Easy Homemade Whole Wheat Bread: Soft and Hearty
Richard and I are bringing back the comforting aroma of fresh-baked bread with this simple whole wheat loaf. It is soft, hearty, and perfect for your daily toast or sandwiches.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 35 min
- Total Time: 1 hour 50 min
- Yield: 1 loaf
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 cups warm water (105-115 degrees F)
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 3 1/2 cups whole wheat flour, plus more for dusting
Instructions
- In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in the warm water. Let it sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
- Stir in the honey, oil, and salt into the yeast mixture.
- Gradually add the whole wheat flour, mixing until a shaggy dough forms.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead for 8 to 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. You will notice the texture is slightly different than white bread dough.
- Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Let the dough rise in a warm place for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until doubled in size. This long rise develops great flavor.
- Gently punch down the risen dough. Shape it into a loaf and place it in a greased 9×5 inch loaf pan.
- Cover the pan loosely and let the dough rise again in a warm spot for 30 to 45 minutes, or until it has nearly doubled. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F during the last 15 minutes of the second rise.
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 200 degrees F.
- Remove the loaf from the pan immediately and let it cool completely on a wire rack before slicing. This step is key for a good texture.
Notes
- If you want a slightly sweeter loaf for toast, increase the honey to 1/3 cup.
- For a richer flavor, substitute half of the whole wheat flour with bread flour.
- This bread freezes well once completely cooled. Wrap tightly before freezing.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 180
- Fat: 2
- Saturated Fat: 0.3
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.7
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 5
- Cholesterol: 0