Whole Wheat Baguettes – Delicious french baguettes made with hearty wheat flour. Perfect crumb and crust. Amazing side to every meal and especially with pasta. You’ll love the flavor and the soft interior.
I’m a bread girl from way back. I know carbs get a bad rap but I just can’t make myself stay away from them. I just can’t. So….in order to make me think I can get away with it I just make wheat baguettes.
Now I’m eating healthy grains and getting in my carb quota too. Win-win. These particular baguettes are not all whole wheat but they are about 1/2 whole wheat, 1/2 all purpose. They proved to be quite tasty, providing the great flavor of whole wheat without bitterness.
These paired perfectly with soup night. You know the soups, right? I just make soup all the time around here. You probably think we eat soup every day. Well, not quite but when we do I am very proud to serve up some delicious home made bread with it. Perfect dinner. Or lunch. Done!
When I make baguettes I love to picture being in France and just walking down the streets and picking out fresh bread from the baskets. In my day dream I always envision myself eating an entire loaf as I float down the beautiful streets. Actually, I may have a perfect turquoise bicycle with a bread basket attached. On my way, I grab some flowers and cheese too.
I glide on home and serve this wonderful bread and cheese to my happy family. *Special note* This family is happy. There is zero arguing. Just, “Hi Mother. How was your trip into town? What variety of cheese and bread did you pick out today? Would you like us to help you cut things up? We already got the table ready and poured some fresh tea.”
Screech. Melanie, that daydream went a little too far. You know that ain’t ever happening. Well, it was fun while it lasted. Just kick me in the pants and I’ll get back to work and leave you daydreaming instead. Where do your daydreams sometimes take you?
Love and blessings to you,
Melanie
French Baguette Dual Loaf Bread Pan was purchased from Amazon. This pizza paddle makes the taking the bread to and from the oven so much easier. I also use the 12 inch Lodge Skillet to get the crisp exterior that I love! This recipe makes 3 baguettes. I placed two on the the baguette pan and baked those on the cast iron pan. I baked the third on a small stone beside it on the same rack. If you have a baking stone, use it and you will get a perfect crust on your breads! Have fun baking!
Wheat Baguettes
Ingredients
Pre-ferment
- 1 cup 4 ounces traditional whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup 4 ounces cool water
- pinch of instant yeast
Dough
- All of the pre-ferment
- 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons 7 ounces cool water
- 1/4 cup 2 ounces orange juice
- 1 1/4 cups 5 ounces traditional whole wheat flour
- 2 1/4 cups 9 1/2 ounces unbleached bread flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 teaspoon instant yeast
Instructions
To prepare the pre-ferment:
- Mix the pre-ferment ingredients in a small bowl, cover and let rest overnight at room temperature.
To prepare the dough:
- Combine all ingredients, and mix and knead them- by hand, mixer or bread machine - until you have a dough that's cohesive, but whose surface is still a bit rough. If you use bread machine, cancel after about 7 minutes of kneading. Cover with lightly greased plastic wrap and allow to rise for 3 to 4 hours, gently deflating and turning over once each hour.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide into 3 pieces. Shape each into a rough, slightly flattened oval. Cover with greased plastic and let rise 15 minutes. Lightly grease a large baking sheet or line with parchment.
- Working with one piece of dough at a time, keeping the others covered, fold dough in half lengthwise, and seal the edges with the heel of your hand. Flatten it slightly, and fold and seal again. With seam side down, cup your fingers and gently roll the dough into a 16 inch log.
- Place them on the prepared pan. Cover with lightly greased plastic and allow to rise 30 minutes. Drape gently with heavily greased plastic wrap (don't anchor the wrap to the edges of the pan), and refrigerate overnight. The next day let loaves rest at room temperature for about 1 1/2 hours, covered with proof cover or lightly greased plastic wrap, before baking.
- About 30 minutes before you're ready to bake the baguettes, preheat oven to 425 degrees F. If you're using a stone place it on the lowest shelf.
