Hearty Whole-Wheat & Honey Sandwich Loaf

1. Prepare the Sponge

In a large bowl, combine the bread flour, water, and yeast. Stir the mixture until it forms a uniform mass, which should take about a minute. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rest at room temperature for 8 to 24 hours.

2. Make the Soaker

In another large bowl, mix together the whole-wheat flour, wheat germ, and milk until combined. Turn the mixture out onto a floured counter and knead it for 2 to 3 minutes until it becomes a smooth dough. Place the dough back in the bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and let it rest at room temperature for 8 to 24 hours.

3. Prepare the Dough

Tear the soaker into small pieces and place them in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add the sponge, softened butter, honey, yeast, vegetable oil, and salt. Mix on low speed for about 2 minutes until the ingredients start to come together. Increase the speed to medium and knead the dough for 8 to 10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured counter and knead it by hand for another minute to ensure it's well mixed.

4. First Rise

Place the dough in a large greased bowl, turning it to coat all sides with oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise at room temperature for about 45 minutes or until it has doubled in size.

5. Deflate & Fold

Using a vegetable oil-sprayed spatula or bowl scraper, deflate the dough by gently pressing down in the center and folding the edges into the middle. Rotate the bowl and repeat this process a few times to ensure even deflation. Cover the bowl again with plastic wrap and let the dough rise for another 45 minutes.

6. Shape and Bake

After the second rise, turn the dough out onto a lightly floured counter. Divide it into two equal pieces and shape each piece into a loaf. Place the loaves into two greased 8-inch loaf pans. Cover the pans with plastic wrap and let the loaves rise until they have doubled in size, which should take about 45 minutes to an hour. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees during the final rise. Bake the loaves for 35 to 40 minutes until they are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom. Let the loaves cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.