Granary Bread Recipes

BASIC GRANARY BREAD DOUGH (FOR ROLLS OR A LARGE LOAF)

Steps:

• Mix the flours and salt together in a large bowl, then stir in the sugar and yeast. Make a well in the centre of the flour and pour in the warm milk, beaten egg, olive oil and enough of the water to form a soft, wet dough.
• On a lightly floured surface, knead dough for 10 mins until smooth. Put the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with oiled cling film, then leave to rise in a warm place until doubled in size. The dough is now ready to be shaped.
• To make 12 rolls, divide the dough into 12 pieces and shape into rolls. Lightly flour 3 baking sheets. Place the rolls onto the sheets and cover loosely with oiled cling film. Set aside in a warm place for 30 mins or until they have doubled in size.
• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Brush the bread with beaten egg and sprinkle with sesame and poppy seeds. Bake for 15-20 mins until deep golden brown and well risen.
• To make a flowerpot loaf, leave the dough to rise for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size. Soak one large or eight small terracotta flowerpots in cold water for about 30 mins. Dry thoroughly, then brush the inside of the pots with oil and line with parchment paper. Shape dough into a smooth round with a roughly pointed shape at one end so it half-fills the pot. Leave until doubled in size.
• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Brush the top of the loaf with beaten egg, sprinkle with poppy or sesame seeds and bake for 45-50 mins (15-20 mins for small loaves) until golden. Let it sit for 5-10 mins, then take out of the pot and leave to cool on a wire rack.

BROWN LOAF

Steps:

• Mix your choice of brown flour with the white, the yeast and salt in a large mixing bowl. Put in the butter and rub it into the flour. Stir in the seeds if using. Make a dip in the centre of the flour and pour in almost 300ml hand warm (cool rather than hot) water, with a round-bladed knife. Then mix in enough of the remaining water and a bit more if needed, to gather up any dry bits in the bottom of the bowl and until the mixture comes together as a soft, not too sticky, dough. Gather it into a ball with your hands.
• Put the dough on to a very lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 mins until it feels smooth and elastic, only adding the minimum of extra flour if necessary to prevent the dough sticking. Place the ball of dough on a lightly floured work surface. Cover with an upturned, clean, large glass bowl and leave for 45 mins-1 hr or until doubled in size and feels light and springy. Timing will depend on the warmth of the room.
• Knock back the dough by lightly kneading just 3-4 times. You only want to knock out any large air bubbles, so too much handling now will lose the dough's lightness. Shape into a ball. Cover with the glass bowl and leave for 15 mins.
• Now shape to make a tin loaf Grease a 1.2-litre capacity loaf tin (about 23 x 13 x 5.5cm) and line the base with baking parchment. Using your knuckles, flatten the dough into a rectangle about 25 x 19cm. Fold both shorter ends into the centre like an envelope, make a ¼ turn, then flatten again into the same size and roll up very tightly, starting from one of the short ends. Roll the top of the dough in extra seeds and place in the tin with the join underneath, pressing the seeds gently into the dough. Cover with a clean tea towel. Leave for 40-45 mins, or until risen about 5cm above the top of the tin.
• Put a roasting tin in the bottom of the oven 20 mins before ready to bake and heat oven to 230C/210C fan/gas 8. Put the risen bread in the oven, carefully pour about 250ml cold water into the roasting tin (this will hiss and create a burst of steam to give you a crisp crust), then lower the heat to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Bake for about 30 mins or until golden, covering with foil for the last 5 mins if starting to brown too quickly. Leave in the tin for 2-3 mins, then remove and cool on a wire rack. If you tap the underneath of the baked loaf if should be firm and sound hollow.

GRANARY BREAD

Steps:

• Bring milk to 100 degrees (try microwaving 20 seconds on high). Sprinkle the yeast over the milk, let stand 5 minutes. Stir to dissolve.
• Mix flours, flax, oatmeal and salt in a large bowl. make a well in the center and pour in dissolved yeast.
• Draw enough flour into the yeast to make a soft paste. Cover and let paste "sponge" for 20 minutes.
• Combine egg white and oil in a glass measuring cup, wisk to incorporate. add enough water to make 1 cup total.
• Slowly pour water mixture into flour to form a firm, moist dough. You may need to add more flour if the dough is to sticky, do this 1 tsp at a time.
• Turn dough onto floured surface and knead about 10 minutes. flatten dough stightly with your hands and shape the dough for a loaf pan.
• Grease a 8" x 4" loaf pan with oil. place dough seam side down. cover with a dish towel and proof for 60 minutes.
• OPTIONAL after 30 minute proof: With a sharp knife or razor blade make a 1/2 inch slit down the center of the loaf.
• Preheat oven to 425, bake loaf for 20 minutes, reduce heat to 400 and bake an additional 15 minutes.
• NOTE: This can all be done with your upright mixer and a dough hook.

GRANARY BREAD FOR BREAD MACHINES

Steps:

• Place water in the baking tin; add all the flour, followed by milk powder, sugar, salt, butter and lastly the yeast.
• Load up the bread machine and bake on whatever setting you have that takes 3 hours.
• N.B if you leave the bread to stand in the tin for 15 minutes before you turn it out, it comes away a lot easier.