Homemade Cracked Wheat Bread is a delicious loaf of bread. This homemade bread is full of flavor with a bit of texture from the cracked wheat. This recipe makes two loaves of hearty bread full of whole wheat flavor and goodness.
I love making homemade bread. There's just something amazing about the process of taking basic ingredients and turning them into a perfect loaf of bread.
Cracked Wheat
Cracked wheat is a whole wheat berry that has been ground into coarse pieces. Adding it to bread gives a bit of texture and flavor. Cracked wheat is high in fiber and full of nutrients.
Most cracked wheat recipes call for soaking the cracked wheat in boiling water first to help soften the hard kernel. I do that too, but because I like a bit more texture I also add additional cracked wheat that hasn't been soaked. This bread is perfect for slicing and used for sandwiches. But it's also really great toasted with butter and jam in the morning.
Storing and freezing homemade bread
Once the loaves are cooled, I slice both loaves. I keep one for eating and throw one in the freezer. Homemade bread only stays fresh for a couple of days.
Freezing one lets me have homemade bread all week long. I just pull the second loaf out mid week. Because it is pre sliced it is easy to use right away. The kids will often make their sandwiches on the bread while it's still frozen. It thaws quickly and their sandwich is perfect by lunch time.
I like to make a variety of homemade bread. Some of my favorites include Honey Oat Bread, Multigrain Bread, White Whole Wheat Bread, Potato Bread and Artisan Bread.
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Cracked Wheat Bread
Ingredients
- ½ Cup cracked wheat
- 2 cups boiling water
- 2 ¼ teaspoons yeast (or 1 package)
- ¼ cup honey
- ¼ cup butter (softened)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup vital wheat gluten
- ¾ cup warm water
- ½ cup cracked wheat
- 3 cups whole wheat flour
- 2-3 cups all purpose flour.
Instructions
- Add cracked wheat and boiling water into a large mixing bowl.
- Let soak for about 15 minutes until mixture has cooled
- Sprinkle yeast on top of mixture and let sit for an additional 5 minutes.
- Mix in honey, butter, salt, vital wheat gluten, additional cracked wheat, 1 cup water.
- Mix in wheat flour one cup at a time.
- Continue mixing in all purpose flour until bread dough comes together in a ball.
- Knead in a stand mixer for 5 minutes.
- Place dough in a large, greased bowl and cover with greased plastic wrap. Set aside until double in size.
- Once doubled, lightly punch down dough and divide into two sections.
- Form loaves and place into greased bread pans.
- Cover with greased plastic wrap and let rise for about 45 minutes.
- Cook in a preheated 375 degree oven for 35 minutes.
- Cool on a baking rack for 5 minutes in pan and then remove bread from pan and let it cool completely before cutting.
Notes
I use a stand mixer to make and knead bread.
Nutrition
Elizabeth Farrell-Maloney says
Hi Kathy,
Just make the multigrain bread. Did use all of the 5 cups of flour. Bread came out well, except for the cracked wheat. There were many pieces that were so hard you could possibly break your teeth. If i decide to make again, can i soak cracked wheat and for how long? Thanks
Kathy says
Hi Elizabeth,
Did you make the cracked wheat bread or the multigrain bread? When using cracked wheat, you do want to soak it first with boiling water for 15 minutes. I don't believe my multigrain bread includes cracked wheat. If you are using it, you will want to soak it first.
Thanks and Happy Baking!