Recipe: Oats and Honey Bread

Whether you prefer to knead and bake it in the oven or use your bread machine, this recipe will be a family favorite. Oats and honey add flavor to traditional bread, giving it an extra kick your family will love. The quick oats are healthy and add texture, and the slight honey-sweet taste is sure to please!

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons of olive oil
• 1 3/4 cups warm unsweetened almond milk (directions below)
• 2 packets of active dry yeast (or 1 1/2 tablespoons)
• 3/4 cup quick-cooking oats and additional for garnish
• 1/3 cup honey
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 5 cups (approximately) all-purpose flour, or try a 50/50 white and wheat blend for added flavor
• 1 large egg

Directions

1. In a microwave, heat the almond milk for 1 minute and 40 seconds to be very hot. Let sit to reduce temperature to 100 to 110 F.
2. In a stand mixer or large bowl, add the hot milk. Stir in beaten egg, honey, oil and salt. Add the yeast until fully mixed.
3. Slowly add in the flour and oats to the large bowl of liquid mixture and mix on low. You should use a bread attachment if using a stand mixer.
4. Coat another large bowl with oil. Transfer the dough to the bowl and turn it to coat.
5. Cover with plastic wrap (spray with cooking spray first to keep it from sticking to the dough), then cover with a kitchen towel and let rise at room temperature until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
6. Oil two 8 1/2-inch x 4 1/2-inch x 2 1/2-inch loaf pans.
7. Punch down the dough; shape into two loaves. Place one loaf in each pan. Cover and let rise in a warm, draft-free area until almost doubled in volume, about 20 minutes.
8. Preheat oven to 350 F.
9. Sprinkle with additional oats for garnish.
10. Bake until brown on top and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Cool completely.

Ingredient health benefits

• Olive oil: This cooking oil is as ancient as it is nutritious! Olive oil is loaded with unsaturated fats that help raise your “good” (HDL) cholesterol while lowering your “bad” (LDL) cholesterol. And they’re not the only heart-healthy compounds in town: Polyphenols help lower inflammation that can lead to certain health conditions in the long term, like cancer and heart disease. Olive oil also has fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins D and K for strong bones and muscles and healthy blood cells.
• Almond milk: A vegan-friendly dairy alternative, almond milk is a good source of vitamin E. This essential vitamin is famous for promoting your skin health, but it protects your eyes and immune system from disease as well. Almond milk is also a lower-calorie option compared to cow’s milk, if that’s something you want to keep an eye on.
• Oats: When it comes to whole grains, oats just may be the GOAT (grain of all time). They’re packed with digestion-friendly fiber and vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) to help lower your cholesterol levels, making them a smart choice for your heart. Oats also have magnesium, phosphorus, iron and copper, and they’re high in manganese. These minerals are important for supporting the health of your bones and blood cells. You can also count on vitamin B1 (thiamine) and zinc to keep your immune cells in peak condition.
• Honey: It’s not just a sweet deal for your taste buds! Honey is full of antioxidants like polyphenols and flavonoids, which help protect your cells from harm. They do this by fighting inflammation and free radicals, tiny particles that damage your cells and contribute to disease if left unchecked.
• Eggs: They’re easy to add to just about any recipe, but are eggs really all they’re cracked up to be? The answer is yes! Scrambled or sunny side up, eggs are a meat-free complete protein, meaning that they have you covered for all the amino acids you need and can’t make by yourself. They also have lutein, vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamin B12 — all of which are excellent for your eyes and vision! And last but not least, there’s vitamin B9 (folate) for head-to-toe health.

Nutrition information (per serving)

Serving = 2 slices
Each loaf makes about 16 slices

Calories: 100
Protein: 2.2 g
Carbohydrates: 16 g
Fat: 2.2 g (0.7 g saturated fat)
Calcium: 6 mg