The Best Copycat Dave's Killer Bread Recipe

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I love Dave’s Killer Bread for its good ingredients and how perfect it is for sandwiches, so I decided to see if I could make a copycat of Dave’s Killer Bread recipe from scratch. It is surprisingly easy and tastes better than store-bought bread!

The Best Copycat Dave's Killer Bread Recipe - Better Baker Club (1)

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With my recipe, you can make two loaves of this multigrain seed bread for about half the price of store-bought bread, and if you’re a bread machine user, don’t worry- I’ve just updated the recipe to include a single loaf which is the right size for a standard bread machine.

You can also use this as a whole-grain dinner roll recipe, which is perfect for a healthy side dish for soup night! Keep reading to see what easy artisan baking techniques I use to get the softest whole-wheat bread you’ve ever tasted.

If you haven’t heard of Dave’s Killer Bread, then let me tell you why it’s so great.

Dave’s bread is a nutrition powerhouse. It’s full of whole grains, protein, and fiber, while still tasting delicious! The 21 Seed Bread has a chewy texture and great flavor.

Dave’s story

The story behind Dave’s is interesting. He spent time in prison, got out and went to work for his family’s bakery business, and developed a recipe for whole grain, organic, and non-GMO bread. He started selling his bread at a farmer’s market and it was so popular that he eventually sold his company for millions! ( 275 million to be exact)

Why the copycat recipe?

You can buy the original product if you choose, but it’s not available everywhere, and online the purchase price can be as high as $10 per loaf. If you’re interested in making high-quality, nutritious bread at home, this recipe is for you! To read more about the health benefits of Dave’s Bread, check out this article. Recently my local grocery store was sold out of the organic whole grain seed bread that I like so I went to my kitchen and got to work developing a copycat recipe for Daves Killer Bread 21 Seed Bread.

Overview of my copycat Dave’s Killer Bread recipe

This isn’t a hard recipe, but it does have many steps. Check out the overview of what this recipe involves so you can plan your baking day accordingly.

What to do the day before you want bread

The day before you just need to soak the wheat flour for about 12 hours. I usually do this in the evening and leave it soaking overnight.

You’ll also need to cook the wheat berries. They cook like rice and take about 30 minutes. I like to do this the night before so they are cooled when it’s time to mix the dough.

The Best Copycat Dave's Killer Bread Recipe - Better Baker Club (2)

What to do on the day you are ready to bake bread

The entire process takes about 3 hours, although Your time may vary slightly depending on the temperature of your kitchen, and the time of year. I usually start in the morning and have fresh bread ready in the early afternoon. Here is how the time breaks down:

Measure the ingredients– 20 minutes
Mix – 20 minutes
Proof- 30-45 minutes
Shape– 15 minutes
Proof -45 to 60 minutes
Bake– 30-40 minutes

Supplies you’ll need to make your own Dave’s Killer bread:

You will need to buy a few supplies to get started. Don’t be put off by the initial investment. While it’s true that it is a little pricy to get all the ingredients, they will last a long time. So if you plan on making this bread regularly, then the real savings come over time.

A great bread like this requires ingredients that are of the highest quality

Click on the links to see the products that create the most authentic version of Dave’s Killer Bread.

100% Whole White Wheat Flour– I like this Wheat Montana brand. Look for organic, non-GMO winter wheat. If you use stone-ground wheat it will not have the same texture as Dave’s Killer Bread does. You need whole white wheat for this recipe.

Gerbs Raw Super 5 Seed Mix– This is a good price for a seed blend. When I was testing the recipe I bought each seed variety separately. That can get very expensive. While this variety doesn’t have sesame seeds, it’s a good alternative.

5 Grain Rolled Cereal– These look like rolled oats, but the blend has a good variety of grains. It is more cost-effective to buy the blend rather than each type individually.

Wheat Berries– Any brand of wheat berries will work. Look for organic, Non-GMO wheat berries.

Vital Wheat Gluten Powder– Bob’s Red Mill has the best price that I have been able to find.

Vitamin C 500 mg capsule– Any variety will work here. Just be sure to crush it before adding it to the dough.

Bread Pans– This batch makes two loaves and they fit perfectly into 9×5 loaf pans.

Stand Mixer– I use the Kitchen Aid Professional series fitted with the dough hook attachment

Bread Machine– If you prefer a bread machine, the Breville has customizable loaf size options.

The Best Copycat Dave's Killer Bread Recipe - Better Baker Club (3)

Making a genuine copycat recipe for Daves Killer Bread requires some advanced techniques

To get the most authentic taste and texture from this loaf I’ve incorporated several artisan bread baker techniques. I’ll explain each one and what it does for the bread dough.

