Honey Whole Wheat Bread

Honey Whole Wheat Bread

• 3 cups hot water
• 5 tsp. active dry yeast
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1/2 cup honey
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• 8-10 cups whole wheat flour (I prefer hard white wheat)

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix hot water, yeast, salt, and honey. Whisk until yeast is dissolved. Set aside for 10-15 minutes or until big and bubbly. 
2. Whisk in melted butter and half the flour until smooth. With a wooden spoon, mix in remaining flour 1 cup at a time until dough pulls away from sides of bowl. Turn dough out onto floured surface and knead until smooth, about 5 minutes, adding more flour as needed.
3. Place dough in a buttered bowl, turning a few times to coat the surface of the dough. Cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place until doubled, or about 1 hour.
4. Punch down and divide into 3 pieces. Shape into loaves and place in buttered 9x5-inch loaf pans. Brush the tops with softened or melted butter, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and let rise about 35 minutes, or until dough has topped the pans by one inch.
5. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Remove from pans immediately. Cool for a few hours on wire racks.