Home Bread-Bakers v121.n025.2
[Advanced]

Honey Whole Wheat Alaskan Amber Bread

Ken Vaughan <kvaughan@acsalaska.net>
Sat, 26 Jun 2021 19:25:36 -0400
v121.n025.2
Here is a bread I have been making lately that stores in the freezer 
well and has been a repeat request. I do use a scale for flour and 
dense sweeteners

400 grams is about 14 oz and in the 3 cup range. 


* Exported from MasterCook *

                  Honey Whole Wheat Alaskan Amber Bread

Recipe By     :
Serving Size  : 0     Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : 

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  400            grams  whole wheat flour -- (3-1/2 cups)
  400            grams  unbleached bread flour
  4 1/2      teaspoons  (2-1/4-ounce packet) active dry yeast -- or instant yeast
  12            ounces  Alaskan Amber ale or similar malty beer -- 1-1/2 cup
     1/2           cup  honey -- weighed 6 ounces
     1/2           cup  butter -- or margarine or shortning
  2        tablespoons  powdered milk
     1/2                teaspoons fine sea salt
                        Extra melted butter to brush finished bread loaves

Add the flours and yeast to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the 
dough hook.


In a separate medium microwave bowl, melt the butter (or margarine or 
shortning). Add the room temperature beer slowly, especially if the 
melted butter is hot. Add the honey (I weight the honey on a kitchen 
scale - 6 ounces) Whisk to mix

Add the mixed liguid ingredients to the dry igredients and slowly mix 
until the liquid and flour are mixed to a shaggy dough

Increase the speed of the mixer and allow it to knead the dough for 8 
- 10 minutes. It will form a smooth ball in the center of the 
mixer. If desired you may turn the dough out onto a floured surface 
and knead it by hand for the last 3 to 4 minutes. Form it into a ball 
and place it in a bowl that has been greased with butter. Cover it and 
let it proof for 90- 120 minutes; it should increase in size by about 
50 to 75 percent.

While the bread is rising, preheat the oven to 375F but certainly have 
it on when finished shaping the loaves.

Grease large loaf pans with butter. Medium pullman loaf pans (sans 
lid) make supurb sandwich loaves with tall straight sides. This is a 
large batch of dough and will make 2 to 3 loaves.

Punch down the dough and split into loaf portions. Use about 1-1/2 
pounds in 8-1/2 by 4-1/2 loaf pans or a 2 pound loaf into larger pan 
such as the medium pullman loaf pan. Knead the dough portions into an 
oblong shape. Place the dough seam side down in the pan and press it 
down gently.

Let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1-1/2 hour. The loaf will puff 
slightly to fill the pan and rise to about the top of the pan.

Bake the loaf for 45 minutes, until it reaches an internal temperature 
of 195F. Remove it from the oven and brush it well with the melted 
butter. Let it sit until it's cool enough to handle. Invert the pan to 
remove the loaf and let it cool completely before slicing to serve.

Loaf portions of dough can be put into an oiled plastic bag and stored 
in the refrigerator for a day or two. Allow to come to room 
temperature, form, rise and bake as above. Expect a bit longer rise 
time.

Description:
  "This soft whole wheat bread is great to have around whether you 
need a sandwich or a slice of toast. It's fine textured and soft, 
with hints of sweetness from the ale and honey. Great for toasted 
cheese sandwiches"
Yield:
  "2 Loaves"
                                    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 



NOTES : This recipe makes 3+ pounds of bread dough. The kitchen-aid 
handles it but hand knead may be required for low powered machines.

A half cup of honey (or molasses) weighs about 6 ounces on the scale, 
and pouring it to weight is much less messy than using a volume 
measuring cup. (Some light summer honey may weigh closer to 5 1/2 but 
6 seems to be an adequate bread weight).

There is no need to make the beer go flat. Right after popping it open 
at room temperature, it is beer bread ready.

A malty craft beer works best to my taste. Alaskan Brewing is the 
local brewery with some really good beers for bread. IPA beers tend to 
be too hopsy for this bread to my taste, but Alaskan Kolsch or Alaskan 
Pale Ale work well. Porter or Stout is a personal favorite but may 
overwhelm the wheat flavors for some palates.

Sliced and frozen, this bread makes great toast right from the 
freezer. It had become a favorite for grilled cheese sandwiches.

If available, sprouted spelt flour is ideal (super texture and flavor) 
in this bread. Hard to find flour!!!

Ken