100% Whole Wheat Bread for the Bread Machine

Recently, I was inspired by a loaf of bread I saw on Kalyn's Kitchen. Her recipe was for 100% Whole Wheat Bread with all sorts of healthy stuff added in and made in a bread machine. I wanted to make it right away.

Small problem. My pantry is usually well-stocked with ingredients, both common and uncommon. I had the exact flour she used, as well as the oats, bran and flax seed. What I didn't have on hand were vital wheat gluten and dough enhancer, probably because I can't buy them around here. I know. I checked again, just to make sure.

So, after a lifetime of living without immediate access to many of the things I want, I went to Vermont! I was surfing the King Arthur Flour website and had both items in my basket and ordered in no time. All that was left was patiently waiting for the UPS man to bring the order to my door.

But I grew impatient. Soon I was back in the kitchen,flipping through my files for a whole wheat bread machine recipe without the missing ingredients. The one I found did not have the all the additional healthy ingredients, but it called for regular 100% whole wheat flour, which I liked. What the heck, I decided, and hauled the bread machine out of the cabinet.

The wait continues for the King Arthur order but, in the meantime, I've made a great loaf of bread. I will admit that the top of the loaf collapsed at some point during the baking, but I don't think it had any negative effect, other than appearance. In fact, I kind of like the moist, dense loaf of bread I ended up with. A little trimming of the crispy edges around the top and it looked just like the square loves of very thinly sliced Pepperidge Farm Whole Wheat - one of my favorites for calorie counting and tea sandwiches. Mine also has the sweet, nutty flavor of whole wheat and none of those scary ingredients from most commercial loaves.  It toasted nicely and held up to juicy sandwich ingredients.

Thanks to Kalyn for the inspiration and I will try her recipe as soon as my groceries are delivered from Vermont. In the meantime, here's my take on a simple, delicious whole wheat bread machine recipe. I think I'll try it again with the Vital Wheat Gluten, Dough Enhancer and a bit more yeast next time, just to see if it will hold the rise through baking. All in all, my simple loaf of whole wheat bread is delicious consolation while I wait.

Guess I won't be putting the bread machine away for a while.

100% Whole Wheat Bread
1 1/2 cups water
2 tbsp. powdered milk
2 tbsp. margarine
2 tbsp. honey
2 tbsp. molasses
1 1/2 tsp. salt
3 1/3 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 tsp. yeast

Follow the instructions for the bread machine for adding ingredients to the baking pan. Insert the baking pan into the oven making sure it is locked in place securely. Program bread machine for a 2-pound loaf of whole wheat bread. Press start. Follow machine instructions to remove and cool bread. Store bread in a plastic zip bag.

This is a moist dense loaf of whole wheat bread and it is sturdy enough for toast and regular sandwiches. It can also be sliced very thinly, similar to Pepperidge Farm Very Thin Whole Wheat Bread, making it perfect for cucumber and other tea sandwiches.
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