Maple oatmeal bread recipe

If you are looking for a hearty bread that uses a natural sweetener then this recipe for maple oatmeal bread delivers the fresh baked flavor you crave. The authentic flavor of maple syrup makes a wonderful sweetener for bread recipes.

Recipe ingredients:

3-1/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not the quick cooking kind)

1-1/2 cups boiling water

1/2 cup maple syrup

1 cup warm milk

2 Tablespoons active dry yeast (or 2 packages)

6 to 7 cups all purpose flour

1 Tablespoon salt

Milk for brushing loaves

To begin, cook the oatmeal in a saucepan on the stove. Pour the boiling water over the oats and keep over medium heat for about 5 minutes until oats begin to thicken. Then scrape the hot oatmeal into a big mixing bowl and stir in the maple syrup and warm milk. Next stir in the yeast and let the dough sit for about 5 minutes. You should see bubbles from the yeast as it becomes active. Gradually begin to stir in 5 cups of flour one cup at a time, using your hand, wooden spoon, or large mixer with dough hooks. At this point a soft dough will form. Put one cup of flour on your counter and turn the dough out onto it and begin kneading the dough for 8 to 10 minutes. Add the last cup of flour as you go to keep dough from sticking. The dough will become firmer and less sticky.

Once the dough is smooth and elastic, dust it with flour and put it in a large clean bowl to rise. Cover it with a clean cloth and let it rest about 1 hour as it doubles in bulk. Then punch down the dough and put it back on your floured counter. Divide the dough into two portions. Pat each piece of dough into a rectangle and then fold over in thirds. Pat into a rectangle again and then roll up to form a loaf. Pinch shut the seams along the bottom and both ends. This process for shaping bread loaves helps to reduce the size of the bubbles in the dough and create an even finely textured bread.

Grease two loaf pans and place the loaves seam side down in the pans. Cover with a cloth and allow the loaves to rise until their size has doubled. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F and before baking brush the loaves with milk. Bake them until well browned, which will take 30 to 40 minutes. Remove the loaves from their pans and cool them on a rack.

© Falbe Publishing.

Other websites from this publisher: The Fantasy Tavern - Home Canning - Halloween - Christmas - Star Trek - Dogs - Tattoos - Dragons - Swords - Global Warming