Description
This homemade whole wheat bread recipe yields a soft, fluffy loaf with a wholesome flavor. Made with only six simple ingredients including whole wheat flour, honey, olive oil, and active dry yeast, it’s a straightforward and rewarding baking project perfect for toast, sandwiches, or French toast.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups warm water
- 2 tablespoons honey (or maple syrup)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (or melted butter)
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups whole wheat flour
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a large bowl, combine the warm water and honey. Stir until the honey is dissolved. Sprinkle the active dry yeast over the surface and let it sit for about 5 minutes, or until the mixture becomes foamy, indicating that the yeast is active.
- Add Olive Oil: Once the yeast mixture is foamy, add the olive oil and stir to combine thoroughly.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate mixing bowl, whisk together the whole wheat flour and kosher salt to evenly distribute the salt through the flour.
- Combine Mixtures: Gradually add the flour and salt mixture to the wet yeast mixture. Stir with a wooden spoon or dough whisk until a dough begins to form.
- Knead Dough: Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead it for 8-10 minutes, or until the dough becomes smooth and elastic, which helps develop the gluten structure for a soft bread crumb.
- First Rise: Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a greased bowl. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and let the dough rise in a warm place for 1 to 1 ½ hours, or until it has doubled in size.
- Punch Down Dough: Once risen, gently punch down the dough to release built-up air. Transfer it back to a lightly floured surface and shape it into a loaf.
- Second Rise: Place the shaped dough into a greased loaf pan. Cover again with a kitchen towel and let it rise for another 30-45 minutes, or until the dough rises above the edges of the pan.
- Preheat Oven: While the dough completes its second rise, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Bake the Bread: Bake the loaf for 35-40 minutes, until it turns golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom, indicating it is fully baked.
- Cool Bread: Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool in the pan for a few minutes. Then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing to prevent the crumb from becoming gummy.
Notes
- This bread is soft, fluffy, and made with whole wheat for a nutritious twist.
- Perfect for making French toast, sandwiches, or simple toasted slices.
- Use maple syrup in place of honey for a vegan alternative.
- Kneading well and allowing proper rising times are key to a good texture.
- Make sure to cool the bread completely before slicing to maintain the best crumb structure.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 162 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
