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Spelt Bread – #BreadBakers

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Where would we be if we never tried anything new? #Breadbakers are responsible for my baking outside the box! Success or failure, I’m better with the experience. Julie Menghini

Spelt Bread is an ancient grains flour. The sweet nutty flavor makes one delicious bead.We are off and running into a new year. I’ve just finished baking my bread for the first #Breadbakers event of the year. Our theme this month was to bake completely with “ancient grains flour”. I chose Spelt Bread, from whole grain spelt flour, because it’s something I’ve wanted to try.

Spelt Bread is an ancient grains flour. The sweet nutty flavor makes one delicious bead.What is ancient grains? The Whole Grains Council,  generally define ancient grains loosely as grains that are largely unchanged over the last several hundred years.

This means that modern wheat (constantly bred and changed) is not an ancient grain, while einkorn, emmer/farro, Kamut®, and spelt would be considered ancient grains in the wheat family. Heirloom varieties of other common grains — such as black barley, red and black rice, blue corn — might also be considered ancient grains. Other grains largely ignored until recently by Western palates (such as sorghum, teff, millet, quinoa, amaranth) would also be widely considered to be ancient grains. Sometimes less common grains, like buckwheat, or wild rice, are also included.”

Spelt Bread is an ancient grains flour. The sweet nutty flavor makes one delicious bead.I had read some of the characteristics of working with this flour. It doesn’t have the gluten content of other wheat flours, and often lacks structure. It does contain some gluten however, and is not safe for people with celiac disease. It’s also important not to over knead this dough. It can be a very loose and sticky dough. It’s better to bake this bread in a loaf pan than free form. I consulted with fellow bread baker, Elaine, at Foodbod, who concurred with what I had found, and she gave me some welcome tips too.

Well, long story short, after my second proof, I watched my perfectly domed loaf flatten. The second proofing was only for an hour, and it rose above the rim of the pan but had a bit of spread too. This was very consistent with a lack of structure. I looked at the website that I had seen this recipe on, and my bread was very similar to the one on the site. I don’t know if this is also characteristic of spelt or something that I did. This is where I am asking for feedback from other bread bakers. I did question the way that the ingredients are combined in this recipe. Salt is added before the yeast. It did raise though so the yeast did it’s job.

Spelt Bread is an ancient grains flour. The sweet nutty flavor makes one delicious bead.How did it taste? This bread had a sweet nuttiness to it, and was soft and moist. It made an amazing piece of toast, and has poached egg avocado toast written all over it. It was an easy bread to put together, and I am anxious for you bread aficionados to chime in so I can make tweaks if this isn’t how this bread is supposed to behave.

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Spelt Bread - #BreadBakers

An easy and simply delicious bread made with Spelt, an ancient grains flour. Spelt bread has a sweet and nutty taste. It is soft and moist, and is perfect toasted.
Course Bread
Prep Time 3 hrs 20 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 3 hrs 45 mins
Servings 1
Author Hostess At Heart

Ingredients

  • 1 cup warm water non-chlorinated
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
  • 2 1/3 cups whole grain spelt flour plus additional for dusting
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast

Instructions

  • Put one cup of water in a large bowl and heat it in the microwave until warmed. Add honey and stir until combined. Stir in butter and salt and when combined, stir in 2 cups of flour and the yeast. Stir briskly with a wooden spoon. Add more flour until dough comes together. It is a sticky dough, but you will want to be able to handle it. Turn it out on a floured surface and knead for 5 minutes, adding additional flour if necessary, until smooth and elastic.
  • Put dough in a well oiled bowl, turning once to coat both sides. Cover and allow dough to raise in a warm area for 2 hours.
  • Shape dough and put in a well greased 8 x 4 loaf pan. Cover and allow to raise for 1 hour.
  • Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F for 25 to 35 minutes. Bread will sound hollow when tapped.
  • Remove from the bread pan and allow to cool completely on a cooling rack before slicing.

Notes

Prep time includes inactive raising time.
Recipe adapted from http://www.asplashofvanilla.com/
Tried this recipe? That's awesome!Mention @hostessatheart or tag #hostessatheart!

Now if you want to see how the pros bake bread, take a look at the other #BreadBakers contributions.

This month’s BreadBakers’ theme is Ancient Grains, hosted by Robin at A Shaggy Dough Story. Ancient grains are generally accepted to mean grains that have remained largely unchanged/un-hybridized over the last several hundred years, which means NO MODERN WHEAT. Here’s what our creative bakers came up with.

#BreadBakers is a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. You can see all our of lovely bread by following our Pinterest board right here. Links are also updated after each event on the #BreadBakers home page.

We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient. If you are a food blogger and would like to join us, just send Stacy an email with your blog URL to [email protected].

BreadBakers

This recipe is shared with link parties Throwback Thursday, Fiesta Friday and Saucy Saturdays! Come party with us and pick up some amazing recipes!

Spelt Bread is an ancient grains flour. The sweet nutty flavor makes one delicious bead.

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Comments

  3. Frugal Hausfrau says

    January 20, 2016 at 12:55 am

    I keep meaning to use the spelt in my cupboard – which I bought for bread and ending ulp sung in a salad instead. Now I’ve been remotivated!

    Thanks for linking up with us on Throwback Thursday – we appreciate it, and are always looking forward to next week’s posts, too!! 🙂 Be sure to follow our pinterest board, too! 🙂

    Mollie

    Reply

  6. cookingwithauntjuju.com says

    January 16, 2016 at 7:14 am

    This is a new bread for me so I can’t offer you any advice. Now sourdough I might be able to help 🙂 Looks really good and as always butter makes everything taste better. Are you having fun co-hosting? Lots of good recipes once again. Thanks for being a co-host Julie 🙂

    Reply

    • Julie Menghini says

      January 16, 2016 at 10:55 am

      Thank you Judi! I loved the flavor of spelt, but think it would be easier to work with mixed with another flour. I will be diving into sourdough soon so please be on call! I love co-hosting. The FF crowd are so kind and supportive as you know!

