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Walnut Wheat Bread for #BreadBakers

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Walnut Wheat Bread | Magnolia Days

There are a few important tasks to do upon arrival. Every time my mom and I travel to Germany we have a priority of things to do. First is hugging my uncle who picks us up at the airport. We go to his home and unpack. Next order of business is to head out to the bakery and get bread. It isn’t just any bread. It is a big loaf of dense, hearty bread filled with nuts. It seems like it weighs five pounds. We eat slices of it for breakfast with butter and jam. That bread is our all-time favorite. Thinking of it for my upcoming trip is what inspired me to bake Walnut Wheat Bread.

There is also a new bread group. My friend Stacy and I have started Bread Bakers because both of us enjoy baking bread so much. I have been a part of other bread groups that were wonderful. Yet something inside kept nagging to branch out and take the lead on something else. We are excited to launch Bread Bakers with a dozen recipes for favorite breads:

Walnut Wheat Bread is now one of my favorites. It also is excellent toasted and served with butter and jam. It makes a mighty fine peanut butter and jelly sandwich too. The walnuts and peanut butter do not compete and actually complement each other. I have two loaves to experiment with. I’m thinking it would be the right bread for a sandwich filled with turkey salad with pesto-mayo. Oh, and before you click on the link to the turkey salad note the photos do not represent how wonderful it tastes. It’s one of those I look back on and cringe. At least I’ve improved since then.

Walnut Wheat Bread | Magnolia Days

Many thanks to those participating in the Bread Bakers launch. It means the world to us. We also invite any bloggers who enjoy baking bread to join in the fun. Look below my recipe for more information on the group and how to be a part of it. Meanwhile, be sure to take a look at all those wonderful recipes in the list above. I would also like to know your favorite bread. Perhaps it will inspire me to tackle a new recipe too.

Walnut Wheat Bread | Magnolia Days
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Walnut Wheat Bread

A recipe for Walnut Wheat Bread, a yeast bread made with whole wheat flour, lightly sweetened with brown sugar, and filled with chopped walnuts.
Course Bread
Cuisine American
Prep Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 3 hours
Author Renee

Ingredients

  • 3 to 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 2 packages active-dry yeast 1/4 ounce each
  • 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon salt
  • 2 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons shortening
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Whisk to combine.
  2. In a small saucepan, heat water and shortening until 120 to 130 degrees F. (Shortening will not melt)
  3. Add warm liquid to the bowl and stir to combine. Place bowl on stand mixer with the flat beater. Mix on medium-low speed for 2 minutes.
  4. Switch flat beater to dough hook. Turn mixer to speed recommended for using the dough hook. Gradually add walnuts and enough remaining flour to make a firm dough.
  5. Knead with the dough hook for 4 to 5 minutes. While dough is kneading, grease a large bowl.
  6. Turn dough out on a lightly floured surface and hand knead a few times until the surface is smooth and elastic.
  7. Place dough in the greased bowl and turn to coat surface. Loosely cover with plastic wrap or tea towel.
  8. Let rise in a warm place (72 - 75 degrees F) until doubled, about 1 hour.
  9. While the dough is rising, grease two loaf pans (9- X 5- or 8- X 4-inch).
  10. Punch down dough and divide in half.
  11. Roll or pat each half to a 14- X 7-inch rectangle. Start with the shorter side and roll up tightly while pressing dough into roll with each turn. Pinch edge and ends to seal.
  12. Place rolled dough in bread pans. Cover with a tea towel and let rise until double, about 1 hour.
  13. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees F while bread is on the second rise.
  14. Bake loaves for 35 to 40 minutes, until loaves sound hollow when tapped. Rotate loaves half way through baking for even browning.
  15. Remove loaves from pans and cool completely on a wire rack.

Recipe Notes

A recipe for Walnut Wheat Bread, a yeast bread made with whole wheat flour, lightly sweetened with brown sugar, and filled with chopped walnuts.

Recipe adapted from one in the Red Star Centennial Bread Sampler cookbook published in 1981 (no longer in print).

