Whole Wheat - Flax Bread (Using A Bread Maker)

My Mother-in-law gave me an awesome bread maker a couple of years ago for Christmas. I've attempted making bread a handful of times with the machine, but the result was always dry. I finally pin pointed some of my problems and I hope you can learn from my mistakes.

MISTAKES I MADE: 

~Using ONLY whole wheat flour rather than a combination of flours

~Using fast action yeast. I know this stuff must work, but I always had problems with my bread not rising. 

~Not using molasses. The inclusion of this ingredient turned the bread from bland to yummy. 

~Trying to use whole flax seeds rather than flax meal. Besides appearance, there's no reason to use whole flax seeds since your body digests ground flax better. 

~I never added vital wheat gluten. When added, the bread has a spongier, soft consistency. 

After searching the internet for tips people had regarding vegan bread making using bread makers, I settled on the ingredients below and was thrilled with the results. 

MAKES 2 POUND LOAF

In your bread maker add the following ingredients in this order: 

~11 ounces water (room temperature)

~1 1/2 tsp sea salt

~1 1/2 tbsp (no sugar added) apple sauce

~2 tbsp molasses (spray your measuring spoon with oil first and the molasses rolls right out of the spoon)

~2 cups wheat flour for bread making

~1 cup whole wheat flour for bread making

~1/2 cup wheat bran

~1 tsp vital wheat gluten

~1/4 cup ground flax

Make a well in the middle and add:

~2 1/2 tsp active dry yeast

Set bread maker for the following:

~2 pound loaf

~Whole wheat setting

~Medium darkness

Once bread is done, remove from bread maker and cool on rack. This bread tasted really good warm.