This is my favorite recipe for a simple homemade bread. I also use this recipe to make my hotdog and hamburger buns.
Honey Wheat Bread
(makes 2 loaves or 16 hot dog buns or 12 hamburger buns)
Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat flour
3 cups all-purpose flour (plus more if dough is sticky)
2 tsp kosher salt
6 tbls oil (I use avacado oil but you can use olive oil as well)
1/4 cup honey
2 cups lukewarm water
3 tsp active dry yeast
1 egg (for egg wash)
Directions:
Add the water, honey (stir to dissolve) and yeast to the bowl of a stand mixer. Let sit for 10 mins to make sure the yeast activates and blooms.
Add the whole wheat flour and start. Using the dough hook attachment start the mixer. While the mixer is on gradually add the oil.
Gradually add the all-purpose flour until fully incorporated and the dough forms a ball and cleans the sides of the bowl. (You may need to gradually add a little extra flour if the dough is sticky.) You can let the mixer kneed the dough for you (about 5 minutes) or you can hand kneed (about 10 minutes).
Grease a large bowl. Form the dough into a ball, place in the bowl, roll the dough around so it gets a light coating of oil, cover the bowl with plastic wrap or tea towel and place in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size. Depending on how warm your room is this could take a little longer.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Punch down the dough and divide into two equal halves. Line two loaf pans with parchment paper. Shape the dough into a loaf shape and place in the pans.
Optional: Make an egg wash by beating one egg together with 2 tsp water. Brush the top of the bread with the egg wash before baking. This will give the bread a lovely, shiny brown top.
Bake for 45 minutes. (For hot dog buns and hamburger buns bake 30 - 35 mins) Remove the bread from the pans by picking it up with the parchment paper and cool on a wire rack. But of course you do not have to wait for the bread to cool to enjoy!
