Yummy Whole Wheat Bread

I am a sucker for fresh baked bread. There is nothing better than warm soft fresh out of the oven bread. I love white and wheat bread. I love that when I make bread the smell of fresh baked bread fill my whole house. I just love it! This bread is soft and tender, but still has a good hearty wheat taste to it. Add a little cinnamon honey butter and I'm in heaven!

Whole Wheat Bread

1 package (2 1/4 tsp) yeast
3 cups lukewarm water
1 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup honey
6 tbs nonfat dry milk
6 tbs butter
5 1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tbs salt
2 cups white all purpose flour

Soften yeast in 3 cups lukewarm water in a large mixing bowl of stand mixer with dough hook attachment. Add remaining ingredients and beat until dough forms a ball and leaves sides of bowl.  Continue with dough hook kneading for about 5-10 minutes. Remove beater, cover bowl, and let dough rise for 1 hour in a warm place away from drafts. Punch down and shape into 2 loaves. Place in 2 well greased 5 x 9 - inch loaf pans. Cover and let rise until almost doubled in size about 45 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until a deep golden brown. Turn loaves out onto a wire rack and cool. Brush tops with melted butter.

Recipe Source: Adapted slightly from the Lion House Bakery cookbook.

Cinnamon Honey Butter

1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup honey
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Beat butter, honey, and cinnamon together with hand mixer until creamy. Serve at room temperature.