This is the flagship bread of The Breadlab Collective and the signature bread of our lab sandwich bars.
Jeff Yankellow, a founding member of The Breadlab Collective, developed the original Approachable Loaf formula with WSU Breadlab in 2018. It bakes beautifully at 100% whole wheat.
Here is Jeff’s formula.
Formula:
| Dough Yield: | 2.000 kg |
| Pre-fermented whole wheat flour = | 12 % |
| WHOLE WHEAT LEVAIN 16 HOURS | BAKERS % | |
|---|---|---|
| Whole Wheat Flour | 0.119 kg | 100.0 % |
| Water | 0.119 kg | 100.0 % |
| Starter | 0.003 kg | 2.00 % |
| TOTAL | 0.240 kg | 202.0 % |
| FINAL DOUGH | BAKERS % | |
|---|---|---|
| Whole Wheat Flour | 0.870 kg | 100.0 % |
| Water | 0.742 kg | 85.2 % |
| Salt | 0.019 kg | 2.2 % |
| Yeast | 0.007 kg | |
| Honey | 0.069 kg | 8.0 % |
| Olive Oil | 0.052 kg | 6.0 % |
| Levain | 0.240 kg | 27.6 % |
| TOTAL | 2.000 kg | 229.8 % |
| OVERALL FORMULA | BAKERS % | |
|---|---|---|
| Whole Wheat Flour | 0.989 kg | 100.00 % |
| Water | 0.860 kg | 87.00 % |
| Salt | 0.019 kg | 1.90 % |
| Yeast | 0.007 kg | |
| Honey | 0.069 kg | 7.00 % |
| Olive Oil | 0.052 kg | 5.25 % |
| Starter | 0.003 kg | 0.027 % |
| TOTAL | 2.000 kg | 202.22 % |
Method:
Levain
- Mix ingredients until well incorporated. Cover and let rest 12-14 hours at room temperature.
Final Dough
- Add all ingredients to the bowl, holding back about 10% water.
- Mix 3 minutes in first speed.
- Mix 4-6 minutes in second speed, adding water after some development. Desired dough temperature is 74-80°F.
- Bulk fermentation: 1 hour
- Fold at 30 minutes
- Divede at 1000g for 9″x5″ pan.
- Rest 30 minutes.
- Shape and proof in greased loaf pans.
- Heat oven to 400°F.
- Final proof: 60-90 minutes at room temperature.
- Score if desired.
- Load into oven and drip temperature to 350°F. Bake for 40-45 minutes.
In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, the online forum The Fresh Loaf hosted a Community Bake of the Approachable Loaf. There are different takes on the formula and method and lots of tips and tricks from a very enthusiastic baking community!