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Grape-nuts Bran Bread by DK on Oct 16, 2009

Healthy Grapenuts Cereal Bran Bread Recipe
We are not who you could call as cereal eaters. Our breakfast mostly is made up of toasts, pancakes, typical Indian breakfast items etc. The only reason I actually do buy cereals is for baking purposes. The nutrition in all these fortified cereals now a days available in the market is simply mind boggling and it seems an utter waste to me not consuming them in more ways than just one. Recently while on such a research spree, I came across this Grape Nuts Cereal. Brimming with the goodness of wheat and barley, it caught my eye along with the fact that it was called as Grape Nuts.
Healthy Grapenuts Cereal Bran Bread Recipe
I have read quite a few story variations for the origin of the name and this is one from cookbook author Diana Shaw whose recipe is what I have showcased today. She gives a snippet for the origin of the name which I have re produced below:
Why is a cereal that contains neither grapes nor nuts called Grape nuts? Because during his stay at John Kellogg's popular Battle Creek Sanitorium (perhaps America's first health spa), Charles Post observed that people would pay for "health foods". He first tried to market his cereal as Elijah's Manna, with predictable results. Then Post renamed his product to exploit the fact that most people thinking "grapes" and "nuts" also think "wholesome,nutritious." It worked, and Mr. Post's motto became, "All I have I owe to advertising."
Healthy Grapenuts Cereal Bran Bread Recipe Regardless of the story, I can tell you one thing which I know for a fact. This bread is indeed wholesome and nutritious. It is one of those breads which is chewy and hearty and would make one wonder what is in it and yet feel completely at peace knowing the benefits that would be reaped from it! Whole wheat flour, Wheat Bran, grape Nut cereal with little of all purpose flour constitutes the bread. Flavor and health do go hand in hand and it is almost fat free. I swerved away from my usual tinkering of a recipe - this was simply perfect as it was. Healthy Grapenuts Cereal Bran Bread Recipe
  • Cook time:
  • Prep time:
  • Yields: Makes 2 (8-9" loaves) Serves 16
Ingredients
  • 2/3 cup Grape-Nuts cereal
  • 1/3 cup wheat bran (not the cereal - can also use oat bran)
  • 1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1-1/3 cups boiling water
  • 1 tbsp (1 packet) dry active yeast
  • 1 tsp granulated sugar
  • 2/3 cup lukewarm water
  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2-3 cups unbleached all purpose flour
  • cornmeal for dusting
Method
1. In a bowl, combine the grapenut cereal, bran and brown sugar.
2. Stir in the boiling water and set aside until cool.
3. In another bowl, combine the yeast, granulated sugar and warm water. Let it stand until frothy, about 5 minutes. The froth shows you that the yeast is alive and kicking :)
4. Give the Grape Nuts mixture a good stir, then add it to the yeast mixture.
5. Stirring by hand or using the dough hook/blade in a mix master or processor, blend in the whole wheat flour, salt and as much of the APF as necessary to make a dough that's soft, but firm enough to handle, starting with 2 cups
6. and adding more as needed.
7. Lightly flour a flat work surface. Turn the dough and knead until smooth (about 15 min). Roll it into a ball.
8. In a clean bowl, place the dough, cover with a plastic wrap.
9. Set aside to rise until doubled - about 1 hour or so, depending on your area.
10. Punch down the dough, turn it out again, and knead until pressed out all of the air, about 3 minutes. Shape it into a ball. Cut the ball into 2 equal pieces.
11. Shape each piece into a tight ball. Take a baking sheet and dust it with cornmeal.
12. Place the balls on it and cover with a plastic wrap kitchen towel dusted with flour and let rise until doubled - about 40-45 minutes.
13. If you have a baking stone, then Preheat the oven along with the stone at 450F about 40 minutes before baking. If not, you can follow this method. Deflate the dough a bit, pat them gently into shape again. Using a serrated knife score a "X" on top of both the balls ( or any other pattern you desire) and place the loaves in a Preheated 450F oven.
14. Close the oven for about 15 seconds. Open the oven and squirt inside with water to make steam using spritzer bottle ( or any gizmo you posses to do this!!). Or else you can simply splash water from a cup onto the oven floor ( be careful not to splash it on the hot Oven light). Close the door for 30 seconds and then repeat.Bake until the loaves are dark brown and sound hollow when tapped from the bottom. It takes about 45 minutes or so to bake.
15. Cool completely on a wire rack or on kitchen towels/paper towels
Slice and serve. They also freeze well. They made excellent breakfast, as toast also as healthy and filling evening snack. Bread Machine Option If you have a bread machine, then place all of the ingredients in your bread maker ( as per your manufacture's instructions). Once the dough has risen, take it out of the machine, shape it as mentioned in the recipe, and continue to follow the recipe from that point onwards. Healthy Grapenuts Cereal Bran Bread Recipe

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By T. S. on May 30, 2012

This turned out perfectly, and it was delicous! I've made it twice now. The first time I forgot it in the oven so it looks a little too toasted in the photo, but the texture and taste was still perfect. A great recipe. I will make it again :)

11 Comments

By Amazon.com: The best online grocery and household deals this week :: Money Saving Mom® on May 30, 2012

[...] boxes) for $2.77 each. You don’t have to use this just as breakfast cereal; you can also make bread, muffins and snack bars with [...]

By Samia on May 21, 2011

Hi, Thank you very much for sharing the recipie. I have just baked it but was about to become like a black rock!! Thanks God I went to check the oven the I saved it from burning! Anyway The oven temperature for baking this bread is very high for the suposed time .. or it needs less heat or less time .

Every oven is different. The temperature was right for my oven hence the mention. :)

By zorra on Oct 25, 2009

Love the step-by-step photos and of course the bread! Thank you for your participation in World Bread Day 2009. Yes you baked! :-)

By Barbara Raber on Oct 20, 2009

Can this recipe be done in a bread machine?

Hi Barbara, yes this recipe can be made using Bread Machine - I have updated the post with the details. Thanks :) -- DK

By RedChillies on Oct 16, 2009

Very interesting recipe DK. Would never have thought of making bread from the cereal. Wishing you and yours a very happy Diwali.

By Mansi on Oct 16, 2009

Hey DK, hope you are doing good! Happy Diwali to you and I'd also like to invite you to dish out something sweet for the Sweet celebrations event on my blog if you can!:)

By Priya Srinivasan on Oct 16, 2009

Hey DK Happy Diwali!!!! Looks So Delicious!!! Wish we can grab some from our screens :)

By Trish on Oct 16, 2009

Wow...what a cool post! Haven't had cereal in my pantry for so long but now....maybe there is good reason to!

By Pavani on Oct 16, 2009

Looks wholesome and delicious.

By CurryLeaf on Oct 16, 2009

Interesting Post.I too have seen grape nuts cereal but always thght it may contain dried grapes -dunno where I got that idea from, Anyway thanks for the post and the healthy bread.How do you create such excellent bread recipes,I cannot do that thgh I wish fervently. I too buy cereal for baking,some of it are waiting for their turn.Again GREAT BREAD Have a HEARTY BFAST

By Priya on Oct 16, 2009

Such an interesting and gorgeous breads!! prefectly baked buns DK..