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Friday, July 30, 2010

Beginner's Whole Wheat Batter Bread



From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...This is the first yeast bread I was taught to make. I was twelve years old at the time and learned this technique in the kitchen of a neighbor. It is a perfect beginners bread because it truly can't fail, though it does require a stand mixer or a very strong arm to make that miracle happen. This recipe makes a very wet dough that is not kneaded or shaped into loaves. The mixer does all the work. The shaggy dough is dropped into a bread pan and you can, if you wish, smooth the top a bit. Times have changed. When I first made this bread the whole wheat flour on the grocer's shelves was still called graham flour and yeast came in small cakes. I clearly remember we had to use molasses as a sweetener because honey was not yet generally available to folks living in the city. This bread has surprising flavor, a wonderful crumb and it makes great sandwiches. It can also handle the addition of nuts or seeds if you like them in your bread. It stays fresh for several days if it is wrapped and kept at room temperature. If you are new to bread baking, or have a young daughter who is interested in learning how to make bread, this is a wonderful starter recipe. It makes a lovely bread and those of you who try it will be pleased with the loaf you produce. Here's the recipe.

Beginner's Whole Wheat Batter Bread...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients
:
1-1/2 cups warm water
2-1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 tablespoons honey or molasses
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons room temperature butter

Directions:

1) Place water in bowl of an electric mixer. Add yeast and honey or molasses. Stir to combine. Let sit for 5 minutes.
2) Set mixer to low speed. Beat in 1 cup whole wheat flour, 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, salt and butter. Increase speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes, scraping sides as needed. Reduce speed to low to add reserved 1 cup whole wheat and 1/2 cup all-purpose flour. Beat just until combined. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit in a warm spot until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
3) Stir dough down by beating for 25 strokes with a wooden spoon. Spread dough into a greased 9 x 5 x 3-inch bread pan. Cover loosely with a flour rubbed dish towel and let rise until dough rises to top of pan, about 1 hour. A floured towel is used to prevent dough from sticking to it. Do not use plastic wrap. Dough will stick to it and deflate when wrap is removed.
4) Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Bake bread in center of oven until it is browned and sounds hollow when tapped, about 30 minutes. Cool in pan for 25 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely on a wire rack. Yield: 1 loaf.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Blueberry and Lemon Batter Bread - One Perfect Bite
Stout Batter Bread - How to Eat A Cupcake
Four Grain Batter Bread - Safely Gathered In
Old Virginia Batter Bread - Foodista
English Muffin Batter Bread - Baking Bites
Whole Grain Oat-Wheat Batter Bread - More Than Tofu
Parmesan Herb Batter Bread - Adventures with the Woods

82 comments:

  1. Sometimes the simplest recipes are the best. I loved hearing how you first began baking bread, and I imagine that you've brought this wonderful practice into many people's lives. Thank you for sharing all that you do with me!

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  2. This recipe looks great. I moved at the beginning of the summer and not a single loaf of my bread has worked out since then! I'm hoping that that maybe this recipe you suggest will work in this climate! I'm going to try it sometime this coming week. Thanks for the recipe!

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  3. we must keep this tradition of bread making going, for man has lived on the grains since the beginning of time...there's no culture without bread...

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  4. Bread looks gorgeous and fabulous..

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  5. This sounds so easy I must give it a try. Have a great day. Diane

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  6. Missed few of your recipes, will checkmit again. This bread is different, looks so good. Next time will follow this method.

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  7. your recipe is tempting me to giv a try immediately...keep up d great work dear.

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  8. Did I just read "a daughter that is interested in baking"???

    why you sexist thing you. Real men bake and bake often (we just need more help and advice).

    Seriously, the 2 to 1 ratio of whole wheat to white flour has not worked for me. Mine comes out too tough, to chewy. But it does make great French toast.

    As always, love to hear the stories behind your recipes.... How soon are you off to the mysterious east?

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  9. I love making bread, but I haven't the strength in my arms; so I use my bread machine to do the work and bake it in the oven. I will try your recipe soon.
    Rita

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  10. I can't wait to make my own bread. And whole wheat is even better!

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  11. Mary...I'm as much a beginner as anyone. I have yet to adventure myself out into the world of bread baking. I do hope one day to dedicate myself to this art.
    In the meantime...I will bookmark this one so that it will hopefully be a successful encouragement for me to keep doing it.

    Ciao for now and flavourful wishes,
    Claudia

    P.S. I had added your Thai fish cake patties on my post ;o) They looked so tasty ;o)

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  12. I will make this, I already have everything I need! Thank you for the easy recipe, I've been making the Artisan Bread in 5 Mins a Day for a couple years now but they aren't a sandwich type bread. I'm also forwarding this to my son, he makes bread every once in a while too!

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  13. This look really nice. For bread I am a real fan of easy recipe.

    all the best

    Alessandra

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  14. This is a wonderful recipe. I make a very similar bread but I add some wheat germ. Easy and wonderful. Makes perfect toast.

