Oatmeal Wheat Bread

Oatmeal Wheat Bread

Yields: 2 Loaves

2 cups milk

1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (not quick-cooking) plus additional for topping if desired

1/2 cup warm water (105-115°F)

2 Tbsp active dry yeast

1/3 cup mild honey

1 Tbsp molasses

1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, melted and cooled, plus additional for buttering pans

5 cups white whole-wheat flour

1 tablespoon salt

Vegetable oil for oiling bowl

1 large egg, lightly beaten with 1 tablespoon water (optional)

Special equipment: 2 (8- by 4-inch) loaf pans

Heat milk in a 1 1/2- to 2-quart saucepan over low heat until hot but not boiling, then remove pan from heat and stir in oats. Let stand, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until cooled to warm.

Stir together water, yeast, and 1 teaspoon honey in a small bowl; let stand until foamy, 5 minutes. (If mixture doesn’t foam, discard and start over with new yeast.) Stir yeast mixture, melted butter, molasses and remaining honey into cooled oatmeal.

Combine ingredients in stand mixer with wooden spoon, then knead with bread hook 5-7 minutes.Form dough into a ball and transfer to an oiled large bowl, turning to coat. Cover bowl loosely with plastic wrap and a kitchen towel; let rise at warm room temperature until doubled in bulk, 1 – 1 1/2 hours.

Lightly butter loaf pans. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead several times to remove air. Divide dough in half and shape each half into a loaf, then place 1 loaf in each buttered pan, seam side down, tucking ends gently to fit. Cover loaf pans loosely with a kitchen towel and let dough rise in a draft-free place at warm room temperature until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F. If desired, lightly brush tops of loaves with some of egg wash and sprinkle with oats. Bake until bread is golden, 35-40 minutes. Run a knife around edge of pan to loosen. Remove bread from pans and transfer to a rack to cool completely, about 1 1/2 hours.

Bread keeps, wrapped in plastic wrap at room temperature, 4 days.