What is Bread Bakers? It’s a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. You can see all our of lovely bread by following our Bread Bakers Pinterest Board. Links are also updated after each event on the Bread Bakers home page.

Bread Bakers

How is the monthly theme determined? We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient.

Would you like to join in the fun? If you are a food blogger, send an email with your blog name and url to Stacy at [email protected].

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Comments

  1. Amazing bread Renee, and I love the group you made! I was talking the other day to a friend about those flavors growing up that we always long for, and your comment about buying bread in germany is just that! I love a dense, pumpernickel bread my mom ate when I was a kid, which I started nibbling and then got hooked. I can imagine what great toast this one makes!

    Reply

  2. You make me want to go to Germany with you, Renee! You are going to have such a wonderful time! Guess I’ll have to bake this beautiful bread as the next best thing. I’m thinking it would make a fabulous grilled cheese sandwich, with maybe some rauchkäse or smoked cheese.

    Thank you so much for hosting our inaugural month of Bread Bakers. I look forward to many, many more, my friend!

    Reply

  4. Renee, this is just gorgeous! I especially love the subtle swirl where you rolled up your loaf–such a pretty bread! I’m also glad to hear you have your priorities in order: hugging and bread should pretty much be everyone’s priorities!

    Reply

  5. I have to try this recipe. Especially if it’s going to make me feel like I’m in Germany. It’s my dream to get there one day and I’m so jealous that you’ve been there many times. I’m printing your recipe and will be trying it soon.

    Reply

  6. My first love of bread started at a German Bakery! And if I could make my bread as gorgeous as yours, I would be in bread heaven. I am so glad you and Stacy started this group. Thank you for a wonderful theme. It brought back many memories from everyone and made a delightful morning reading for to check out everyone’s stories.

    Reply

  9. This bread sounds wonderful! I love yeast breads with dried fruit and/or nuts. I bet it does make a mean pbj – walnuts and peanut butter pair well together. Of course, I’ve been on a pb kick lately and kind of think it pairs well with just about everything 🙂

    Reply

  12. You’ve done a wonderful job of bringing together this group of bakers. I know we’ll all enjoy the time spent baking and relating with each other. I especially like this bread you made and will enjoy thinking of you eating a similar loaf when you travel to Germany.

    Reply

  13. Before I comment on your beautiful bread, Renee, I have to thank you (and Stacy) for BreadBakers. A great idea, a great group of folks and a wonderful opportunity to share and get to know one another. Kudos to both of you and thanks for hosting this month! And now to your bread. It’s an absolutely gorgeous loaf and I love how you can see that subtle swirl. Just picture-perfect. Maybe one day I’ll get myself to Germany to taste some of their wonderful breads (I have a good reason to go since my nephew’s living and working in Berlin) but for now, I’ll live vicariously through you! Thanks again for everything.

    Reply

    • I’m so glad you are a part of the group Robin and I can’t wait to see what you share with us going forward. You really should go to Germany some time. It is the most beautiful country, great people, and the food (especially bread) is incredible.

      Reply

  15. First, thank you for putting together this event it is just wonderful and I can’t with to keep sharing more recipes in the group.
    Love this classic recipe, it is easy, perfect for any time of the day and I do really love walnuts. Yum!

    Reply

  16. Yay for you and Stacy starting this group! If I ever start baking/blogging regularly (I’m terrible at this) I’ll definitely join in. For now, I’ll drool over all of your beautiful recipes. Renee, this is a gorgeous, perfect loaf of bread. I’m sure you’re getting super excited for your trip! I hope you get to eat lots of the nut bread when you’re in Germany 🙂

    Reply

  18. A new bread baking group?! love it! Now that fall is almost here, it’s going to be quick bread and bread making over here!! love the smell and warmth that baking bread brings. . love this one, Renee!! Pinned and looks beautiful!

    Reply

  19. This bread looks fantastic. I am trying it today – I had some leftover walnut meal from a cookie recipe I had done earlier in the month. I will adapt this recipe using the walnut meal.
    Also, I am sending email as I will love to join your group.

    Reply

    • I do not have a bread machine and have not attempted any of the recipes in one. I do not know if any of them (the dough) can be made in one.

      Reply

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