flour
1 1/4 tsp. salt

Dissolve the yeast in a bowl and add the warm water, orange juice, olive oil and honey. Mix salt and 1 C. of white whole wheat flour together. Mix into the liquids. Gradually add the additional flour until the dough is soft and pliant; not sticky. More or less flour may be used. Knead the dough using scant amounts of regular all purpose flour until the dough is smooth and elastic. Place the dough in an oiled bowl. You can cover and let rise if your kitchen is warm. If it isn't, warm your oven to 190-200 degrees and turn off. Place the bowl in the oven. Let rise until doubled. Remove and form into a loaf and place in a loaf pan sprayed with nonstick spray. Cover and let rise again. Bake for 40 minutes at 350 degrees. Remove the loaf from the oven and the pan and cool on a cooling rack. Spray the top with a nonstick spray or brush with oil. If you desire a soft crust, cover the loaf with a towel while it cools. Leave uncovered for a crispier crust.

Slightly adapted from King Arthur flour classic 100% whole wheat bread