      Reply

  8. Jhuls says

    January 15, 2016 at 12:11 pm

    Wow! You are really doing a great job with your breads, Julie! You are inspiring me to bake more bread! This one looks so good! Thank you for co-hosting FF102! 🙂 Happy FF!

    Reply

    • Julie Menghini says

      January 15, 2016 at 12:32 pm

      Thank you so much Jhuls! I don’t know why I love baking bread. It’s just therapeutic all that kneading and watching it come to life. Not to mention the eating…my favorite part! 🙂

      Reply

  10. Angie @ fiestafriday.net says

    January 15, 2016 at 9:20 am

    Are you and Loretta trying to tell me something? Make your own bread! 🙂 It looks so good, Julie. I’ve never met any bread I don’t like, but haven’t tried spelt anything. Wait, I’ve had injera bread at Ethiopian restaurants. It’s delicious!

    Reply

    • Julie Menghini says

      January 15, 2016 at 9:23 am

      Thank you Angie! You are so danged talented Angie with the things that you do make that you could make bread with your eyes closed! I love the taste of this grain. Next time I’ll either mix it with bread flour or shorten the raise time. My lovely co-host, Elaine, is a great resource for bread!

      Reply

    • Julie Menghini says

      January 14, 2016 at 8:48 am

      It’s a great place to get some tips and see how some very talented bread people do it. I love baking bread, but there is so much more I want to learn. Hope you enjoy it Wendy!

      Reply

  13. Stacy says

    January 13, 2016 at 11:58 am

    In the original recipe I used, the author called for fast-acting yeast but said to leave it to rise until it doubled, approximately two hours! (Maybe he has a cold house in the chilly United Kingdom?) Well, mine was starting to overflow the pan in just over a half an hour in my warm sink. But then, sadly, the top did fall back down again. I figured it was just the spelt because his loaf wasn’t too rounded either, even after that supposedly long rise.. I’m intrigued to hear that Elaine is able to get a dome with all-spelt bread. Now I guess I’m just going to have to keep trying!

    Meanwhile, I think your loaf looks lovely, Julie, with a nice open crumb!

    Reply

  14. pattisj says

    January 13, 2016 at 12:45 am

    It has to be difficult to bake something unfamiliar, not knowing the expected outcome. Your loaf looks good from here, and if you found the perfect recipe for it, then it is a success in my book.

    Reply

  15. tentimestea says

    January 13, 2016 at 12:21 am

    Great loaf Julie! I’ve never baked a 100% spelt loaf before (normally I keep the whole grains at ~20-30%) because I find the dough so difficult to handle. Great words–as you said, success or not (I think it was quite a success!), it was an experience 🙂

    Reply

    • Julie Menghini says

      January 13, 2016 at 9:39 am

      Thank you! I loved the flavor of this grain and have so many ideas for changing it up. I guess that’s why we take on challenges right? Thank yu for stopping over. I’ll put my 20-30% ratio in with my tips so thank you for helping me out!

      Reply

  16. Anna says

    January 13, 2016 at 12:14 am

    This bread looks fabulous, Julie! I am always inspired by your beautiful loaves of bread! I also enjoyed learning more about the ancient grains — very interesting!

    Reply

    • Julie Menghini says

      January 13, 2016 at 9:40 am

      Thank you Anna! This was a delicious grain and I will definitely be using it again, but probably be mixing it with bread flour. Or reducing the raise time. So many great bakers have given me some tips!

      Reply

  22. Loretta says

    January 12, 2016 at 2:26 pm

    I had never heard of spelt flour before Julie, not before blogging anyway. I did look it up when I first came across it. You did a perfect job with yours, it looks wholesome and hearty and with that sweet, nutty flavor to enhance it, I’m sure it was wonderful! I love these challenges you partake in, I think it forces one to think outside the box eh? You’re doing a wonderful job. I’ve been thinking of you as I attempt some more “simpler” loaves. I made the KAF one that I will be posting about soon, more artisanal and rustic looking and it tasted good too.

    Reply

    • Julie Menghini says

      January 12, 2016 at 4:28 pm

      Thank you Loretta! This bread is really good. Elaine said she only raises once for 30 minutes. I’m going to try that here shortly and will update my post with my findings. My children gave me two bread books that I have been wanting for Christmas. I haven’t had a chance to dive into them yet but will soon. I think I am going to cut back and do only one bread group and only one link party (FF). It seems like I’m keeping up with them but that’s all I’m doing. I have a lot of post ideas that I want to try including your recipe you just posted. I haven’t cooked much with curry and really want to try it. John loves spice, and I think it will deliver!

      Reply

    • Julie Menghini says

      January 12, 2016 at 10:19 am

      Happy New Year Ana! I hope your holidays were wonderful and I think about you often. Thank you for stopping by. Fry your bread with butter on it and then smush avocado on it and top with an egg. Yummy!

      Reply

  28. Elaine @ foodbod says

    January 12, 2016 at 7:44 am

    It looks good! Well done 🙂 I can well imagine how good it tasted too. I’ve never added honey to my spelt loaves so I can’t comment exactly in your loaf, but all I would say is, I have only ever given my spelt loaves a single, short prove. Literally, half an hour and then bake, I’ve also used dried and fresh yeast on different occasions.
    I hope you enjoyed experimenting x

    Reply

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