Bird Seed Bread Recipe

I'm not sure where I found this recipe, but I was pretty excited to try it because it seemed hearty and healthy. I'm looking for a great sandwich bread, and this seems like a good candidate except that I don't usually make sandwiches on braided bread. So I decided to make one as a braided loaf and another as a regular loaf. I rarely make braided bread, but every time I do I think, "Braided bread is so easy. How come I don't do this more often?" And this loaf is no exception! So easy. Now, I will say I found that you probably really need 5 cups of flour and not the 4 the recipe says. It was a very sticky dough for me... But it made a wonderful sandwich bread!!

1¾ cup water

½ cup rolled oats

½ cup honey

¼ cup powdered milk

2 tsp salt

1 egg

2 tbsp oil

1 tbsp poppy seeds

1 tbsp sunflower seeds

1 tbsp pumpkin seeds

1 tbsp millet

1 tbsp sesame seeds

2 cup wheat flour

2 cup flour

4 tsp yeast

Topping:

1 egg white

3 tbsp mixed seeds 

1. Prepare all your ingredients together to make sure you have everything you need.
2. Bring the water to a boil and pour into a large bowl.
3. Add in the rolled oats, powdered milk, oil, honey, and salt.
4. Mix together and then allow to sit for 10 minutes.
5. After the mixture and cooled down add in the egg.
6. Now, add in the instant yeast and all the seeds.
7. Start to add in the flour a cup at a time, starting with the whole wheat flour.
8. When the mixture becomes too hard to mix in the bowl, pour out onto a floured flat surface.
9. Add more flour on top and begin to knead.
10. Continue to add more flour as needed and knead for about 10 to 15 minutes. The dough will become smooth and elastic.
11. Add a little oil to a bowl and place the kneaded dough into the bowl. Turn the dough over a few time to lightly coat all sides of the dough. Cover with a towel and allow to sit until double in size (about 1 hour).
12. After the dough has risen, turn it out onto a flat surface.
13. Cut the dough into half. Take one piece and cut into 3 pieces.
14. Roll out into a long rope about 15 inches in length.
15. Place the tips together and seal.
16. Now braid the three pieces together.
17. Do the same with the other half of the dough.
18. Place onto a parchment lined cookie sheet and cover with a towel.
19. Allow to rest until double in size (about 1 hour).
20. After the dough has risen you want to make the topping.
21. Take the egg white and place into a bowl. Beat with a whisk until the egg white become a foam.
22. Brush onto the 2 braided loaves.
23. Sprinkle the top with mixed seeds.
24. Preheat the oven to 350° and bake for 30-35 minutes.
25. The bottom of the loaves will sound hollow when tapped.
26. Remove from oven and place onto a wire rack to cool.