Recipe for Honey Whole Wheat Bread
Updated March 26, 2019
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I love whole wheat bread, but Josh isn’t a huge fan. He loves it for toast or a BLT, but prefers white bread for his other sandwiches. He claims most whole wheat bread is too dense. I do buy white bread for Josh because I let him eat what he wants, but of course I prefer we both eat healthy:)When we were in Colorado the friends we were staying with had a couple loaves of homemade whole wheat bread. Josh tried it and loved it. I was amazed, he said he would even use it for sandwich bread if I made it. So of course I snagged the recipe.
We ran out of bread this week and since I am trying to spend $100 on groceries/food this month, it was time to make our own. The recipe makes two big loaves and is really easy. My KitchenAid did most of the work:)I was nervous it wouldn’t turn out as good as our friends, but it did! I love that the recipe calls for ALL whole wheat flour. It also has a little vital wheat gluten, which adds protein and improves the texture and elasticity of the dough. This bread has a very nice texture, it is light, fluffy and all whole grain. It is perfect for toast and sandwiches.I am glad Josh likes this bread. I will be making our own every day bread from now on.Penny Pinching Pantry Raid Update
I haven’t spent any money this week so I am still at $8.28. I am running low on produce so I will have to make a grocery run this week. I can’t live without fresh fruits and veggies. I will shop the sales though:)
Some of you are probably wondering what we are eating, I promise we are eating well. Breakfast is oatmeal for me and cereal for Josh. I’ve always packed our lunches, so that hasn’t changed. For dinner, we are using more of our freezer and pantry food. It is actually fun being creative with what we have. So far the challenge is going well!
Honey Whole Wheat Bread
Ingredients
- 6 1/2-7 cups whole wheat flour divided
- 1 tablespoon vital wheat gluten find it at Whole Foods, Bob's Red Mill, King Arthur, etc.
- 2 packets of yeast I used rapid rise
- 2 1/2 cups warm water
- 1/3 cup canola oil
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon salt
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl (preferably a KitchenAid), add 3 cups of the flour, wheat gluten, and yeast. Stir. Add in warm water and stir until combined. Let sit for 10 minutes.
- Mix the oil, honey, lemon juice, and salt in a small bowl. Add to flour mixture after the 10 minutes. Mix until combined. Add in the additional flour and mix. Now knead the dough for ten minutes with the dough hook. When it is done divide the dough into two loaves. Make sure they are even. Shape them into loaf form. Place the dough into 2 loaf pans that have been sprayed with cooking spray. Cover with a clean towel and let rise for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. After the loaves have risen, bake them for 30 minutes. They should be golden brown. Let cool before slicing, if you can wait:) You can freeze one of the loaves if you wish.
Have you tried this recipe?
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My hubby is a white bread man – but Im trying to convert him! Looks very profressional. I might just have to try the recipe in my Kitchenaid
I am definitely going to have to try this…I've been looking for a good whole wheat bread recipe!
Lovely-looking bread! Nothing is better than homemade bread — the smell alone!!!
I'm so impressed with your $100 goal – please keep us posted! I'd love to know all about how you do it.
A wonderful bread! Can I have a slice, please?
Cheers,
Rosa
This is my kinda bread Marie…brilliant! Love it!! Good luck on the challenge.
Your bread looks easy and delicious! This is the first time I've seen lemon juice in a bread recipe. I'll have to give it a try!
Beautiful loaf! Whole wheat bread can be dry and dense, and it's always great to find a recipe that has whole grain goodness and the perfect texture – looks like you have a winner!
I am always looking for good whole wheat bread recipes, as I make our own bread all the time. This sounds like a great one! Bookmarked!
My kids always complain about having to eat whole wheat bread but maybe they will like it if I make this. Great recipe!
Sounds great! I have been wanting to make my own bread but just haven't done it yet. I am so inspired and impressed by your $100 challenge! Great work!
Maria! $100 for the whole month!! I am trying to only spend $120/week for 5. It is the fruits and veggies that get us since we eat so much of that in the summer-from a local fruit stand that I love. Plus having kids home all day, they can eat so much!
Your bread loaf is perfect! It is so nice to have a good bread recipe!
Its always good to find a whole wheat bread recipe that isn't like cardboard
I love the photo! so nicely composed! 🙂
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO that is great that he liked it 🙂 I can't wait to try this!!! Darn I brought my box of vital wheat gluten over to John's… so this will have to wait until I go over there. Darn I want to make this tonight!! 😀
I love whole wheat bread and this looks fantastic! I can't wait to try it out.
Actually I'm with Josh (is it a guy thing?)– I find wheat bread dry and tasteless. However, I am liking this recipe- with the canola oil and honey. Healthy and delicious! 🙂
I'll have to try this! I made Light Wheat Bread, and loved it. (Even though I couldn't get my SO to eat ANY of it, other than a bite) Also, I need your bread knife and slicing skills!!
