Honey Oat Bread

 Good as is or excellent for French toast.

HONEY OAT BREAD

(makes 1 loaf)

Bread Ingredients:

*1/4 cup honey

*1 1/3 cups warm water

*2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

*3 cups bread flour (or all-purpose)

*1 cup old fashions oats

*1/3 cup powdered dry milk

*1 1/2 teaspoons salt

*3 tablespoons butter

Topping Ingredients:

*2 tablespoons honey, warmed up 

*2 tablespoons old fashioned oats

Directions:

~In a small bowl, stir 1/4 cup honey, and 1 1/3 cups warm water together.

~Sprinkle 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast over top and set aside to proof, or foamy (about 10 minutes).

~In a large mixing bowl,  mix 3 cups bread flour, 1 cup old fashioned oats, 1/3 cup powdered dry milk, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt together.

~Stir in melted butter.

~Stir in yeast mixture until just comes together (shaggy).

~Knead dough until it's smooth (will have lumps from the oats, but the dough will become smooth).

~Place in a large greased bowl (or proofing bowl) and place plastic wrap or a clean damp towel over it.

~Keep in a warm draft free area until it is double in size (about 90 minutes).

~Grease a loaf pan with butter, olive oil or cooking spray (I use a 9x5 inch pan).

~Pat out dough and form into a loaf.

~Place into prepared loaf pan.

~Cover with plastic wrap or a clean damp towel until doubled in size (60 minutes or so).

~Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

~Using a pastry brush, gently brush 2 tablespoons of warm honey over top of dough.

~Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of old fashioned oats over top of bread.

~Bake for 35-40 minutes or until bread is done and a golden brown color.

~Remove from pan and cool completely on a wire rack.