Description
This homemade whole wheat bread recipe produces a soft, fluffy, and wholesome loaf with simple ingredients. Using whole wheat flour and a natural rise with active dry yeast, it’s perfect for toast, sandwiches, or a healthy addition to any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups warm water
- 2 tablespoons honey (or maple syrup)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (or melted butter)
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a large bowl, add the warm water and honey. Stir until dissolved. Sprinkle the yeast over the mixture and let it sit for 5 minutes, or until it becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Add Oil: Stir olive oil into the yeast mixture until well combined.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In another mixing bowl, whisk together the whole wheat flour and kosher salt thoroughly.
- Form Dough: Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet yeast mixture, stirring with a wooden spoon or dough whisk until a cohesive dough forms.
- Knead Dough: Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until the dough becomes elastic and smooth.
- First Rise: Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a greased bowl. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1 ½ hours, or until doubled in size.
- Deflate Dough: Once risen, gently punch the dough down to release air, then transfer back to a floured surface to shape into a loaf.
- Second Rise: Place the shaped loaf into a greased loaf pan, cover with a kitchen towel, and let it rise for another 30-45 minutes until it rises above the edges of the pan.
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) and allow it to preheat fully before baking.
- Bake Bread: Bake the loaf for 35-40 minutes until golden brown on top and hollow-sounding when tapped at the bottom.
- Cool Bread: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- This whole wheat bread is soft, fluffy, and delicious with only six simple ingredients.
- It works beautifully for making French toast, regular toast, or hearty sandwiches.
- Use maple syrup as a substitute for honey for a slightly different flavor.
- Ensure water is warm but not hot to effectively activate the yeast.
- Allowing the dough to rise in a warm, draft-free spot helps develop flavor and texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 50g)
- Calories: 162
- 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
