100% Whole Wheat Bread (Autolyse Method) / 100% Whole Wheat Bread (Vegan)





It takes a lot of experience and some failures to learn some aspects of baking. Baking bread is a great experience, a source of happiness that comes from accomplishing a task you love. It is a rewarding experience.


I love everything about the whole wheat bread. From hearty texture, earthy taste to the good feeling that comes when baking with wholegrains.
Wholegrain bread tends to have a dense and heavy crumb and the slices crumble and break while slicing.
However, with a slightly different approach, it is possible to get a light and airy crumb.


Recently we baked a 100% whole wheat bread with autolyse method.  Autolyse is a technique developed by Raymond Calvel. He has been called the teacher of bread teachers and is considered to be an expert on French bread.
Autolyse is a simple process. Just combine flour and water in a bowl and mix until no dry flour remains. Do not be tempted to knead. Simple cover the bowl and leave it in a warm place for 20-30 minutes to 3 hours. During the resting phase, gluten development begins and simple sugars start to form as starch is broken down. Autolyse is best described as a resting period between mixing and kneading.


Autolyse can be easily introduced into baking with whole grains. And it delivers a dough that is easier to work with and shape and gives a loaf better in texture, rise and flavor.


While adding water, adjust quantity according to need. Quality of whole wheat flour varies. a coarser flour requires more water. Weather conditions also differ from place to place. In a cold climate, you require more water. Besides following the recipe, there is an equal amount of intuition required to really hone your baking skills.


100% Whole Wheat Bread


Ingredients



  • 3 1/3 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1 ¼  cup water (at room temperature)
  • ¼ cup unrefined sugar or brown sugar (powdered)
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 ¼  teaspoon instant dry yeast
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • ¼ cup water for kneading

Instructions

For Autolyse

In a large bowl combine whole wheat flour and 1 ¼ cup water. Stir well so that the water is absorbed and no pockets of dry flour remain. Cover and keep for 2 to 3 hours to hydrate the flour. 

Dough

  1. After the resting period add salt, sugar, and yeast and knead for 8 to 10 minutes till dough becomes soft and gluten is well developed. You may take a break in between kneading. It is very important that all the ingredients are uniformly incorporated and the dough becomes smooth.
  2. Drizzle oil and 3-4  tablespoons of water and knead further. Stretch the sides and pull it to centre. Repeat the stretch and fold method for another 5-6 minutes. By the end of kneading the dough should feel wet, sticky and elastic.
  3. Transfer the dough to a greased bowl. Cover and keep to rise for 1-2 hours (depending upon the warmth of the kitchen) until double in volume, puffy and light.
  4. Grease one 8 ½ x 4 ½ inch loaf pan. Dust with flour.
  5. Punch the risen dough. Transfer the dough onto the kitchen counter generously dusted with flour. Roll out the dough into a rectangle no wider than the loaf pan you are using. Roll the dough towards you tightly. Pinch seams and sides to seal.
  6. Transfer the shaped loaf into the prepared pan. Cover and let it rise until double. Poke with the finger, if the dough is firm and springs back immediately, it needs more time to rise. If the shallow impression remains,  the dough is ready.
  7. By the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 180 degrees C.
  8. Bake for 45 minutes or until golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped at the bottom.
  9. Remove from the oven after 5 minutes. Remove from the pan and cool on the rack.
  10. Slice when cold.

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71 comments:

  1. How do I use yeast ? Could you please guide!

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    Replies
    1. Geeta, I recommend that you use instant dry yeast for this recipe. Just add it to dough after autolyse.

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    2. I have 9x5 pan. So wait till the bread reaches the top of the pan. One more question. How much to knead with a dough hook in a machine. Thanks.

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    3. Hello Uma, 9x5 inch pan is quiet big. Do not wait for the bread to rise upto the top. Just wait for the dough to double. You may not get a tall loaf. Knead with a dough hook until the dough begins to leave the sides and comes together as a cohesive mass in the center. Hope this helps. Happy Baking!

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  2. Hello
    Can i use the same recipe in 8 by 4 pan??

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    Replies
    1. Yes Suk, you can use 8x4 inch pan. Happy Baking!

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  3. Would love to try the bread . Inlove your we chocolate cake with Choco chips . I have fresh yeast. Do I need to ferment it or use directly? Ans what quantity. Thank you in advance.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Anagha, thank you for your kind words. I have never used fresh yeast, But it is really easy to use. Please check out this - https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/techniques/using_fresh_yeast

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  4. Is there any alternative of yeast?

