This easy Homemade Whole Wheat Bread recipe uses whole grains and honey to make a healthy, wholesome, and delicious loaf. It's soft, tender, and full of flavor—perfect for sandwiches, toast, or soaking up every last bit of sauce or soup.
If you're looking for more whole wheat bread recipes, be sure to try our Wheat Dinner Rolls, Wheat Breadsticks, and these Wheat Cinnamon Rolls.
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Homemade Whole Wheat Bread
Nothing beats the smell and taste of homemade bread. One taste and you’ll never look at store bought loaves the same. However, some recipes can be a little intimidating. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking that you don’t have all day to sit around and make bread, this recipe is for you.
Our classic soft and fluffy whole wheat bread loaf has everything you want in homemade bread, and it is easy enough for any beginner. It’s made just like our Homemade White Bread, except that we use delicious whole wheat flour and honey to sweeten it.
Follow our step-by-step instructions and you’ll see that with just a little bit of planning, delicious homemade wheat bread can be yours. Plus, this bread freezes great so you can even make enough to save for later.
Whole Wheat Bread Ingredients
- Water - you want your water to be warm (between 95-105 degrees F) in order to help “wake up” your yeast.
- Sugar - you can substitute honey if you’d like.
- Active Dry Yeast - this recipe calls for active dry yeast, which means that the yeast needs to be “proofed” because mixing it into the full dough. If you choose to substitute instant yeast, there is no need to proof it first.
- Oil - we use avocado oil, however you could also substitute melted butter or even coconut oil.
- Honey - this adds such an incredible flavor to the nutty wheat flour.
- Salt - salt is incredibly important in both the flavor and structure of bread, so don’t skimp!
- Whole Wheat Flour - use your favorite kind of whole wheat flour. There are a lot of options out there, so have fun experimenting with new kinds.
- Egg Wash - we make our egg wash with whole eggs and water.
- Butter - this is brushed on just after baking to give that extra shiny top and yummy buttery flavor.
How to Make Homemade Wheat Bread
- Proof the yeast. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the warm water, sugar, and yeast. Mix well, then let sit for 5-10 minutes, or until the yeast is frothy and bubbly.
- Mix the dough. Add the oil, honey, salt, and half of the wheat flour into the yeast mixture and mix on low using the dough hook until combined - about 1-2 minutes. Continue adding one cup of flour at a time, then mixing on low speed, until the dough pulls away from the sides and looks smooth. Once you have added in all of the flour that you need, mix on medium speed for about 3 minutes. The dough should be smooth and elastic.
- Let the dough double in size. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45-60 minutes.
- Shape the loaves. Divide into 3 even pieces. Sprinkle flour on your counter, then roll each portion into a 8"x12" rectangle. Starting at the shorter end, roll each rectangle up tightly, then pinch the end to seal the seam. Tuck each of the ends under and place seam-side down into one of your prepared loaf pans. Repeat with the other two portions.
- Brush with egg wash and rise again. In a small bowl, add the egg and water and whisk. Brush a thin, even layer over the tops of each loaf of dough using a pastry brush, then let rise again until doubled in size, about 30-45 minutes.
- Bake. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Once your loaves have doubled in size, bake all three at the same time for 28-30 minutes, or until golden brown (an instant-read thermometer should read 190-195 degrees F when inserted into the center of your loaves).
- Cool. Remove from the oven and brush melted butter over the top of each loaf of bread. Let cool for about 10-15 minutes, then remove from the baking pans and let cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.
- Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- If there is an egg allergy in the family, you can brush the tops of the loaves with milk instead.
- To add a little extra fiber, toss a few tablespoons of wheat germ into the dough.
- You can use avocado oil, melted butter, or coconut oil to make this recipe.
- For best results, use a metal or ceramic bread pan.
- For extra light and fluffy bread, add ½ cup vital wheat gluten to the dough when adding the flour.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best way to avoid a sunken loaf of bread and know for sure that your bread has finished cooking is to take the temperature using an instant read digital thermometer. Once it reaches between 190-195 degrees F in the center, you’ll know that your bread is baked all the way through.
Yes! Bread freezes super well. Let it cool completely, then transfer to a freezer bag and store for up to 2 months.
If you don’t have a stand mixer, you can absolutely use a bread maker to mix your dough. Just add the ingredients, set to the “dough” setting and mix according to the manual instructions. Voila!
Storing Instructions
- Room Temperature: you can store your bread in an airtight plastic bag at room temperature for up to 3 days. The plastic bag will keep your loaves much softer than if you use a paper bag. Or, if you have a bread box you can go ahead and use that!
- Refrigerator: if you need to store it for a bit longer, you can store in an airtight container or freezer bag in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- Freezer: If you bake more than you’ll be able to use in a couple of days, your best bet is to freeze the rest. Wrap the loaves in plastic or put them in freezer bags and store them for 3 months. Just pull out and thaw at room temperature as soon as you are ready to use.
Homemade Whole Wheat Bread Recipe
Ingredients
Whole Wheat Dough
- 3 cups Water warm (95-110 degrees F)
- ¼ cup Sugar
- 1 ½ Tablespoons Active Dry Yeast
- ¼ cup Avocado Oil
- ¼ cup Honey
- 1 Tablespoon Salt
- 7-8 cups Whole Wheat Flour
To Top the Loaves
- 1 large Egg
- 1 Tablespoon Water
- 2 Tablespoons Butter melted, add after baking
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the warm water, sugar, and yeast. Mix well, then let sit for 5-10 minutes, or until the yeast is frothy and bubbly.
- Add the oil, honey, salt, and half of the wheat flour into the yeast mixture and mix on low using the dough hook until combined - about 1-2 minutes.
- Continue adding one cup of flour at a time, then mixing on low speed, until the dough pulls away from the sides and looks smooth. Once you have added in all of the flour that you need, knead the dough on medium speed for about 3 minutes. The dough should be smooth and elastic.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 45-60 minutes.
- Grease three 8.5" x 4.5" bread pans with butter.
- Once your dough has doubled, divide into 3 even pieces. Sprinkle flour on your counter, then very gently roll each portion into a roughly 8"x12" rectangle using a rolling pin (the shorter side of the rectangle should be about the length of your baking pans).
- Starting at the shorter end, roll each rectangle up tightly, then pinch the end to seal the seam. To shape dough, tuck each of the ends under and place seam-side down into one of your prepared loaf pans. Repeat with the other two portions.
- In a small bowl, add the egg and water and whisk. Brush a thin, even layer over the tops of each loaf of dough using a pastry brush, then let rise again until doubled in size, about 30-45 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Once your loaves have doubled in size, bake all three at the same time for 28-30 minutes, or until golden brown (an instant-read thermometer should read 190-195 degrees F when inserted into the center of your loaves).
- Remove from the oven and brush melted butter over the top of each loaf of bread. Let cool for about 10-15 minutes, then remove from the baking pans and let cool completely on a wire rack before slicing. Enjoy!
Nutrition
More of The Best Homemade Bread Recipes
- Einkorn White Bread
- Recipe for French Bread
- Crescent Rolls
- Focaccia Bread
- Rustic Cheddar Bread
- Pull Apart Garlic Bread
- More Bread Recipes
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This soft and fluffy Whole Wheat Homemade Bread has everything that you want in homemade bread, and it is easy enough for any beginner. It's perfect for sandwiches, toast or soaking up every last bit of your favorite sauce or soup.
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