100% Organic Whole Wheat, Dairy-Free Bread

My husband bought me a beautiful Cuisanart bread machine early this year for making gluten-free bread.  While I am still on the hunt for a perfect GF bread recipe, I did come across one that is pretty easy.  It still leaves a lot to be desired in the actual mixing and heaviness departments, but it's working for now.  That process made me consider baking bread for the entire family, and so I began looking for great 100% whole wheat bread machine recipes.

Thanks to a dear friend, I had a starting point.  The recipe she gave me was wonderful, but I have been tweaking it a bit to fit into my non-dairy life.  So, here is my take on the perfect 100% whole wheat, dairy-free bread:

1½ c. + 2 T warm water

2 T extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)

4½ c. 100% organic, unbromated whole wheat flour

2 t sea salt

⅓ c. packed organic brown cane sugar

1½ T dry non-dairy milk alternative

2 t organic vital wheat gluten

2¼ t organic active dry yeast

Place the warm water and EVOO in the bread pan with the paddle attached.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine the flour, sea salt, brown cane sugar, non-dairy milk alternative, and the vital wheat gluten.  Use a wire whisk to break up the brown sugar and ensure proper mixing of all ingredients.

Carefully pour the dry ingredients into the bread pan, and make a well in the center.  Place the yeast in the well, and set your bread machine to the 2-lb. Whole Wheat setting.  Choose your crust lightness level, and decide if you would like to add mix-ins into your bread.  I like to add 1 t roasted, ground flax seed and a few squirts of organic clover honey.  Experiment and see what you like in yours.

Note: for those not sensitive to milk, cut the flour to 4¼ cups and use 3 T of dry milk.  The rest remains the same.