When the Kansas wheat harvest is in full swing, or you're looking for a new delicious treat for the family, this is the perfect bread to make and serve. 

INGREDIENTS 

1 cup hard white winter or hard red winter wheat kernels/berries

1 ½ cups water, room temperature

¾ cup water, room temperature 

6 ounces of your favorite wheat beer, room temperature

1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast

¼ cup honey

1 large egg, beaten

4 – 4 ¼ cups bread flour or all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon vital wheat gluten, optional

¼ cup unsalted butter, melted

1 tablespoon salt

1 tablespoon cornmeal, optional

DIRECTIONS

1. Soak wheat kernels in 1½ cups water 12- 24 hours.  When ready to prepare dough, drain and rinse kernels.
2. Combine kernels and 3/4 cup water in blender jar.  Process; stirring several times, until wheat is cracked to consistency you prefer.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, fitted with paddle, pour wheat mixture into bowl.  Pour beer into blender jar and “rinse” before adding beer to mixer bowl. Stir in yeast; wait 5 minutes.
4. Beat in honey, egg, 3 cups flour, gluten, butter, and salt. Gradually stir in enough of the remaining flour to make a soft dough; knead with dough hook 5-8 minutes.  Cover; let dough rise 1½ hours.
5. Grease a 9-inch cake pan; sprinkle with cornmeal.  Transfer dough onto a floured work surface. Lightly sprinkle the dough with flour; round into a smooth ball and place in pan. 
6. Cover; let rise until doubled, about 60 minutes. Preheat oven to 400°F.  With a sharp knife, make ¼” to ½” deep decorative slashes in the top of the dough in an “X” pattern.
7. Bake bread 20 minutes.  Lower oven temperature to 375°F; turn pan around for even baking.   Bake loaf an additional 20 – 25 minutes.  Cover with foil last 10 – 15 minutes if bread browns too quickly.  The bread is done when golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers 205 - 212°F. Remove from pan; cool on rack. 

This bread makes excellent toast! 

Makes 1 large loaf, 24 servings.

NUTRITION INFORMATION PER SERVING (1 slice, 84 g): 220 calories, 7 g protein, 41g carbohydrates, 2 g dietary fiber, 2.5 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat, 10mg cholesterol, 86mcg folate, 240 mg sodium,  0mg vitamin C, 2 mg iron, 12mg calcium.