I prefer white over wheat, for the same reason as Josh. But since I know wheat is healthier, I always eat that instead.
Your loaf looks perfect!
Well, that bread looks about as perfect as can be! Lovely crumb, too!
Your bread looks wonderful, Maria. Save a piece for me, please.
omg yummmmm this looks so yummy! I would seriously eat this all day everyday!
that looks like a perfect loaf of bread. great color, great texture, great density. nicely done!
and keep up the great work in the grocery challenge–that's outstanding!
I cannot wait to try this, but I have one question. The ingredients says 3 cups flour, but then the direction say 3 1/2. I just want to make sure I do it right, cause I really want it to turn out! Thanks!
Rebecca-Thanks for catching my typo. I made the change on the post. It is 3 cups of flour. Later on you add 3 1/2 to 4 cups. Let me know if you try it.
This sounds like a pretty awesome challenge! I don't have enough items in my pantry to do it, but I've been trying to spend less on grocery items since I have a tendency to splurge. This bread looks so good and if you converted your husband, maybe I can convert my parents…
Sounds delicious. Just checking if this only needs one short rise. Also, would the recipe change if you didn't use Rapid Rise yeast? Thanks!
That bread looks delicious!!!
D-Yes, the bread only rises once, for 30 minutes in the loaf pans. I was surprised at how big they got. The recipe makes 2 huge loaves. I used rapid rise because that is what we had, but you can use regular yeast.
This looks divine! I'll have to try it! Hi from a fellow SLC gal!
This looks so good! I'm glad the challenge is going well for you, too. Keeping this recipe to try!
I like wholewheat bread and my husband likes rye. The only white bread we both like are nice rustic Italian or French loaves. I used to love making ww bread, but because he's not into it, I haven't made it in years.
Your efforts to stay on a budget are impressive. I think I spend more than that in a week. I did have fun last year cleaning out my own pantry and seeing what I could make with what I already had an excess of. I should see what's in my pantry and do that again.
I've been making our own bread for a few months now and I love it! It's my great excuse for hub to not eat that darn white pillow bread anymore, and he likes it too. glad I'm not alone in that situation 🙂
it looks great I will definitely try your recipe. The jam looks delish too. And keep it up with the budgeting thing! I'm sore impressed.
Wow Maria, this looks perfect! How did you do that? lol. I need to get moving on making more bread!
Your loaf looks perfect! Great job.
I love homemade ww bread..your bread turned out great. Thanks for the recipe!
I love whole wheat bread, especially homemade. Looks delicious.
Lemon juice? Really? Hmm… Never seen one like that… Kudos on finding a WW bread he likes though!
My kids have only ever had wheat bread. I love it. The lemon juice (or vinegar works) is supposed to be great for breads, too. I will definitely try this one!
looks amazing, especially with that jam!
I adore homemade bread and it isn't difficult to make. Certainly much cheaper than buying a loaf at the store!
That's a gorgeous 100% ww bread! It's difficult to make bread only with ww, but the vital gluten helps. I'm glad Josh liked this one, I'm sure I would too!
I LOVE adding millet seeds to this to make a little crunchy!
I am a carb fanatic!
Have you checked out my giveaway for superfood vegan raw bars yet?
http://thespecialktreatment.wordpress.com/
That bread sound so healthy and looks so rich and soft. I'm just stopping by to let you know I have an award waiting for you on my blog. Cheers!
The texture looks great on this bread! Light and fluffy – love the honey in it!
Sounds like a great challenge! We always spend way too much on groceries, a reality check would probably be healthy…mmmaybe next month. 🙂
Oops, hit post too soon! Meant to add that the whole wheat bread looks great! I love homemade bread and will have to bookmark this one.
love homemade bread 🙂
I really need to make my own bread. Your whole wheat looks delicious (especially smothered in jam).
1) thank you for this recipe! My kids (except my health-nut daughter) prefer white bread like Josh. I am always searching for a good recipe 🙂
2) Thanks for the link on the penny pinching raid. Funny, I'm not participating but I might as well have been! I've been doing the same as you this week, but out of sheer necessity with work going slowly. Luckily I have a freezer full of meat, but it's the eggs, milk, bread and produce that run out constantly 😛
This is a great thrifty post, you should come by my blog and add the link to Thrifty Thursday! Usually you are supposed to have a link back to TT from your post, but who cares, go ahead and add it, it's great info 🙂
My hubby loves white bread too. Maybe I could convert him with this recipe?
It looks fabulous.
Great job on the challenge!
New to your blog… love it! This bread seems great… did you use whole wheat flour from the store or wheat you grind yourself??
I much prefer brown bread but hubby is still likes his white bread! Your bread looks wonderful I could just eat a slice with a spread of butter mmmm
The wheat bread looks so perfect- no spots, cracks, nothing! Wow.
I usually make my own whole-wheat bread, too, but I use dark sugar instead of honey. It's always a lot of fun kneading it until you sweat, you should try that sometime LOL :-p
Amanda-Glad you are doing the challenge without even knowing it:)
Megan-Thanks for visiting. I used whole wheat flour from the store. We don't have a wheat grinder, but I want to get one.