Soaking the wheat flour with vinegar for 12 hours-Soaking the flour for at least 12 hours in an acidic medium activates phytase, which is a chemical present in wheat. The phytase releases vitamins present in whole wheat flour and makes them more accessible. It also helps make the wheat more digestible.

Improving the gluten strength with Vitamin C-Vitamin C is also known as ascorbic acid. It works as a natural dough conditioner to strengthen the gluten. This creates more volume in the loaf, and a fine and even crumb.

The addition of Vital Wheat gluten-Since this dough has so many nuts and seeds they can weaken the gluten strands. The vital wheat gluten helps to strengthen the gluten even more.

Let’s bake this copycat Dave’s Killer Bread recipe!

Dave’s Killer Seed Bread Recipe

Makes two loaves

4.58 from 14 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 45 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Servings 2 Loaves

Equipment

Stand Mixer with Dough Hook

Ingredients

5 1/2 cups White wheat flour 25 oz
2 cups Water 16 oz
2 1/2 Tbsp Apple cider vinegar 0.70 oz
2 pkt Active dry yeast 4 1/2 tsp
1/2 cup Water 4 oz
3 Tbsp Agave 2 oz
1/2 cup Cooked wheat berries 3 oz
1/3 cup Grain blend 2 oz ( save 2 Tbsp for topping)
3/4 cup Seed blend 5 oz ( save 1/4 cup for topping)
3 tbsp Vegetable Oil 1.5 oz
2 1/2 tsp Salt 0.5 oz
5 tsp Vital wheat gluten 0.5 oz
1 capsule Vitamin C Crushed (about 4 g)

Instructions

The day before- soak 25 oz wheat flour, in 2 cups warm water and 2 ½ tbsp apple cider vinegar. (Add more water if necessary to absorb all the dry flour.) Mix it thoroughly, using your hands to combine all the ingredients well. Cover and leave at room temperature for at least 12 hours.
Precook 1/4 cup wheat berries by placing them in a small saucepan with the 2 cups of cooking water. Bring to boil, then turn down heat and simmer on low for 30 minutes. Drain wheat berries and allow to cool.
Mix the agave into the ½ cup water. Add the yeast and stir. Let it sit for 5 minutes to activate.
In the bowl of a stand mixer place the soaked wheat dough, yeast mixture, vegetable oil, salt, vital wheat gluten, and a crushed vitamin C capsule.
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Mix on low speed for 3-5 minutes. Increase to medium speed and mix for 4 minutes. The dough should be smooth and well developed.
Now add the cooked wheat berries, seed blend, and rolled grain blend. Mix on low speed for 4 minutes. ( Don't forget to reserve some grains and seeds for topping the bread)
Place the dough in a lightly oiled container with a lid, or cover it with plastic wrap. Let rest until the dough has doubled. (This may take from 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the temperature of your kitchen)
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal-sized portions.
Gently shape each dough portion into a rectangle and roll it up in a tight log. Pinch the seams together creating a loaf shape. Repeat for the other dough piece.
To top each loaf with grain blend and seeds: To do this place the reserved seed blend onto a large plate. Dampen a clean kitchen towel. Pick up each loaf by the seam and roll it back and forth on the towel getting as much surface area damp as possible. Now put the loaf into the plate of seeds and roll back and forth to get the seeds to stick. Repeat with the other loaf.
Place the seeded loaves into well-oiled pans.
Preheat oven to 350 °
Let the loaves proof for about 30-60 minutes. The actual time will depend on room temperature. When the loaf has crested above the loaf pan it's ready to bake.
Bake for 40 minutes in the pan. If you have a baking stone, remove the bread from the pan and place it on the stone for the last 10 minutes.
Allow to cool for about 10 minutes, then remove the loaf from the pan and place on a cooling rack to cool entirely.
To freeze- allow to fully cool, then slice loaf, wrap in plastic wrap, and cover completely in foil. Freeze for up to 1 month in a regular freezer or 6 months in a deep freezer

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Dave’s Killer Bread makes great dinner rolls too!

If you’re in the mood for something healthy to serve with soup or salad, just shape these into balls, and roll in the seed topping. I like to bake them on a pie plate, but you can also place them in an oiled muffin pan or on a cookie sheet.

Dave’s Killer Seed Bread for Bread Machine

Here are the step-by-step instructions for making Daves Killer Seed Bread in a Bread Machine. You won’t be able to top the loaf with the seed and grain blend, so all the good stuff gets added to the loaf instead.

Follow the directions for the original recipe using the smaller batch ingredient amounts listed below.
The day before baking, soak the wheat flour with vinegar and water. See the full recipe above for more details.
Pre-cook the wheat berries and allow them to cool before beginning.
Put all ingredients into the pan of the bread maker. Set the bread maker to a basic white bread setting or for whole wheat bread setting if your machine has that option.
Remove the bread from the machine when it is done and allow it to cool.