Whole Wheat Yorkshire Yule Bread Recipes

WHOLE WHEAT BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in 3/4 cup warm water. Add the oil, sugar, molasses, salt and remaining water. Combine flours; add 4-5 cups flour to mixture. Beat until smooth. Add enough remaining flour to form a firm dough. , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half. Shape each portion into a loaf. Place in 2 greased 9x5-in. loaf pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes. , Bake at 350° until golden brown, 40-45 minutes. Remove from pans to cool on wire racks.

WHOLE-WHEAT YORKSHIRE YULE BREAD

Steps:

• Combine yeast, 2 tablespoons sugar and 1/4 cup warm water in a small bowl. Stir to mix. Set aside 10 minutes to develop.
• Combine remaining sugar and warm water with butter, salt and lemon extract in a large bowl and stir to mix. Add yeast mixture and egg and stir to mix.
• Add whole wheat flour and beat vigorously about 2 minutes to develop the flour's gluten.
• Combine all-purpose flour with allspice, nutmeg, cloves, ginger root and lemon zest in a small bowl. Stir to mix, and gradually incorporate into the whole-wheat flour.
• Turn dough out onto well-floured surface. Knead 10 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. Shape into ball, place in clean, large bowl and cover with plastic; set in a warm area 2 1/2 hours, or until double in volume.
• Punch dough down squarely in center to release built-up gases. Turn out onto well-floured surface and knead 10 minutes; gradually knead in raisins and candied fruit. Shape into a loaf 9 by 4 inches and place on ungreased baking sheet. Holding kitchen shears perpendicular to top of loaf, make deep cuts about 2 1/2 inches long in a zigzag pattern along the length of the loaf. Cover with towel and set in a warm area for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Bake 45 minutes. Remove from oven and transfer to wire cake rack to partially cool.
• If desired, brush with confectioners' sugar glaze and place glaceed cherry at each outside diagonal point in the zigzag pattern; scatter almonds over all. Serve warm or at room temperature.