ABC Wheat Bread

National Festival of Breads Finalist
Marjorie Johnson, Robbinsdale, MN

I wanted to create nutritious bread for my family and I always have ripe bananas to use. Since I used Apples, Bananas, and Carrots I named it my ABC Bread. Several years ago when I became aware of the health benefits of flax seeds, I added ground flax seeds to my bread and I switched from traditional whole wheat flour to white whole wheat flour. I like to grind the golden flax seeds in an electric coffee mill. - Marjorie Johnson

Prep Time: 4 hours
Bake Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 3 loaves, 12 slices each.

Ingredients

1 ½ cups warm water (100°-110°F) 
4 teaspoons Active Dry Yeast 
1 teaspoon granulated sugar 
1 cup finely chopped, peeled apples* 
1 cup mashed, ripe bananas 
1 cup finely chopped carrots 
½ cup nonfat dry milk powder 
1 tablespoon freshly grated orange peel 
2 teaspoons salt 
¼ cup canola oil 
¼ cup honey 
½ cup ground golden flax seeds 
5 cups King Arthur Unbleached White Whole Wheat Flour 
1 ¼ – 1 ½ cups King Arthur Unbleached Bread Flour 

Instructions

  1. In electric mixer bowl, combine water, yeast, and sugar. Let stand 5 minutes to proof yeast. 
  2. Stir in rest of ingredients. Using dough hook knead 5 to 8 minutes on low speed. If dough does not form a ball around the dough hook, add 1 or 2 tablespoons additional flour. 
  3. Place dough in greased bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place until double. Punch down dough. 
  4. Divide dough into 3 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 12 x 8-inch rectangle. Starting with shorter side, roll up as for jelly-roll; seal edges and ends. 
  5. Place in greased 8 ½ x 4 ½-inch loaf pans. Cover, let rise in warm place until double. 
  6. Bake in preheated 375°F oven 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown and done. Remove loaves from pans to wire rack to cool. 
  7. Brush with butter if desired. 

Makes 3 loaves, 12 slices each.

Nutrition Information

One slice provides approximately 122 calories; 4 g protein; 22 g carbohydrate; 3 g dietary fiber; 2 g fat (.12 g saturated); .13 mg cholesterol; 18 mcg folate; 1 mg iron and 139 mg sodium.

Kansas Wheat Commission Test Kitchen Note: Marjorie recommends selecting a good cooking apple like Granny Smith, Jonathan, or Honey Crisp.