Amazing Grape Nuts & Grains

This is a workhorse multigrain bread that proves a bread machine can do more than a basic white loaf. The combo of Grape Nuts cereal and seven-grain cereal does double duty: the Grape Nuts give the crumb a subtle malted sweetness and a slightly chewy bite, while the seven-grain blend brings real nutty texture and visible whole grains throughout the slice. A spoon of honey rounds out the flavor and helps the yeast along.

Applesauce stands in for fat here, which keeps the bread tender without adding any actual oil. It’s a baker’s trick borrowed from healthy quick breads, and it works beautifully in yeast loaves too. Just enough whole wheat flour gets folded in to deepen the color and flavor without making the loaf heavy.

Use the machine’s whole-grain cycle if you have one. Otherwise, the standard basic cycle works fine.

Kitchen Tips

• Add ingredients in your machine’s recommended order, usually liquids first, then dry, then yeast on top.
• If the dough looks dry during the first knead, add water 1 tablespoon at a time. Whole grains absorb a lot of moisture.
• Cool completely on a rack before slicing, or the crumb will gum up the knife.
• Toast slices for breakfast with butter and jam, or use for hearty sandwiches.

Variations

• Stir in ¼ cup chopped walnuts or sunflower seeds at the add-in beep for extra crunch.
• Swap honey for molasses for a darker, deeper-flavored loaf.
• Add 2 tablespoons of flax meal for an omega-3 boost.