Mennonite Girls Can Cook is a collection of recipes which were posted daily for a period of ten years from 2008 to 2018. We have over 3,000 delicious recipes that we invite you to try. The recipes can be accessed in our recipe file by category or you can use the search engine.

Recipe Search

Stir Whole Wheat Bread


Okay. . . this recipe is for anyone who has never baked bread. Yes, the rest of you can make it too, but it's guaranteed to be so easy that no one has an excuse. Well, after you have all the ingredients in the house, there is no excuse. You can have this bread on the table in 1 1/2 hours,

Ingredients:
  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 cup 7 or 9 grain cereal
  • 1 1/2 cups white flour
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons instant yeast
  • 3 tablespoons sunflower and or pumpkin seeds
  • 3 tablespoons flax seed (ground)
  • 1 tablespoon poppy seed (optional)
  • 3 tablespoons oat bran
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 2 1/2 cups hot water

Method:
  1. Mix dry ingredients and add in oil, molasses and hot water
  2. Stir until mixed. Sprinkle with flour and shape into a ball. I don't want to use the word knead but if you feel comfortable with that, knead a little.
  3. Without rising, divide the ball into 2 or 3 parts, depending on size of bread pans. Mine are small (4'' x 7 1/2'') so I do three.
  4. Cover with a clean tea towel and plastic bag. Let rise about 20 min. 
  5. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 375 F, then bake loaves about 30 minutes.


Time saving idea: mix several batches of the dry mix and divide per recipe into zip-lock bags. Freeze. When you want to bake bread, just take one out and add the liquids as specified.

24 comments:

  1. Anneliese. . .can blog. . . and blog well. .

    This bread looks so yummy and I love the fact that a beginner can make it. It looks like it would be fabulous with some slightly chilled butter.. . and honey. . . or cheese. .
    I'm working on some noodles. . us mennonites do love the flour bin. . .

    ReplyDelete
  2. oh...okay. Here is your beginner, moi! And this will be item #2 on my Chem Sunday list. Good stuff...my hubby will be glad for a whole wheat recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ahhh Anneliese, I love it that this recipe is so simple and takes so little time..oh it looks so scrumptious..hmm, I think fresh rhubarb jam would go great with it!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hey, You did it! the bread looks fantastic and who at our age need the white stuff anymore.
    I make some health buns which have similar ingredients.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anneliese, you are right. Those meat balls are called ketletten.
    Do you have the recipe?
    So now you know how we're connected.
    Your dear Kari, and our Kari the Princess as I've known her for 20 years. Was just talking about how she used to come camping with us and she still looked like a princess.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anneliese,
    I have just finished putting the bread in my pans. I made this last week when the grands were over and we all loved it so much, I'm already making it again.
    I didn't have all the ingredients suggested so I replaced the grain cereal with the Rogers Porridge Oats which has oat bran wheat bran and flaxseed in it. . .
    I'll pick up the exact ingredients and I'm sure it will be even better.
    Thank you for this wonderful quick stir bread. .

    ReplyDelete
  7. I absolutely love this bread. I have made it many time. Oh so easy to make and so tasty too. One thing I do different is I use all whole wheat flour. I would like to try it with a bit of spelt flour in it. Spelt is suppose to be so good for you.
    Blessings Deborah

    ReplyDelete
  8. I have been eating levain raised breads for some time and find the taste of so much yeast in breads to be unpalatable. However, I'd still like to try bread baking this winter.

    Is it possible to use less than 1 1/2 tablespoons yeast for this recipe? That works out to six teaspoons of yeast, or 2 teaspoons per loaf (if making three loaves). Quite a contrast from the 1/4 teaspoon in the no-knead bread.

    I'm such a novice I don't know what might be possible.

    Thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  9. You can certainly use less yeast. I think for this recipe 1 Tbsp would be fine and you can try with less. The Stir Bread (with less yeast) takes 15 hours to rise and end up being somwhat of a sour-bread if you like that more.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Cool, I'm making this tonite! Thanks!!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. could I add vital wheat gluten to this without messing up the recipe?
    I think it is supposed to add to the rise and protein - 1 tablespoon for the entire recipe? I want to make it today.
    Thanks- Greg

    ReplyDelete
  12. If you live in the US it's probably a good idea, whereas Canadian wheat does mot need it.
    When I visited my daughter in the US I'd add vital wheat gluten to yeast doughs too - when I'd remember, for a better rise and texture.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Yes, in the US- Minnesota so, not too far. Would you say a tablespoon for the whole recipe?
    Thanks - just got back from grocery and getting started. Greg

    ReplyDelete
  14. oops - the directions where right on the box - 4 teaspoons per loaf- helps to read the box!! Thanks- it is rising by my woodstove in the kitchen. Greg

    ReplyDelete
  15. well- it hardly rose at all?? I added the wheat gluten and followed the instructions...any ideas? Rats!
    Greg

    ReplyDelete
  16. This bread does not rise as much as a plain white loaf would, but it should rise.
    A few things to check . . .
    (1)did you use instant yeast or traditional yeast? traditional yeast is heat sensitive and you would have to rise it first with a bit of sugar and warm water ... then use only warm water, not hot. Instant yeast can just be added to the dry ingredients and is not so heat sensitive.
    (2)Expiration date on yeast
    (3)filled bread pans are loosely covered with tea towel and then plastic and put in draft free place to rise

    ReplyDelete
  17. The date on the yeast is Ok and I put each pan in a plastic bag then covered them both with a tea towel- nice and warm in the kitchen since the wood stove is going. The yeast is SAF perfect rise yeast "the fast rising active dry yeast" - the bread has a great taste! Greg

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'm happy to hear that it tastes good. It is possible that the top of the hot stove was too warm for a normal bread rise. Try just putting it on the counter or table.

    ReplyDelete
  19. This always turns out to be a VERY WET and sticky Dough. is that right? Or should I be adding more flour?
    Marilyn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Marilyn, it sounds like it is too wet and sticky. Maybe add a little flour... white or ww. Flour is different in different areas, so sometimes you have to take that into consideration. I have found that in the US it helps to add a little vtial wheat gluten - maybe a Tbsp. I hope your final result is good.

      Delete
  20. Hi Anneliese, thank you for such lovely recipes. When I make this recipe,I put all ingredients into the bowl of my kitchenaid mixer, stir with the paddle then use the dough hook. I keep adding flour till a ball forms. Depending on the day almost one cup. I do let it rise for about 30 mins. It comes out beautiful each time! Great recipe when I haven't the time to use my longer bread recipes!

    God Bless!
    Barb

    ReplyDelete
  21. Finally.... success! The first time I tried making this dough, it was wet, sticky, and didn't rise. As I was trying again today, I realized that I used hot water from the kettle. I probably killed my yeast the first time (novice mistake :) ). I remembered that Anneliese mentioned using hot tap water in some of her other bread recipes. I also read Barb's comment above and kept adding a little bit of flour until it was sticky but not that sticky. Both of these corrections turned out a great dough that had a visible rise. I am doing a happy dance! Thank you, Anneliese for the recipe, and thanks to the people who commented above - it was a great help. Candace :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much for leaving a comment. It's interesting to know what we think does not always translate to correct understanding. Yes... hot tap water. This just reminded me of a time I did a French bread demo in front of a large group of ladies and I asked someone to bring me 2 cups of hot water at a given time. Someone from the kitchen came out with water - baving boiled it, to go the extra mile - but the bread did not turn out as well. I had not thought to give specific instrucitons there either.

      Delete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.