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    Replies
    1. Nupur, yeasted bread will have yeast. If you don't have yeast, Irish Soda Bread would be great to bake. There are some recipe on my blog. Please check the recipe section.

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  5. I don't have a loaf pan and neither do I have a parchment/butter paper. How do I bake a bread? Can I use a glass borosil pan instead?

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    Replies
    1. Hi Bijal, do you have a round or square cake pan? you may bake it like focaccia. Or shape it as a boule (round loaf). Grease and sprinkle your baking pan with flour so that it may come out easily. My latest bread is shaped as a boule (German Easter Bread)

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    2. A borosil loaf pan would be great to bake a bread.

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  6. What role does milk play in breads ?
    I understand that this is a vegan bread so you didnt use milk or dairy products...but will it be same texture as one having milk ??

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    Replies
    1. Hello Poonam, breads with milk turn out to be softer and sweeter. Texture however is the same. I do have a milk bread recipe on my blog.

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  7. 1/4 cup sugar won't be too much? Can you please tell flour in gms?

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    1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  8. Hey nice and easy recipe ,,,but wat do I do if the instant dry yeast is not available?

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    Replies
    1. Hello, you may use active dry yeast instead. You will have to activate it before using.

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  9. Veena Katiyar4/13/2020 1:29 am

    Hi,
    Please let me know the size of your 1 cup in ml? Thanks!!!

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    Replies
    1. Hello Veena, I use the standard 240 ml cup for all the recipes.

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  10. Hi ,
    Please let me know size of your 1 cup in ml. Thanks!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello! I use the standard 240 ml cup for all the recipes.

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  11. Baked this last nigh and on gas . Came out well. Thank you.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you trying this recipe Anagha. And its really appreciable that baked the bread on gas. I need to learn this.

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  12. Hello Binu, so happy that you got a good loaf. Thanks for the feedback.

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  13. We r using room temperature water so how will yeast activate?

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    Replies
    1. Hello! we are using instant dry yeast here. Instant dry yeast can be added to the recipe directly without activating. If you are using active yeast, be sure to activate it first and then add to the recipe.

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  14. Can we use milk in place of water in this recipe?

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    Replies
    1. Hello! Yes you can use milk. Boil the milk first. Let it cool. Then proceed. Happy Baking!

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  15. Hi dear. Wanna try it out but can it be done with out yeast

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    Replies
    1. Hello, This is a yeast bread. You cannot bake it without yeast. However, breads without yeast are called quick breads. You can find some on my blog. Please check the recipe section.

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  16. Hello namita...the is for sharing this. I always struggle with wwf but this came out superbly except for the cracks on top. Any particular reason why cracks develop?? Thanks again

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    Replies
    1. Hello Namrata, I am so happy that you tried this recipe. Hope you kneaded the dough well. While shaping into a loaf, did the skin on top show cracks? Also may be the dough was a bit dry and required a teaspoon or two of water.

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  17. Baked this yesterday... It was my first perfect light whole wheat bread... Thank you so much for the recipe

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for sharing your experience Prameetha. I am so happy that your bread came out well.

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  18. Hi, whats the quantity of active dry yeast to use for this and will the quantity of water be the same?
    Also, you have mentioned that 1 cup flour is approx 113gms, but your cup isze is 240ml?could you please clarify? Thnaks.

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    Replies
    1. Hello! Use the same quantity of active dry yeast as mentioned in the recipe. Activate it before adding to the dough. I use 240 ml cup and I cup atta would be approx 125 grams.

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  19. If dough is loose then whether we should use dry atta or oil?

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    Replies
    1. Hello! If the dough is very wet, add some flour to get the desired consistency.

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  20. I just made bread with this recipe. Been making bread for last 2-3 years but today's bread is one of my best. Thank you for this awesome recipe. Whole wheat was always hard, but today's loaf is amazingly soft. All that kneading takes effort but worth every bit. Thank you, Namita.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Priyanka, your feedback made my day😊. I am so happy that you liked the bread.Thank you for trying out this recipe and sharing your experience.

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  21. Hi.. U said 1 n 1/4th cup of water we have to add in flour.. N whn to add d 1/4th cup water which u have written last? Sorry bit confused

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    Replies
    1. We start with 1 1/4 cup water for autolyse. Now after autolyse when you knead the dough with all the other ingredients, the dough will feel hard. Now use the reserved 1/4 cup water. You may use all or you may require a tablespoon or two.

