How to Make Whole Wheat Bread

It’s so easy to pop to the store and buy a loaf of whole wheat bread these days that very few of us take the time to make our own. Yet making your own bread really isn’t all that difficult – nor is it particularly time consuming. Whilst the process may take several hours from start to finish, most of that time is taken up with allowing the dough to rise… so you can get on with something else in the meantime.

And the benefits of making your own whole wheat bread?

Well, that’s easy – it’s the taste (not to mention the wonderful smell that fills the house as your bread is baking)!

There’s really nothing to compare with the sheer yumminess of a slice of warm bread, fresh from the oven – so today we’re going to tell you how to make bread that’s healthy for your baby AND the rest of the family.

Please note that this recipe contains sugar and salt – ingredients we don’t usually include in our baby food recipes. However, in this recipe they are necessary for the bread to rise properly and the amounts used are small!

Here’s what you’ll need to make your own whole wheat bread

1 lb whole wheat (wholemeal) flour
1/2 lb organic white bread flour
1 1/2 tsp dried yeast
1 1/2 tsp sugar
pinch of salt
2 1/2 tsp olive oil
18 fl oz (2 1/4 cups) tepid water

Sieve the flour into a bowl (if you keep your flour in the fridge, allow it to come to room temperature).

Sprinkle the yeast into the water and add the sugar. Stir thoroughly and set aside until the mixture looks frothy (about 15 mins).

Make a ‘well’ in the centre of the flour and pour in the yeast mixture. Use a spoon to incorporate the yeast mixture into the flour.

Using your hands, form the mixture into a smooth ball of dough. If the mixture is too wet, add a little more flour. If it’s too dry, add a little more water.

Knead the dough thoroughly for 10 mins until it is smooth and elastic.

Put the ball of dough into a clean, oiled bowl, cover with a clean, damp cloth and set it aside in a warm place until it has doubled in size (at least 1 1/2 hours and sometimes longer). We like to put the bowl in an oven warmed only by the pilot light to help the dough rise.

Once the dough has doubled in size, knead it for another 5 mins.

Using your hands, shape the dough into a round loaf and place it on a greased baking sheet.

Set it aside and allow it to double in size again.

Meanwhile, pre heat the oven to 390 deg F (200 deg C).

Bake the loaf for 30-40 mins. To test if your loaf is ready, tap the bottom of it with your knuckles – it should sound hollow.

Allow to cool for a while, then slice and serve to your grateful family!

More handy bread making tips tomorrow – right now, we’re off to get started on our own loaf!

Learn how to use homemade bread to make crunchy breadsticks for baby
Try our alternative homemade whole wheat bread recipe