1. In a large mixing bowl, combine boiling water, oats, maple syrup (or maple sugar), butter, salt, cinnamon, and maple flavor if using. Stir and let cool to lukewarm .
2. Once cooled, add yeast, whole wheat flour, and all-purpose flour. Stir until a rough dough forms .
3. Knead the dough until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes by hand or 7 minutes with a machine .
4. Transfer to a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 60 to 90 minutes until puffy and nearly doubled in size .
5. Gently deflate the dough and shape it into an 8-inch log. Place in a lightly greased 8 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ loaf pan .
6. Cover and let the loaf rise until it crowns about 1 inch over the rim of the pan, about 60 to 90 minutes .
7. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) .
8. If desired, brush the top with water and sprinkle with maple sugar. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, tenting with foil after 15 minutes to prevent over-browning. The interior should reach 190°F (88°C) .
9. Remove from the oven, let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing .
Enjoy this soft, subtly sweet maple oatmeal bread!
