Mile High Multigrain Bread

Fitness Guru's Note:

A very fluffy bread that is sure to please. I developed this recipe through trial and error until I perfected it. Leave the loaves in their pans to cool for 10-15 min after they cook and the bread will slide right out.

• Total Time: 2 hrs 35 mins
• Prep Time: 2 hrs
• Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients:

Serves: 36

Yield: 2.0 Loafs & ...

• 2 3/4 cups hot water
• 1/3 cup olive oil, any oil is fine
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 2 tablespoons instant yeast
• 4 cups multi-grain flour
• 3 cups all-purpose white flour
• 1 tablespoon of melted butter

Directions:

1. Place the first five ingredients in the bowl and mix.
2. Add: 2 cups multigrain flour. (to cool the water and end up with warm dough).
3. Add: 2 cups of multigrain flour and 2 cups of white bread flour.
4. Mix until the consistency is somewhat even.
5. Then continue to slowly add white bread flour 1/2 Cup at a time until the dough quits sticking to the sides of the bowl. It should be tacky to the touch.
6. The trick is to have enough consistency to stand up with the least amount of flour so the bread will be fluffy.
7. When your dough is finished, leave it in the mixer, cover the bowl and let it rise for about 10 minutes. The dough will rise a bit but it doesn't need to double.
8. Grease two bread pans and a 8x 8 pan for buns with Spray Pam. You do not need to flour the pans if you let the bread cool for 10 -15 min in their pans after they have cooked.
9. Mix the dough again just enough to knock it down.
10. Drop the dough on a floured surface so you can work the dough and shape it. Shape it with your hands to make a nice ball. This can be a little tough if the dough is stick. I will often butter my hands to stop the dough from sticking so I do not have to add to much flour and make the dough tough.
11. Divide the ball in 3 balls, two larger balls and one slightly smaller. The two larger balls become loaves and the smaller ball become 12 little dinner rolls.
12. Shape and drop the loaves ( I often braid the loaf) in your bread pans and shape the buns and place in 8x8 pan and let them rise until almost doubled, about 1 hour. Bake the he loaves in a preheated oven at 350 for 35 minutes. If you forgot to preheat let them cook 40 minutes instead. The buns cook for 20 min in the preheated oven.
13. Take out of oven and brush melted butter on to the tops. Let cool in pan for 10-15 min then turn the bread out of the pan and onto a rack to cool completely. Don't wrap it until completely cooled. (Condensation will make it soggy) Wrap in tinfoil to store on the counter. If you put it in the refrigerator it will turn into a brick.

Reviews

[wicked cook 46]

I used not quite hot water since I was a bit fearful that it would kill the yeast. I cut the recipe in half and had a nice sized loaf. Nice and light with a great crust. Made for PAC Fall 2009