100% Whole Wheat and Honey Bread



It is the fag end of autumn here. Trees and bushes are laden with flowers. Air is nippy and nights are cold. It feels nice and light to have a few slices of bread and hot soup for dinner.

A glimpse of Autumn in garden
 We decided on baking a whole wheat bread with honey. Honey gives mild sweetness and a great flavour that is subtle . The bread requires a good amount of kneading. One can use a bread machine, but, I  knead the dough with my hands, an activity I find very relaxing. After a rigorous kneading session, I realized that the dough was a little hard (perhaps due to honey). I added some more water and kneaded again. It took about 10 minutes for the dough to reach the desired softness and elasticity.


The bread needs only one rise. It has a lovely flavour of honey and hence, the name 100% Whole Wheat and Honey Bread.



It requires a lot of muscle power to knead the dough but is worth giving a try. 


The slices are soft and mildly sweet. Enjoy with a generous lashing of butter and honey or with peanut butter. 

100% Whole Wheat (Atta)  and Honey Bread

Ingredients


  • 2 cups Whole Wheat Flour
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 2 ¼ teaspoon instant dry yeast
  • ½ cup of warm water
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 1 tablespoon  oil (any neutral oil will do)
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions


  1. Add instant yeast to warm water, and cover for 15 minutes.
  2. Whisk whole-wheat flour and salt. Add oil, and mix well.
  3. Add honey and milk to the water-yeast mixture.
  4. Knead the dough with the above ingredients. While kneading the dough, add liquids gradually kneading well after addition. The dough will feel very hard initially, keep kneading for 10 minutes till it becomes smooth and supple. (You might require some more water than the quantity specified)
  5. Grease one 8  x 4    inches loaf tin.
  6. Roll the dough into a rectangle no wider than the loaf tin you are using.
  7. Roll the dough towards you, tightly. Pinch seams to seal. Place the roll in the greased loaf tin with the seam side down. Cover and keep it for 1 hour or till the loaf becomes double its size.
  8. Bake in a preheated oven at 190 degrees for 25-30 minutes or till the bread becomes brown and the bottom of the tin sounds hollow when tapped.
  9. Cover with a foil if the top is browning too fast.
  10. Remove from the oven and remove from the tin after 10 minutes.
  11. Cool and slice it the next day.

Notes:

Use flour with a fine grind. I used Aashirwad Select
Add liquids gradually. you may have to add a tablespoon or two of extra warm water.
Knead well. Knead for about 7 to 8 minutes. Rest, and knead again for 3 to 4 minutes.





21 comments:

  1. Think of those muscles that you are developing Namita! ;). Seriously though this bread, as always, looks really scrumptious. We have been having very wintery weather here for about a week now and I had soup last night for my tea. I might have to rustle this loaf up and have it again :)

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  2. That loaf looks so perfectly shaped. I like the fact that you have added in honey in it and that it is 100% wholewheat! Yet another healthy bread treat to your family Namita! Lovely... Been a while since I baked... Hopefully something this weekend :)

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  3. So perfect . Will definitely make this and let you know.

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  4. This looks so amazing and to know that it is super healthy is such a bonus. Lovely texture and easy to follow recipe.

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  5. Looks so perfect... u are a great bread baker

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  6. Whenever i want to make bread, i know your blog is the only place to find the perfect receipe.. Never fails to bake the perfect bread..Thanks to you Namita for making it so simple and so good...

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  7. Hello Veronica,
    Thanks for your motivating words. I love baking breads and it becomes all the more special when my friends try out my recipe and write to me. How can i get in touch with you?

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  8. Hey which brand of yeast do you use. This looks amazing

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    Replies
    1. Hi, I use instant dry yeast. My brand is "Four Seasons"

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  9. Hi namita tried making tge bread but mine has come out dense....whr have I gone wrong

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    Replies
    1. Hello Aakanksha, You have gone wrong no where. This is wholewheat bread. The crumb is dense. My bread was also dense. I guess you can make out from the pictures. However, if you want a lighter crumb, try 50% all-purpose flour and 50% whole wheat flour. Hope you are happy with your results next time. Happy Baking!

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  10. Hi Namita, Thankyou so much for such an easy and amazing recipe. I tried it yesterday and came out perfect!! Just a query, the size of the bread was much smaller than our usual bread loaf, and then I read your post which says you halved the ingredients. Could you plz tell me the measurements using 3 cups of wheat flour??

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    Replies
    1. Hello Laxmi, Nice to hear from you. I am so happy that your bread came out well. Yes, this is a small loaf. To make bread from 3 cups of whole wheat flour, add about 3/4 cup warm water, 1 1/2 teaspoons of olive oil, 1 1/2 teaspoon salt, 3 1/2 tablespoons honey. Quantity of yeast will remain the same. Dough will take longer to rise. Use 8x4 inch bread pan.
      Laxmi, I hope this helps. Please keep me updated about your bread baking :)

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  11. Hi
    Can i use this same recipe for 8 by 4 pan
    Also if i am using active dry yeast what quantity should I use? Also i can mix water honey and active yeast?
    Thanks:)

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    Replies
    1. Hello Suk,
      This will give you a good loaf when baked in 8x4 inches pan.
      If you are using active yeast, the quantity will remain the same. Yes, mix warm water and honey. Add yeast. Let the yeast bloom. Rest of the procedure will be the same. Happy Baking!

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  12. hallo maam , i want to try this bread,
    using 3 cups as mentioned in one of the reply ; milk will be 1/4 cup right? can i reduce the yeast quantity? thanks

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    Replies
    1. Hello Santhala, Yes milk will be 1/4 cup. You may increase it to 1 cup and decrease the qauntity of water likewise. You may reduce the quanity of yeast. The dough will take longer to rise. Happy Baking!

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  13. 1 cup is 120 GM's?

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    Replies
    1. Yes, approx 120 grams. Happy Baking!

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  14. Can honey be replaced with jaggery powder..if yes would there be change in the quantity of liquid

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    Replies
    1. Yes, absolutely, honey can be replaced by jaggery. There will be not much change in the quantity of liquid. You may add a tablespoon or two of water if the dough feels dry.

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