Perfect spelt bread that is 100% whole-grain, with a soft and chewy texture and delicious flavor. Great for sandwiches or just eating with butter, hot out of the oven. Oh yes, my friends--that is heaven.
Meanwhile in the bowl of a stand mixer with dough hook attachment add the oil, sugar (or honey) and salt. Add the heated water to the stand mixer. Then add the gluten flour, flax seed, quick oats, and 3 cups of spelt flour. Put the yeast on top of the flour, making sure that it does not directly touch the salt or the hot water.
Divide dough into 3 loaves. Put dough in prepared pans and cover with a thin, lightweight dish towel.
While bread is rising, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. When the bread has risen, bake it at 400 degrees F for 5 minutes. Then turn down the heat to 350 degrees F (leaving the loaves in the oven the entire time) and continue baking for 20-25 min or until loaves are golden brown. Remove bread from the pans immediately and let loaves cool on a cooling rack.
1. I usually use canola oil but any oil with a mild flavor will work in this recipe.
2. I use Bob's Red Mill Vital Wheat Gluten Flour in this recipe. I buy mine in a 25 pound bag at WinCo, but they also sell it in their bulk bins. If you don’t have a WinCo you may be able to find it in smaller quantities at Walmart or another local grocery store or buy it online (Amazon carries gluten flour). If you can’t find gluten flour you can use a good quality, high gluten white flour instead of all spelt flour. You will need to experiment with how much - maybe 2 cups or more in place of the spelt flour to get it to a good stick-together consistency.
3. Adding the ground flax seed and oats is optional, but I love the flavor and texture that they add to the recipe. I usually grind whole flax seeds in a high powered blender because they have too much oil to grind them in a grain mill. The oats do not need to be ground.
4. I use freshly ground spelt flour that I grind in my grain mill (this is the grain mill I have) at home. If you do not have a grain mill you may be able to find spelt flour in the grocery store.
5. I use the SAF brand of instant yeast that I buy in a large block and keep in the freezer in a sealed container.
6. For step-by-step basic bread making instructions with pictures see this whole-wheat bread post: https://thecookstreat.com/whole-wheat-bread/