100% Whole Wheat Bread Recipes for the Bread Machine

Most recipes you find nowadays for "whole wheat bread" call for at least half the flour to be white flour. It can be so hard to find 100% whole wheat bread recipes as to seem almost impossible. I found it impossible to find them, so I invented my own recipes.

Many people suffer from the misconception that 100% whole wheat bread can't be made at home, or that it will always bake up squat, dense, and hard as a rock. Some people have had bad experiences with store-bought whole wheat bread that tasted terrible, or that was made from mostly white flour, and go back to their regular, unhealthy white bread out of habit. It doesn't have to be that way.

I can assure you that it is in fact possible to bake fluffy, delicious 100% whole wheat bread at home that will have the sternest critic of whole wheat baked products raving.

There are a couple of secrets to delicious, light 100% whole wheat bread. The first is to use high quality whole wheat flour. Many people make the mistake of using Gold Medal whole wheat flour, but in my experience this brand always disappoints. Instead, I recommend King Arthur or Hodgson Mills whole wheat flour, or to buy whole wheat flour from the bulk aisle at your local health food store.

The next secret is to use vital wheat gluten. In your 100% whole wheat bread recipe, vital wheat gluten should replace about two to four tablespoons of the bread flour.

Also, be sure not to use whole wheat pastry flour. Pastry flour will make excellent cakes, quick breads and cookies, but it will cause your yeast breads not to rise properly.

If you like light, airy whole wheat bread, try the following recipe. Assemble the ingredients in the order recommended by your bread machine manufacturer. Turbinado sugar and sucanat can be found at your local health food store.

100% Whole Wheat Bread

2/3 cup warm water
2 T extra virgin olive oil
2 eggs
2 3/4 plus 2 T 100% whole wheat flour
2 T vital wheat gluten
2 t brown sugar, turbinado sugar or sucanat
2 t active dry yeast

I use my Breadman Ultimate's rapid cycle for this recipe. I find it works better, since the longer cycle doesn't give the bread enough time on the third rising. If it bakes up too dry, increase the water to 3/4 cup.

For richer, sweeter whole wheat bread, try this recipe.

100% Whole Wheat Brioche

2/3 cup warm milk
2 T extra virgin olive oil
2 eggs
2 3/4 plus 2 T 100% whole wheat flour
2 T vital wheat gluten
2 T brown sugar, turbinado sugar or sucanat
2 t active dry yeast

Note that the difference from the whole wheat bread is that milk has been substituted for the water, and the sugar has been increased to two tablespoons.

For great hamburgers and hot dogs, try this recipe.

100% Whole Wheat Hamburger or Hot Dog Buns

1 cup warm water
1 egg
3/4 t salt
1/4 c shortening
1/4 c brown sugar, turbinado sugar or sucanat
2 3/4 plus 2 T 100% whole wheat flour
2 T vital wheat gluten
1 T active dry yeast

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Put this on the dough only cycle of your bread machine for a 1 1/2 pound loaf. After the dough cycle is complete, turn the dough onto a floured counter and roll into a long strip. Cut into eight or twelve pieces (twelve will make the buns rather small). Roll the pieces into balls or strips, then place on a cookie sheet which has been lightly greased with shortening. Cover with paper, and let rise for 20 minutes. I let these sit on the range while it's preheating, which helps with the rising.

Bake for about eight minutes, or until golden brown. These tend to bake much faster than white buns, and are prone to scorching, so watch them carefully.

If you love pizza, but hate how unhealthy it is, the following recipe can help you to make pizza which is healthy and delicious.

100% Whole Wheat Pizza Dough

1 cup warm water
2 T extra virgin olive oil
3/4 t salt
3 c 100% whole wheat flour
1 T active dry yeast

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Put this on your bread machine's "Pizza Dough" cycle. Don't attempt to throw this dough in the air, as you may have seen many Italian chefs doing. Whole wheat flour has different properties than white flour, and will crumble and fall apart if you attempt this. Instead, when the cycle is complete, turn the dough onto a floured counter, cut it into two pieces and use a rolling pin to roll each piece until it's almost completely round. My younger son is a budding chef, and enjoys getting involved in this process.

Place the dough on an oiled round pizza pan and reshape. Spread pizza sauce on the raw dough, and then cover with cheese. For healthier pizza, use a scant amount of mozzarella, or use low fat, fat free or soy cheese. Top with your favorite toppings. My favorites are spinach, sliced tomatoes and eggplant sauteed in olive oil. Don't be afraid to get creative. Ingredients like basil pesto, pine nuts, asiago cheese and asparagus can make a terrific homemade gourmet pizza that is super easy to make.

Bake for 15 minutes at 425 degrees, or until the cheese is golden brown.

With these recipes, you can begin to make delicious, healthy 100% whole wheat baked goods that your whole family will love.