Light and Fluffy Multigrain Bread

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup multi-grain cereal (such as 7, 10 or 12-grain cereal *see Note 1 below)
• 2 cups boiling water
• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry or instant yeast ((not rapid or quick rise yeast))
• 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil (or other neutral tasting cooking oil, or melted and cooled butter)
• 1 Tablespoon honey (or light or dark brown sugar)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt
• 4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour (spooned and levelled *see Note 2 below)
• 1/3 cup raisins or dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup raw pumpkin or sunflower seeds (chopped)
• 1/4 cup nuts (pecans, walnuts etc) (chopped)
• 2 Tablespoons mixed small seeds (poppy, sesame and/or flax seeds)
• 1 large egg (mixed with 1 Tbsp water (or alternately, just water, for a vegan loaf, though seeds may not stick as well).)
• 2 teaspoons sesame seeds
• 2 teaspoons flax seeds
• 2 teaspoons poppy seeds
• Raw pumpkin and or sunflower seeds (optional)

Instructions

1. 1

   Place multigrain cereal in a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a kneading hook. Pour boiling water over, then let stand until mixture cools to between 105°F. and 115°F. for active dry yeast or to about 120F for Instant yeast, about 20 minutes. *Don't rush it. If your mixture is too hot, it may kill your yeast. A thermometer is handy here to make sure of the temperature before adding the yeast.

2. 2

   Sprinkle yeast over cereal mixture. If using Active Dry Yeast, allow to stand for 5-10 minutes before proceeding. Add 1 cup of the flour, the oil, honey (or brown sugar) and salt and stir until smooth. Gradually mix in the remaining flour, incorporating any of the optional add-ins during the mixing. Once all the flour is added, you'll have a moist dough that may also seem a bit loose. Resist the urge to add more flour at this point. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rest 15 minutes. The grains will absorb more of the moisture during the rest period.

3. 3

   Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Knead a few minutes until smooth and elastic, adding more flour, as needed, if it's sticking to your hands or the work surface.

4. 4

   Oil a large bowl or measuring cup. Add the dough to the bowl, then flip over the ball of dough so the oiled side is up. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in warm spot until doubled in size. Don't wander far. This bread is a quick riser and may double in as little as 35-40 minutes. It may take longer. The important thing is to make sure it rises only until doubled, no matter how long that is.

5. 5

   Prepare the Seed Mixture by stirring together all the seeds in a small bowl. Set aside.

6. 6

   When dough has doubled in size, remove to a work surface and gently deflate dough by pressing down the dough.

7. 7

   Grease one 9x5-inch loaf pan or two 8x4-inch loaf pans. Sprinkle a bit of the seed mixture into the pan (or divide between two pans), if you like. For 8x4-inch loaves, divide the dough into two equal-sized pieces. For a 9x5-inch loaf, leave as one piece. Roll the dough out into a rectangle about 10 inches wide and 18 inches long for a 9x5 loaf, or 9x16-inch rectangles each of the two 8x4 loaves. Roll up jelly rolls style, starting with the short side, then pinch seams together. Place rolls seam side down into prepared loaf pan(s).

8. 8

   Cover the loaves with a clean kitchen towel or greased/sprayed plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in size, about 25- 30 minutes.

9. 9

   When the dough is nearing risen, preheat oven to 425F. (regular bake/non-convection), with rack positioned just below centre (a little lower rack position, one down from centre, will help to keep the top of the bread from browning as quickly).

10. 10

    Before baking, brush the top of the loaf with the egg wash and sprinkle the top with the remaining seed mixture. Use the palm of your hand to press the seeds into the top of the loaf slightly to help them stick.

11. 11

    Bake in preheated 425F oven for 18-20 minutes, then cover the top loosely with a sheet of aluminum foil to prevent over-browning. Bake a further 20-25 minutes for a 9x5 loaf or 10-15 minutes for 8x4 loaves, or until golden and crusty and have an internal temperature of 195-205F when tested with an instant-read thermometer. *Bread will look done, even when it isn't cooked through. The large 9x5 loaf will need the full 40-45 minutes in the oven to be cooked through.

12. 12

    Remove from oven. Run a knife around the edges of the pan and immediately remove to a cooling rack to cool. Allow to cool completely (or almost completely) before slicing to avoid a gummy bread.

13. 13

    Store bread well wrapped at room temperature for a couple of days, or freeze for longer storage. This bread will freeze well for up to 2-3 months or more.