To bake baguettes:
- Uncover. Lift them along with parchment onto a peel, and then transfer them to stone. If you're using a baking sheet, simply place the sheet on the middle of the rack of the oven.
- Bake for 18 minutes, cover lightly with foil. Bake for additional 5 minutes, until they're deep golden brown. Best served the same day.
*Notes*
- I use my Lodge cast iron pizza pan for bread to give it the crisp outside that we love.
- I used the perforated aluminum french baguette pan. I purchased from Amazon. There's a link included in the post if you want to check it out.
- I also use my bamboo paddle for getting bread to the hot stone and back to the counter without burning myself. There's a link included for that as well.
Recipe from King Arthur Flour Whole Grain Baking
Linked to: Show Stopper Saturday @ Joyful Healthy Eats
Sarah@WholeAndHeavenlyOven says
You sound exactly like myself! Soup is a regular occurrence around here as well! These baguettes look incredible and I love that they are whole wheat as well!
Melanie says
Thanks Sarah! Can’t go wrong with soup and bread in my humble opinion. 🙂
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
I don’t think anything smells better than baking bread. Yum! I’m going to have to get myself one of those baguette pans. Amazing. Let’s eat all the carbs!
Melanie says
I know. Smelling or tasting it….hmmm which one is better?
Allie | Baking a Moment says
Ha ha! I love that the bicycle is turquoise. I can just picture the whole scene! I think your fantasy is now my fantasy too 😉 Gorgeous loaves; I’ve gotta get more into bread baking!!!
Melanie says
Glad we can share daydreams. 🙂
Consuelo @ Honey & Figs says
I’m not the biggest fan of carbs other than bread that is. Nothing like a warm loaf fresh out of the oven to make me happy hehe. Love that your version is healthier as well! I really need to try this <3
Melanie says
Thanks Consuelo!
Alyssa @ My Sequined Life says
Ooooh those loaves look amazing! I’ve rarely met a carb I haven’t gotten along famously with, but breads with a crispy crust and soft and chewy inside juuust might be my favorite. Loving the fact that you used a mix of whole wheat and all-purpose flour here. I’d so love to dunk a slice into homemade soup right now! 🙂
Melanie says
Thanks by stopping by Alyssa!
cheri says
Your baguettes look wonderful, love the pan, I didn’t know they made such a thing. Thanks!
Melanie says
Thanks Cheri! I am so glad you stopped by. If you make bread, I’m sure you’d get great use out of it.
Krista @ Joyful Healthy Eats says
Girl where were you last night. These would have been perfect with the Shrimp Pasta dish I made last night! Totally need to go and get one of those pans on Amazon. Always love your recipes my friend. Pinned!
Melanie says
I’m sorry! I sure would love to dine with you sometime. And I’d be more than happy to bring along the bread. 🙂
Jess says
These look amazing- I recently made baguettes for the first time- so tasty! Loving the fact these are whole wheat! Delicious 🙂
Melanie says
Thanks Jess! Glad you stopped by. 🙂
Chris @ Shared Appetite says
Mmm I love baguette. My wife and I would grab a baguette every morning during our honeymoon in Paris a couple years back. I’ve yet to make baguette at home… obviously that needs to change 🙂
Melanie says
Wow. That must have been cool, honeymooning in Paris. You definitely need to try making them Chris. So fun!
Jocelyn@Brucrewlife says
I can’t seem to get away from carbs either!! It’s a struggle for sure because they just taste So. Good. These baguettes are something I need to make! They sound perfect! 🙂
Melanie says
Thanks Jocelyn for stopping by. Hope you find time to make them.
Diana says
I’m a big fan of homemade bread, I never buy bread I just bake it at home. I will definitely try this recipe this weekend although I don’t have a special baguette baking tray… but I will let you know how do they turn out! 🙂
Melanie says
Thanks Diana! I hope you do come back and let us know what you think. Hope it turns out great!