Honey Maple Oat Bread

I love honey oat bread.  Adding maple flavoring was a entirely new twist to it.   It also is really good for French toast.

H0NEY MAPLE OAT BREAD 

(makes 2 loafs or 12 mini loafs)

Bread Ingredients:

*2 1/2 cups boiling water

*1 cup rolled oats (not instant)

*1/2 cup brown sugar

*1 teaspoons maple flavoring

*1 1/2 tablespoons honey

*1/4 cup butter

*1 tablespoon salt (sounds like a lot, but it's not)

*1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

*1 tablespoon active dry yeast

*5 cups all purpose flour (plus 1/2 if needed for kneading)

Topping Ingredients:

*1/8 cup honey

*1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

*1/4 cup rolled oats (not instant)

Directions:

~In a large mixing bowl, combine, 2 1/2 cups boiling water, 1 cup rolled oats, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon maple flavoring, 2 1/2 teaspoons honey, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. 

~Stir until butter is melted.

~Allow to cool to about 115-120 degrees.

~Add in 1 tablespoon yeast and 5 cups flour.

~Stir unit mixed.

~Knead dough until with dough hook for 7 minutes at low speed or by hand for 10-12 minutes (add up to 1/2 cup of flour as needed.   Dough should be tacky, but not sticking to your hands or the sides of the bowl).

~Place in a greased bowl and cover with a damp tea towel or plastic wrap.

~Place in a warm draft free area and allow to rise until doubled in size (about 1 hour).

~Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

~Gently punch down dough and place a a clean counter top.

~Divide dough in half.

~Roll dough to fit a greased 8 1/2 by 4 1/2 inch pan  (or dived each half into 6-8 pieces for mini loafs and place into a greased mini loaf pan).

~Cover with a damp tea towel or plastic wrap and place in a warm draft free area and allow to rise until doubled in size (40-60 minutes).

~In a small bowl, mix 1/8 cup honey and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon.

~Using a pastry brush, gently coast the top of the bread with the cinnamon honey.

~Sprinkle oats over top.

~Bake in preheated oven for 20.

~Turn pans and bake for another 15-20  minutes or until they are a golden brown and have a hollow sound when you tap the top (if the bread looks to brown when turning, place a piece of tented aluminum foil over  it.

~Remove from oven and pan.

~Place on a cooling rack to cool.