Honey Oatmeal Bread

As you have probably guessed, I LOVE BREAD!!! I love to make all different kinds, experiment with different techniques. When a loaf doesn't turn out quite nice, I make french toast out of it so it is a win-win situation. This recipe is a great sandwich bread. Nice high rise, light and fluffy texture. All around great bread. It isn't soaked but I am going to experiment with it and see if I can turn it into a soaked recipe.
In the meantime, enjoy this tasty lil' gem!

HONEY OATMEAL BREAD

4 1/2 Tsp. Active Dry Yeast
1/2 C. Honey (Raw is best)
4 Tbsp. Butter
2 1/4 C. Water
1 Tbsp. Real Sea Salt
2 C. All Purpose Flour (I had Bread Flour so that is what I used)
4-5 1/2 C. Whole Wheat Flour (I used Hard White Whole Wheat)
1 C. Quick Cooking Oats
1 Egg

In a saucepan, combine the butter and honey. Stir over medium high heat until butter is melted. Add water and stir. Take off heat and check to make sure that it is very warm but not too hot to touch (if it is, just let it set for a few seconds to cool down a little). Add yeast and let sit until it is nice and foamy ( about 10 minutes).

While the yeast is getting foamy, combine salt, 2 c. whole wheat flour and 1 c. bread flour in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix it up. Add the yeast mixture and stir on low just until blended. Increase speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes, scraping down bowl as needed. Beat in the egg and then add 1 c. wheat flour. Beat for another 2 minutes. Stir in oats, 1 c. wheat flour and 1 c. all purpose (or bread) flour. Use the mixer to knead the dough until it cleans the sides of the bowl and looks smooth and elastic. Add more flour if needed. (Depending on the weather, I add anywhere from 1/2 to 1 c. extra flour). Grease a large bowl and place dough in it, flipping it over to grease the top. Cover and let sit in a warm place for an hour.

Punch down dough, flip it over and let it rise again, covered, for 15 minutes. Divide dough in half, shape into loaves and place in greased bread pans.

Put them in a warm place for about 35-40 minutes to rise for the last time. Bake at 350 for 35 or so minutes.

Enjoy with some butter. Gobs and gobs of butter!

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The Prairie Homestead
The Way Grandmama Does It
Frugally Sustainable