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Easy Homemade Whole Wheat Bread Recipe

Easy Homemade Whole Wheat Bread Recipe
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★★★★★

4.9 from 28 reviews

This Easy Homemade Whole Wheat Bread recipe is a simple and wholesome way to bake fresh, nutritious bread at home. Using basic pantry ingredients like whole wheat flour, honey, and olive oil, this bread offers a hearty texture and rich flavor, perfect for sandwiches, toast, or enjoying plain. The step-by-step instructions ensure that even beginner bakers can create a soft, elastic dough and achieve a golden crust every time.

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 cup warm water (about 110°F)
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Dry Ingredients

  • 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 3 cups 100% whole wheat flour

Instructions

  1. Activate Yeast: In a large bowl, combine 1 cup of warm water (heated to about 110°F), 2 tablespoons of honey, and one packet of active dry yeast. Stir lightly and let the mixture sit for 5 to 10 minutes until it becomes frothy, indicating that the yeast is active and ready to use.
  2. Add Oil and Salt: Stir 1 tablespoon of olive oil and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt into the frothy yeast mixture to enhance flavor and improve dough texture.
  3. Add Flour: Gradually incorporate 3 cups of 100% whole wheat flour into the wet ingredients, stirring continuously until a soft dough forms.
  4. Knead Dough: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it for 6 to 8 minutes until it becomes smooth, elastic, and no longer sticky, which develops the gluten and gives structure to the bread.
  5. First Rise: Place the kneaded dough into a greased bowl, cover it with a damp towel, and leave it in a warm spot to rise for about 1 hour or until it doubles in size, allowing the yeast to ferment and the dough to expand.
  6. Punch Down Dough: Gently punch down the risen dough to release excess air bubbles.
  7. Shape and Second Rise: Shape the dough into a loaf and place it in a greased 9×5 inch loaf pan. Cover again and let it rise for an additional 30 minutes to let it puff up for baking.
  8. Bake Bread: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the loaf for 30 to 40 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped, indicating it is fully baked.
  9. Cool and Serve: Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool completely on a wire rack before slicing to prevent the inside from becoming gummy.

Notes

  • Make sure the water is not too hot or too cold; around 110°F is ideal to activate the yeast without killing it.
  • If the dough is too sticky while kneading, sprinkle in a little extra flour but avoid adding too much to prevent dryness.
  • Let the bread cool thoroughly to ensure the crumb sets properly and slices cleanly.
  • You can store the bread wrapped in a cloth or bread bag at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze slices for longer storage.
  • For added flavor, consider mixing in seeds or nuts during the last stages of kneading.

Nutrition

Keywords: homemade whole wheat bread, homemade bread recipe, easy bread recipe, whole wheat bread, healthy bread, baking bread at home

Find it online: https://yumwithmia.com/easy-homemade-whole-wheat-bread-recipe/