    Have a great weekend.

    Carol

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  15. Mary, this bread looks fabulous, something I could make often for slice bread.

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  16. A really tempting simple recipe to try! But I have no idea when I will give myself a chance to start learning baking, LOL :D

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  17. Mary - This bread looks beautiful!! I've been looking for a good whole wheat bread recipe, thanks for this one! Can't wait to make it!

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  18. I like the idea of this bread Mary. I have gotten away from baking bread and maybe I need to make this to ease back into the mindset. Thanks for sharing.

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  19. I love home made bread-the smell is just divine! I might try this before it starts to get hot again! I can't believe Summer is arriving soon here and Winter is approaching in your part of the world!

    Best wishes for a wonderful weekend,
    Natasha.

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  20. Perfect timing Mary!! A friend's little girl asked me to cook with her scout troop- we will add this to the agenda. Thank you!!
    xoxo Pattie

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  21. I am imaginging the wonderful aromas coming from my oven now.

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  22. Mary, I am sure you know how fortunate you are to have learned to cook and bake at a young age. I ewas much, much older when I attempted my first loaf of bread. I do want to try this recipe.

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  23. Mary, I am sure you know how fortunate you are to have learned to cook and bake at a young age. I ewas much, much older when I attempted my first loaf of bread. I do want to try this recipe.

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  24. This bread looks simple and delicious! I love that there is no kneading involved, I seem to not have perfected that in my kitchen just yet! The third (first being bacon, second being onions and garlic) best smell in the kitchen is baking bread! Yum! Thanks for sharing.

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  25. I love homemade bread but have not baked many loaves. This looks and sounds easy enough that I should give a try. I know my family would love it!

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  26. Great bread! Gonna bake it because I should get better in bread baking.

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  27. you know, I am going to try your recipe, since my whole wheat breads do not get those rounded tops...maybe it is because I only use whole wheat flour alone...Will give it a try, thanks!

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  28. This is so easy to make. I love all no-knead recipes. They make life so much easier.

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  29. Oh, God above, if heaven has a taste
    it must be an egg with butter and salt,
    and after the egg is there anything in
    the world lovelier than fresh warm
    bread and a mug of sweet golden tea?

    —Frank McCourt, Angela’s Ashes (1996)

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  30. A beautifully baked whole wheat bread! Perfect crumb and crust!

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  31. I've taken to making my own bread whenever I can, and freezing it for when I need it. This looks like a lovely, healthy bread for days when one wants to keep things simple!

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  32. Great click.
    It shows how fabulous your bread recipe is.
    Wishing you a great weekend ♥

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  33. Looks like a nicely fluffy crumb.

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  34. The bread looks fantastic. There is nothing better than homemade bread!

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  35. Mary, I love this recipe. It's so nice to have a no fail go to bread. Graham flour sounds like a nice addition as well. It's amazing how quickly things change, isn't it?

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  36. Sounds like a good bread for beginners. I also started making my first loaf at 12 :)

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  37. wow, I can make a yeast bread now. Thanks for sharing this easy-peasy recipe

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  38. Good for me....as still I am not able to take the challenge to bake a bread.....thanks for sharing...

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  39. Mmmmm..the smell of home made bread! It looks beautiful.

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  40. Thanks for visiting my blog, Mary. I'm so glad you found me and I'm excited to comb through your recipes! Bread terrifies me, so I admire those who can make it happen. You certainly make it sound doable, though. Maybe I'll have to get over my fear.

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  41. Mary, your bread looks delicious! I've made many kinds but never whole wheat which is my favorite. This is a must try and thanks for the recipe!

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  42. I spend a fair amount of tie looking for my next favorite bread recipe...if you've been making this for so long it must be amazing!

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  43. Fantastic recipe, I can't wait to make it!!

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  44. Mary, I admit to not being a bread maker however, your recipe has inspired me. I am going to try this ASAP.

    Carolyn/A Southerners Notebook

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  45. I love this! I learned a whole wheat roll recipe called Braue's when I was in my 20's. It was kind of a health food recipe. Perhaps you've heard of it. And it was a real chore to make! This looks delightful! Not only do I appreciate your wonderful recipes and pictures, but the personal touch of your stories makes your posts seem like chapters in the book of a food critic. I forgot to ask you how you found me? Was it From A Writer's Kitchen?

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  46. This looks like a fabulous recipe. I haven't made bread in months!

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  47. love the look of this... I've only recently started baking bread and it really has made a huge difference to our lives...the smell alone makes me a happier person... funnily enogh I just made a rye dough this afternoon and forgot I had it proving in the airing cupboard and your post reminded me! he he ! it's very well risen now so should be lovely and airy when i take it out of the oven... you can read about it on my blog tomorrow x

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  48. Mary, another beautiful loaf of bread. This looks easy enough for me to try since I'm a little apprehensive about wheat flour. This would be wonderful for sliced bread in our home.

    Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

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  49. Thank you for this post! I will have to try it!

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  50. Bread looks amazing..thanks for sharing this recipe..Have anice weekend..tk care!

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  51. I love homemade bread--especially RIGHT out of the oven. YUM! YUM!
    Sounds easy.

    HAve a super weekend.

    Melinda

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  52. I think that I may be able to handle this bread recipe! My husband always eats his sandwiches on whole wheat bread. I will be trying out your recipe. Thank you for sharing.

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  53. I like this recipe is easy and the bread is fabulous.
    Blessings.

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  54. I started laughing as soon as I saw what the post was about. I don't do bread. Of any kind. Even my husband would agree on this. Then, I read the recipe....hmmm, I just might be able to do this one. I can't wait for cooler weather to try all these new recipes (I really am miserable in the heat but I love cooking in cool/cold weather). Thanks very much for this one! Have you ever heard of pan bread? My mom made it and it was delicious....

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  55. I love this post. I am starting to learn to make bread. I will definitely be using this one...in your honor. I will link back to you when I post it. :D

    Carmen

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  56. I am not a beginner, but I was a beginner a little over a year ago. Since that time I've made many, many different breads, but I attribute my willingness to even try to make homemade bread to the very first whole wheat bread that I made with success. It's such a wonderful feeling to make your own first loaf.

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  57. Hi Mary, I began making bread weekly last winter and it was so wonderful to have fresh european loaves available. I love that this looks to be a softer bread. Now I have recipes for two distincly different loaves. I am taking your work for it that this bread is a winner. I have followed you long enough to know that if you like it I will too.
    Thanks for sharing.
    ~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

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  58. Mary, how did you know that my young ones want to learn how to make bread? This recipe looks easy enough for them to master.
    I'll let you know how they fare!

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  59. Wonderful recipe, even if you're not a beginner. I like recipes that start with "Beginner's" or "no fail." It usually means that it'll turn out ok! Thanks for sharing!

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  60. mary thats a very good idea of sharing such a simple beginners bread recipe. the bread looks so delicious and just like a stor bought one

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  61. This is exactly what I need! I have had multiple fails trying to make yeasted bread so I need a little baking confident booster :) Great recipe!

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  62. Mary, just knowing this is the first bread you ever made makes me want to try it! It looks simple and delicious.

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  63. That is surely the most perfect looking loaf of bread! Yum.

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  64. Mary, I'm back again to tell you that I made this bread yesterday and it was so easy! I am sitting here at my computer eating a piece of crunchy toast. It is delicious.

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  65. I love how this was handed down to at an early age from a neighbor. Remember when you truly knew all your neighbors? I am going to giveit a whirl and who knows - maybe I can pass this down... to a neighbor child!

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  66. This bread looks wonderful! I do, however, have a slight bone to pick. I plan to teach my son, as well as any daughters I may have, to bake bread and enjoy the kitchen as much as I do.

    Just sayin'...

    Thanks! :)

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  67. Perfectly baked bread,looks so delicious..

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  68. That does look really good Mary. I havent made bread since Spring. So hot! I miss my homemade bread. This one is definitely on my to do list.

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  69. I think bread making is therapeutic. It's so much fun!

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  70. Can I use a hand mixer for this?

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  71. I saved this recipe in my "must make" folder. It has been a long time since I've baked whole wheat bread, and Mary, you have just given me the push that I need. Thank You!

    Enjoy your evening.
    ~Judy

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  72. It seems like learning to make bread can be a useful skill. Your recipe sounds like an easy one to get started with. Great recipe.

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  73. I recently got interested in learning how to bake bread and came across your recipe. I tried it out today and it turned out beautifully! Thank you so much for sharing!

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  74. I'm making this right now! Will let you know how it turned out (:

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  75. I'm currently in the process of creating the bread from this recipe! Just put the dough outside to rise so I am very excited, this looks like a fantastic recipe & this is the first time I've ever made bread so I am really looking forward to it. Thank you so much for the recipe! :)

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  76. I wondered if you could make this bread in a shorter pan and cut it to make "rolls". What size pan do you think you'd use and how long would you bake it for and would you bake it on the same temperature as the bread? Thanks.

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  77. T,you will not be able to cut the raw dough. You might try spooning dough into muffin pans. I have never done this, so I have no idea how long to bake them. A guess would be 18 minutes, but I must emphasize that that is a guess. Have a great day. Blessings...Mary

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  78. The bread is rising now. So far so good. Thank you for the recipe! :D

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  79. Great recipe! I've never made bread before and I made this without a mixer... very easy and delicious!! I added a little extra honey for some sweetness.

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  80. Wonderful recipe. I just made this today. I did reduce the salt to 1/2 a teaspoon due to my husband's hypertension and need to reduce sodium. It was still delicious. I added 2 Tablespoons of ground flax. I could not believe how easy this was to do. Thank you!

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  81. Do I use the dough hook or just the regular paddle when mixing?

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