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Make fresh bread at home with this Basic Whole Wheat Bread recipe! This is a classic easy recipe that yields three loaves of soft, delicious bread.
Nothing beats fresh homemade bread. Not only does it smell amazing while it’s baking in the oven, but fresh homemade bread tastes better than anything you can buy at the store. Combine a few basic ingredients to make fluffy whole wheat bread.
Ingredients You Need
- Whole Wheat Flour – Look for flour that says “100% whole grain.”
- Bread Flour – This flour has a higher protein content than all-purpose flour. It helps create the gluten in bread.
- Honey – You can use another sweetener, if desired. Brown sugar, maple syrup or agave are good choices.
- Active Dry Yeast – You can find this in the baking aisle of your local store. Do not purchase rapid rise or instant yeast.
- Butter – Use unsalted butter. 100% grass fed butter is best.
- Warm Water and Salt
Steps to Make Wheat Bread
- Combine warm water, yeast and 1/3 cup of the honey in a large bowl. Add the bread flour and stir until combined.
- Let the mixture rest for 30 minutes, or until it’s big and bubbly.
- Mix in the melted butter, honey and salt. Stir in 2 cups of whole wheat flour.
- Flour a flat surface and knead the dough with whole wheat flour until it pulls away from the counter and is slightly sticky to the touch. This may take an additional 2 to 4 cups of whole wheat flour.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl. Cover with a dishtowel and let it rise in a warm place until it doubles in size.
- Punch down the dough and divide into 3 loaves.
- Place the loaves in three greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pans. Allow the dough to rise until it has topped the pans by one inch.
- Bake the bread at 350 degrees F for 25 to 30 minutes.
Tips for Kneading Bread
- To knead, use wet hands to fold the dough in half towards you. Use the heel of your hand to push the dough down and away from you. Fold the dough in half again toward you and press down. Use the heel of your hand to push down and outward, stretching the strands of gluten and dough fibers.
- Turn the dough 45 degrees and continue kneading.
- Add more flour if the dough gets sticky.
- Knead until the bread starts to pull away from the counter but still feels slightly sticky. You may need an additional 2 to 4 cups of flour.
- Stop kneading when the dough springs back when pressed with a finger.
- If the dough tears when you pull it, it needs more kneading. Kneading for about 8 to 10 minutes is usually enough.
Wheat Bread Storage
Store the cooled loaves in a resealable plastic bag or container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Do not refrigerate as that will cause the bread to become stale faster.
To freeze, tightly wrap the whole loaf (not sliced) with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Place in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter before serving.
Other Homemade Bread Recipes
Basic Whole Wheat Bread
A basic recipe for fresh wheat bread that yields three loaves!
Ingredients
- 3 cups warm water, (110 degrees F or 45 degrees C)
- 2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
- 2/3 cup honey, divided
- 5 cups bread flour
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together warm water, yeast and 1/3 cup honey. Add 5 cups bread flour and stir to combine. Let sit for 30 minutes, or until big and bubbly.
- Mix in 3 tablespoons melted butter, 1/3 cup honey and salt. Stir in 2 cups whole wheat flour.
- Flour a flat surface and knead the mixture with whole wheat flour until not too sticky – just pulling away from the counter, but still sticky to touch. This may take an additional 2 to 4 cups of whole wheat flour.
- Place in a greased bowl, turning once to coat the surface of the dough. Cover with a dishtowel. Let rise in a warm place until doubled.
- Punch down and divide into three loaves. Place in greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pans and allow to rise until dough has topped the pans by one inch.
- Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25 to 30 minutes; do not overbake. Lightly brush the tops of the loaves with 2 tablespoons melted butter when done to prevent the crust from getting hard. Cool completely.
Notes
- Nutritional information is for one whole loaf. Each loaf yields about 16 slices of bread.
- Yeast: Each package of yeast yields about 2 1/4 teaspoons of yeast. Do not purchase rapid rise or instant yeast.
- Whole Wheat Flour – Look for flour that says “100% whole grain.”
- Honey – You can use another sweetener, if desired. Brown sugar, maple syrup or agave are good choices.
- Store in a sealed bag or container on the counter for up to 3 days. To freeze, tightly wrap the whole loaf (not sliced) with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Place in a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 1616kcal, Carbohydrates: 321g, Protein: 51g, Fat: 20g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Cholesterol: 30mg, Sodium: 2445mg, Potassium: 928mg, Fiber: 25g, Sugar: 63g, Vitamin A: 350IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 92mg, Iron: 8mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This recipe originally appeared on Yellow Bliss Road.
Can 1 cup of milk be added, or substituted in 1of the 3 cups of warm water? Looking to try and get my loaves a little fluffier. Thanks!
Hi Julie, yes, you can substitute one cup of water for milk. Be sure to watch for browning when the bread is baking because using milk might make the bread brown quicker. I hope you enjoy!
I love making bread at home but whole wheat has been tricky for me. This recipe came out great – so delicious with nutty flavor. Especially love the honey!
Yum! This was perfect for lunch sandwiches, good toasted too 🙂