9 Grain Whole Wheat Harvest Bread

This bread was so delicious I can't wait to make it again! And a major bonus was it didn't require a starter. The bread began with a trip to Whole Foods where I purchased a 9-grain hot cereal mix--the key ingredient in the recipe, adding tons of flavor and a great texture. After soaking 1/2 a cup of the cereal mix in hot water, I mixed it with bread flour, whole wheat flour, yeast, salt, and honey (for the perfect balance of sweetness!). The dough had a great texture when kneaded and quickly doubled in size during the first proofing. After shaping the loaf into a taught ball, I slashed a decorative design into the top and baked for 45 minutes at 400 degrees. The final bread had a gorgeous, deep golden color with a splintery crust. When I finally sliced into it, the crumb was moist, and tender. The cereal mix and whole wheat added a nice earthy nuttiness, while the honey imparted just enough sweetness. A slice of this with a simple topping of butter was the perfect breakfast.

Coming up next: Rosemary, Cinnamon, and Raisin Focaccia