Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bread

Yuummm!!!  This is my new obsession -- Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bread!!!  This makes a great breakfast, lunch, and (midnight) snack!  If you are looking for something a little sweet after putting the kids to bed, make a double batch of this to have on hand in your freezer!  Skip the twinkies and fruit roll ups in your kids' (or husband's) lunch boxes and pack them a piece of this!  They will definitely thank you! 

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bread Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon (1 packet) yeast
• 1 1/2 cups warm water
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 cups flour
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (or semi-sweet)

Directions  

1. In a large bowl, mix flour, oats, salt, and cinnamon.
2. In a small bowl, combine yeast, honey, vanilla, butter, and water.  Mix until yeast is dissolved.  Let sit until mixture begins to foam up.
3. Add yeast mixture to flour mixture and stir.  Add chocolate chips.  Knead mixture for 5 minutes.  
4. Place in a greased bowl and cover with a towel.  Let rise in a warm place until doubled in size. (Around 45 minutes)
5. Place dough into a greased loaf pan (I use 9x5)
6. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  (To bake in the Crock Pot, follow these directions, starting at #2)

To Freeze as Baked Bread: 
After bread is completely cooled, place in freezer bag and stick in freezer for up to 6 weeks.  You can also cut bread into slices, wrap in plastic wrap, and put slices into a freezer bag for serving size frozen portions.

To Thaw Frozen Baked Bread:
Remove bread from freezer the night before you want to use it.  For individual slices, remove 1 hour before needed, or remove immediately and microwave for 30 seconds.

To Freeze as Dough:

Wrap dough ball in plastic wrap.  Place in freezer bag and store in freezer for up to 6 weeks. 

To Bake Previously Frozen Dough:

Remove dough from freezer and thaw at room temperature for 4 hours before baking.