Every now and then I like to change up my standard bread recipe and make something new. I rarely follow a recipe when it comes to bread so when I try something new sometimes it's a bit of a shot in the dark whether or not it will turn out. I've made Spelt Bread a couple times now and I love how it turns out so I thought I'd share my recipe for it.
Whole Grain Spelt Bread
2 cups warm water
4 tsp. active dry yeast
4 tbsp. butter (melted)
1 egg
4 tbsp. honey
2 tsp. salt
4 tbsp. vital wheat gluten
approximately 5-6 cups of whole grain spelt flour
So to start, sprinkle your 4 tsp. yeast into your warm water.
I like to walk away (or clean my kitchen) for 10 mins or so while this dissolves all nicely. Here's what it looks like about 10 minutes later
In a stand mixer, add the egg, butter, honey, and salt and stir it up a bit. Give the yeast mixture a good stir and add to the mixer bowl.
Add the wheat gluten if you have it. It's not necessary but it really does help in the rising process.
I always buy Bobs Red Mill wheat gluten which is easily found at most grocery stores in the baking aisle.
Using the paddle attachment (not the dough hook) on your mixer, add in 3 cups of spelt flour until it is well combined. Switch to the dough hook and add in another cup of flour. Let it mix until dough is well combined. If the dough is still really wet, add another half a cup and mix some more. Keep adding flour until you get a sticky but uniform dough.
Grease up a large bowl (glass if you have it) and roll the dough around inside then let it rest.
Make a towel damp and lay it on top of the bowl. Let the dough rise for at least an hour, or until doubled in bulk.
Once dough has doubled in bulk, punch it down and let it rise again for 15 mins. Repeat this at least 2 more times for a total of 3 times.
After the third time, take dough out and split it in half. At this point you can either make 2 loaves of bread or one loaf of bread and about 12 buns. I usually make a loaf of bread and some buns, just for diversity.
For a loaf of bread, shape the dough into a tube and lay in a well greased loaf pan. Let rise until double then bake at 350 degrees for approximately 25 minutes.
For buns, split dough into 12 equal pieces and shape into rounds. Lay out on a greased baking sheet and let rise till double. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 13-15 minutes.
And there you go! Now eat them hot with lots of butter :)
