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Kid-Friendly Mostly Whole Wheat Sourdough Bread
This easy sourdough recipe makes a family friendly “daily bread” that will be devoured by everyone, from kids who are used to white bread, to grown-ups who crave whole wheat flavors and more nutrients. The dough is made from two parts whole grain flour and one part refined bread flour. All the flours have relatively high protein — giving the bread a chewy soft texture — and the wheat varieties of yecora rojo and hard white spring wheat have tasty mellow flavors. See the recipe notes for wheat substitution suggestions.
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Not only is this bread accessible to people who are used to white bread, it’s east to make. The dough is relatively dry, so shaping and scoring are quite easy. The stiffness of the dough yields a relatively closed crumb which makes the slices perfect for PB&Js, cinnamon-toast, grilled cheese sandwiches and more.
When I made this recipe, I did it in triple, which you’ll see in the photo gallery below. I shaped a boule, a batard, and an oblong loaf. Generally speaking, I prefer boules as centerpiece breads to accompany a dinner, batards for larger sandwiches, and oblong loaves for smaller toasts with a high crust-to-crumb ratio.
Each dough weighed 870 grams, which is just under 2 lbs. You can see from the photo below that there is room in the baking vessels to scale up the dough size if desired.
Kid-Friendly Mostly Whole Wheat Sourdough Bread
Here's a low-key recipe for a mostly whole grain sourdough bread that's a perfect daily bread for the whole family. The flour choices make for a soft crumb, a mellow and delicious flavor, and a lot of whole grain fiber and nutrients.
Ingredients
Instructions
Mixing and Bulk Fermentation
Pre-Shape, Shape, Final Proof
Baking
Notes
The closest substitute for yecora rojo wheat is probably sprouted hard red spring wheat, as the latter might be less of a mellow-flavor but it has sweetness due to having been sprouted. For a very strong (chewy) wheat with a more bold flavor, you could use bolles wheat. Rouge de bordeaux is not quite as strong but it has enjoyable baking spice aromas.
The closest substitue for hard white spring wheat are probably white sonora or khorasan wheats. While not as strong, they still have more gluten then most white or gold wheats. White sonora imparts a creamy flavor and khorasan more of a buttery flavor. Both are delicious.
Photo Gallery
Shopping List
Sourdough Starter (Dry)
Mockmill 100 Grain Mill
Danish Dough Whisk — Large
Yecora Rojo Whole Grain Flour
Yecora Rojo Hard Red Spring Wheat Berries
Hard White Spring Whole Grain Flour
Hard White Spring Wheat Berries
High Protein Bread Flour
Round Rattan Proofing Basket
Oval Rattan Proofing Basket
Oblong Rattan Proofing Basket
Breadtopia Hearth Baker
Breadtopia Clay Baker — Batard
Breadtopia Oblong Baker
Kid-Friendly Mostly Whole Wheat Sourdough Bread