Home Made Bread Tutorial: Bread Machine Method with a Kitchen Aid Mixer(or other mixer)

I've been making bread with the dough cycle of my bread machine for about 2 years until just recently. Then because some friends wanted to make my bread that didn't have bread machines and because the mixing attachment for my bread machine mysteriously disappeared I came up with an alternative method. This method is easier, probably faster(than traditional bread making), and foolproof(if you follow the exact procedure). Perfect for yeast bread rookies and professionals alike. Are you ready to make the most wonderful bread ever? Let's get started!


First we have the star players: Wheat flour, white flour, brown sugar, vegetable oil, salt, water, gluten, and yeast.


What is gluten you say? Well, my friends, gluten is the secret to soft high-rising wheat bread. From Wikipedia: " Gluten is a composite of the proteins gliadin and glutenin. Gliadin and glutenin comprise about 80% of the protein contained in wheat seed. The glutenin in wheat flour gives kneaded dough its elasticity, allows leavening and contributes chewiness to baked products like bagels." A good guideline for using gluten is to add one tablespoon for each cup of flour in your yeast bread recipes. Since discovering it a few years ago it has revolutionzed my bread making. Seriously.




The next revolutionizing ingredient is a little product called SAF-Instant yeast. It is a delicious rich yeasty-tasting yeast that leavens exceptionally well. Once you have tried SAF-Instant yeast you won't be able to go back to those other chemical-tasting yeasts. It's so good that sometimes I lick the measuring spoon. Really. If you live in the Anchorage area you can get SAF-Instant yeast at Linford of Alaska a local wholesale bakery supply. In other states like Utah I've seen it in the grocery stores.



First turn on your oven to the lowest heat setting possible (we will use it later). Then add 3 cups of hot water, 1 cup of packed brown sugar, 3 teaspoons of salt, and 1/4 cup of vegetable oil to your mixer bowl fitted with the dough hook attachment.


Then add 5 cups of wheat flour, 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup gluten, and 3 tablespoons of yeast in that order. You can do any combination of wheat and white flour that you desire including all wheat flour as long as it equals 7 1/2 cups total.




Mix on the lowest setting for 3-4 minutes. This is after 1 minute, not ready yet.



Ready! Now turn off the mixer and let the dough rest for 7 minutes. Then turn on lowest setting and mix for 5-6 minutes.



Here the dough is after resting and mixing the second time.



Next lift the dough out of the bowl, spray mixer bowl with oil spray (like PAM) . . .



Replace dough in mixer bowl and lightly spray the top with PAM.



Cover bowl with a damp hand towel and place in warm oven. Let rise until double about 20-30 minutes.



Remove from oven after risen and ohhh and ahhh over the magic of yeast. (If you want to.)



Punch down dough and form into a log on your lightly floured counter top. I rarely use any additional flour on the counter top because the dough is such a perfect consistency.



Cut dough into 3 equal pieces. This recipe makes 3 one pound loaves but you can reduce the recipe by 1/3 to make 2 loaves or by 2/3 to make 1 loaf.



Grease your bread pans.



Form each loaf and place in pans. Spray tops of loaves with PAM. Let rise until doubled in a warm place(top of a preheated oven/stove top combination appliance or your laundry room with the dryer going are usually warm places), 20-30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.



Now the bread is risen and ready to bake. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 24-26 minutes. The loaves should be golden brown and sound hollow when you thump on the top. If you would like to use this recipe with your bread machine you can (that's what I originally developed it for). Reduce the recipe by 2/3 and it will make one 1 lb loaf. Halve the recipe and it should make one 1.5 lb loaf(can't be certain on this because I've never done it. My bread machine makes 1 lb loaves.) I recommend using the dough cycle which will take you through the first rising. Then remove dough from bread machine, punch down, form into loaves, rise for the second time, and bake in the oven.


TaDAA! Delicious perfect bread for your friends and family to covet and lust after. *wink*

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So friends, talk to me. Do you prefer 100% whole wheat bread, white bread, or a combination? Bread machine, mixer, or bowl and spoon? What's your favorite mixer? I'd love to know.