Maple Oat Bread

Every so often the need for fresh homemade bread arises. I think we can all agree, that freshly made bread is in fact, a need. I bet if you were to recall moments of eating fresh baked bread, you’d be reliving very fulfilling, very delicious moments where everything in the world was right.

So when the temperature currently hovers around 5 degrees (or maybe 50 for those in California, you poor things!)  there are some things in the world that need to be made right.  Sweet maple oat bread will surely satisfy.  This bread doesn’t just satisfy the need for homemade bread, but for a wonderful sweet treat.  And when you realize this bread is healthy and nutritious, you’ll be happy that you can look forward to getting comfortable with an extra large slice, some honey butter and a cup of herbal tea.

When you think about homemade bread, you’ll remember that bread making takes some time. The best things in life usually do. For full warmth and comfort on a cold winter day, you might find the time. This homemade bread is pretty enthralling to make. Maple, yeast and cinnamon fusing together will warm up the entire house and you’ll find yourself happily enjoying the process. As it bakes away, the top will become slightly cracked and caramelized while the maple flavor intensifies. Then, you’ll be greeted with maple oat bread that is so fantastically moist and sweet, you’ll be glad it’s winter.

Maple Oat Bread  (egg free & vegan option)
Print Recipe   (inspired by King Arthur)

3/4 cup Hot Water
1/2 cup Oats
1/3 cup Maple Syrup
1/4 cup Unsalted Butter or Earth Balance Butter
1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract
1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
2 cups White Wheat Flour (we used Trader Joe’s)
2 1/4 teaspoons Instant Yeast
2 Tablespoons Maple Sugar or Maple Syrup, for sprinkling or drizzling over loaf*

In a bowl of an electric mixer, combine the water, oats, maple syrup, vanilla, butter, salt, and cinnamon. By this time, the water should be lukewarm. Add the flour and yeast together, stirring on medium low speed to form a dough ball. Continue to knead with the machine (or by hand) for about 5-8 minutes.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, place in a warm area and and allow the dough to rise for 1 hour. It should become puffy. After 1 hour, remove the dough from the bowl and place in a greased loaf pan. Shape into a log, cover and allow to rise for another hour. After an hour, preheat the oven to 350.  Remove the plastic wrap from off the bread.

Sprinkle the top of the loaf with maple sugar, drizzle with maple syrup, or if desired, use both! Bake for 350 degrees for 24-28 minutes. Remove the bread from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

 NOTE: This bread doesn’t rise as much as some bread recipes. It’s okay if your dough doesn’t become overly puffy or double in size. It will still be moist and delicious!

*If you don’t have maple sugar, coconut sugar for sprinkling creates just as delicious results! But either way, you don’t want to omit this!