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  22. Ma’am can autolyse method be used in making buns/pav too?

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    Replies
    1. Absolutely. You can use this techique in all the yeasted bakes that use wholegrains.

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  23. Hello ma’am,
    I have a few queries. I have only baked bread once so far and I’ve been asked to practice with apf mixed with wwf. Can I use a little quantity of apf in this recipe? Also, I have a 250 ml cup and my wwf measures around 165 gms in that cup. So am I to measure 120 gm as per your recipe? Thank you!

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    Replies
    1. Hello, apologies for replying late as I am in a signal zone in the hills. If you wish to try this recipe, just go ahead with whole wheat flour. And use your 250 ml cup for all the measurements.
      However, I have a recipe for the beginners. Kindly scroll through the recipe section and search under "Breads"

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  24. Also, 1/4 cup sugar will not make the bread too sweet will it?

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    Replies
    1. 1/4 cup sugar may seem on the higher side but after fermentation, the bread comes out to be just mildly sweet. Yeast eats up the sugar.

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  25. Hello! Does whole wheat flour mean atta that u use for roti?

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    1. Yes, it's the same flour we use for making roti. Try the finer flour. I use Sharbati atta for most of the whole wheat breads.

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  26. Can i mix the whole wheat flour with the quick oat? What should i do? Thanks

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    1. Hi! Yes please go ahead. I would suggest that first you try plain Bread first. Add oats in the second. Oats will make the crumb dense.

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  27. Isn't 2 1/4 TSP of yeast too much..would like to understand that the proportion of yeast to flour.

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    1. Geetanshu, 2 1/4 tsp yeast is enough to raise 3 to 4 cups of flour. If you take less yeast, bread will take longer to rise. If the yeast is more in quantity, the bread will rise faster. Less yeast and longer fermentation period gives a flavourful loaf.

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  28. Also, would like to understand how much to reduce the flour, if I want to use a 7*4 pan

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    Replies
    1. I suggest that you reduce 1 cup in all the ingredients and take 2 tsp of yeast.

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    2. Hello Geetanshu, halve all the ingredients. You will be able to bake a small loaf.

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  29. Hello Ma'am,
    I have active dry yeast so inorder to activate it, can you tell how much water & sugar is needed? Also whether the quantity of water used to mix the dough initially would have to be reduced? (otherwise the total water used will be on higher side)

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    Replies
    1. Hello Aparna, apologies for replying late as the signals are poor in the hills. Aparna, i suggest that you use instant dry yeast for this recipe as we need 1 1/4 cup water for autolysing the flour. we may need a tablespoon or two while kneading. Now if we use 1/4 cup water to activate the yeast, either autolyse will not happen properly, or, if we use extra 1/4 cup we will end up with a very wet dough. So i suggest that you use instant dry yeast. You may try my basic one rise whole wheat flour recipe with active dry yeast. Happy Baking!

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  30. Hemadri Soni7/11/2020 4:35 am

    Hello! I will trying this as my first bread recipe. Can you please tell me if i can use dough hook on my hand mixer for step 1? Thanks!

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  31. Hi Namita! Can you clarify those last few steps? Bake for 45 mins. Got it. But then remove from oven after 5 - what does that mean? (Mine is currently in the oven. Very excited!) thanks!

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    1. Hello Jackie, sorry for the late reply. After the timer chimes and your bread is done, let it be in the oven for 5 minutes. Then remove it and cool on the rack.

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  32. Hi Namita, today first time i baked whole wheat bread with your recipe. Turned out super soft and excellent bread. I used little less yeast, salt and sugar. It was perfect bake.
    Thanks so much for ur Autolyse recipe.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for trying the recipe and sharing your feedback Anju. Hope you bake more breads from the blog and share your feedback :)

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  33. If using a bread maker how do I do the autolyse method. Never done this before. Or do I need to with using bread maker I don't have a stand mixer and like using my bread maker.

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  34. Hello! Does breadmaker give an option of mixing flour and water and letting it rest? Autolyse makes a lot of difference. How about making dough with hands?

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  35. Just tried this. It is similar to the dark bread served in nice restaurants in the USA. Thank you- I really wanted a recipe with Atta. Excellent!

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  36. Hi.. if using kitchen aid for kneading for how much time should we knead and at what speed??

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