Harvest Round Bread(Breadmaker)

This harvest bread is a beautifully braided round loaf packed with wholesome ingredients. Whole wheat flour, oats, shredded carrots, raisins, and nuts all go into a bread machine dough sweetened with honey and molasses. The machine handles the mixing and rising, then you shape the dough into two braided circles by hand.

The carrot adds moisture and a faint sweetness to the crumb without being detectable as a vegetable. Combined with the oats and whole wheat, you get a dense, hearty loaf with a slightly nutty, earthy flavor that pairs well with soups, stews, or just a thick spread of butter.

Braiding the dough into ropes and forming them into circles creates a beautiful presentation that looks like it took far more effort than it did. Three ropes per loaf, braided and joined at the ends into a wreath shape. The braid also gives you more crust surface area, which means more of that golden, slightly chewy exterior.

Kitchen Tips

• Use the dough cycle on your bread machine. This recipe shapes and bakes by hand
• Roll the ropes to an even thickness so the braid looks uniform and bakes evenly
• Pinch the ends together firmly and tuck them under so they don’t separate during baking
• Let the braided rounds proof until nearly doubled before baking for the lightest texture

Variations

• Swap raisins for dried cranberries for a tart, seasonal twist
• Add a teaspoon of cinnamon to the dough for a warmly spiced version
• Brush with an egg wash before baking for a shiny, golden crust