whole wheat sandwich bread/dinner rolls v0.1
Prep time: 15 minutes
Total time: About six hours, minimum
Makes: 2 loaves (8"x4.5"x4"), or 2 dozen dinner rolls
Sponge:
2 1/3 cup whole wheat flour, sifted
1 3/4 cup water
3 tablespoons fructose
3/4 teaspoon active dry yeast
Blanket:
2 1/4 cup whole wheat flour, sifted
1/4 cup nonfat dry milk
3/4 teaspoon active dry yeast
First Minute Mix:
1/4 cup canola margarine
10 Minute Mix:
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
Glaze:
2 tablespoons canola margarine
Whisk together flour, water, fructose, and yeast into a smooth batter, about two minutes. Incorporate air into the sponge while mixing. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and cover with plastic wrap.
Sift together flour, nonfat dry milk, and yeast to make the blanket. Temporarily remove the plastic wrap from the sponge. Sift the blanket over the top of the sponge. Do not mix at this time. Recover the bowl with the plastic wrap.
Allow the sponge to ferment for at least one hour. I generally make the sponge and blanket the day before and allow the sponge to ferment at room temperature for an hour before refrigerating.
When ready to mix, transfer the sponge and blanket to the mixer's bowl. Add the canola margarine. Mix on low speed until a rough dough has formed, about 1 minute. Cover the bowl with the plastic wrap and allow to rest for 20 minutes.
Sprinkle the salt over the top of the dough and mix for 10 minutes at medium speed. Transfer the dough to a rising container and note where the dough will be when it has doubled in volume. Cover the container and allow to rise until doubled, about 1 and a half hours. Punch down the dough and allow to rise a second time, about 1 hour. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees for bread loaves or 400 degrees for rolls with a baking stone and rack set in the lowest position and a cast iron skillet beneath the bottom shelf for the preheat.
Halve the dough and prepare for bread pans or rolls. Allow the prepared dough to rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
Add 1 cup ice cubes to the skillet just prior to adding the loaves or rolls to bake. Place the pans directly on the stone.
Bake the rolls for 20 minutes.
Bake the loaves for 50 minutes rotating the pans 180 degrees halfway through the baking cycle
Melt 2 tablespoons canola margarine and lightly brush over the tops of the loaves or rolls after removing them from the oven. Once the margarine has settled into the bread, unmold and allow to cool on a rack. Wait at least 1 hour to slice the bread loaves. The rolls may be eaten immediately.