Great job so far on the $100 challenge! My hubby would love this bread… my mom is a bread baker, and he always loves when she brings fresh bread for him. I will give this a try – especially because I can use the KitchenAid mixer 🙂
Looks delicious! I always add vital wheat gluten when I use all whole wheat flour; it makes a huge difference. Sigh, wish I had a kitchenAid. That might be my next big kitchen purchase (but only when I finally get the house done!)
Kalyn-I can't believe you don't have a KA. Yes, make that your next purchase. I can't wait to see your house!
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm love honey whole wheat bread- so delicious. Josh and I both love having homemade bread in the house. Hope you're doing well/feeling well
That bread looks wonderful!
$100 for groceries for a month? WOW!
So funny – I was just in the supermarket trying to decide between buying honey whole wheat bread or regular … I was comparing everything – fiber content, ingredient list, etc. I went with the whole wheat. But after reading this post, I wish I went for the honey! That looks so good!
I agree, homemade whole wheat is vastly superior to what the grocery stores have to offer. Nice loaf!
I'm so glad you posted this. I have been looking for healthy recipes. I will try it out!
oh this looks so good! my husband and i talk a lot about how we should just start making our own bread to save a bit of money. thank you for telling us where you got your vital wheat gluten, i haven't been able to find it anywhere!
Beautiful bread!!!! Nothing compares to fresh homemade bread! The labor, smell, taste!
Yay! Another Utah bread baker! I found your site through the Hive…I look forward to reading your posts and trying out the recipes.
btw, have you tried using White Wheat? Walmart sells a Montanna Gold Praire flour that makes a really great loaf of wheat bread!
I tried a no knead whole wheat bread and was pretty disappointed by it so I'm really excited to see yours! And happy it's 100% whole wheat. Can't wait to try it. It looks delicious!
We usually eat whole wheat bread, but I usually buy it! I need to try making some of this – it looks fantastic!
Wow Maria this bread is a huge hit, I keep seeing it pop up on different blogs! I made this and everyone loves it. Mine deflated RIGHT before I put it in the oven GRRRR, I am not sure why. I am going to make it again, hopefully this time it won't drop like that. I like how Noble Pig added egg white wash to the crust to make it shiny 🙂
Thanks for posting the recipe! I made the bread this morning and it turned out great!
I made this bread today and it is so good. I used my Kitchenaid, which really made it easy. Thanks for a great recipe
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I have made this bread a couple of times now. It’s our new favorite bread and will be my normal bread that I make now! I love that it has all whole wheat flour, as well! Thanks for posting the recipe, Maria!
Just made this bread and it turned out amazing! My first successful whole wheat bread, thanks for the recipe!
You are very welcome!
Yum – that looks delish! I agree – when I make my honey whole wheat bread I’m reminded every time how delicious it is – you just can’t find it in a store!
Looks like a perfect start for me to try my hands on homemade breads! Thanks a bunch for this simple and fool proof recipe 🙂 Happy Holidays guys!
I don’t really use canola oil…could you use some other oil?
Sure, you can use the oil of your choice.
Maria, can I just say this is the best bread I have ever made?! It has the perfect texture and flavor and I am never going back to storebought bread! Thank you thank you for an amazing recipe! 🙂
I have probably made this bread 50 times or more since you posted the recipe. So thought it was time to tell you thank you! 🙂 I have tried other bread recipes but this one is the best for me. It seems like this is the easiest recipe of the ones I’ve tried. I have always had to do a lot of tweaking with the water and or flour with other recipes. This bread tastes amazing and I love the texture. I put it in 8-1/2 by 4-1/2 by 2-3/4 pans and they always come out of the oven 1-1/2 to 3 inches above the pan – no more squatty/dense homemade wheat bread that gets stuck in the toaster! Hooray! 🙂
I even taught the youth at my church a little bit about bread making, using this recipe. I gave them samples and the girls devoured the samples and I heard lots of, “I can’t believe this is wheat bread! I have never liked wheat bread before!” Anyway, it’s a great recipe – so thank you SO much!
I have always used hard red winter wheat when making this recipe. Just curious if you have ever tried hard white wheat?
Ok. I am reporting back. I tried the recipe tonight with hard white wheat instead of red wheat. Loved it. I can’t decide which way I like it better. I think my husband likes the white wheat a little better, but both ways we love it (and my 3 year old begs for the stuff)! Thank you!
Can u make it without the wheat gluten stuff? I don’t have that on hand right now.
I made this by hand, and cannot imagine a kitchen aid would have been able to handle it. Never in my life have I worked with such a stiff dough.
I measure my flour by weight, not volume, and I left out a fair portion of it when I realized how bad it was. The loaves rose a little, but I ended up with 2 very dense loaves of bread.
That being said, they are delicious.
Love this bread! The texture and taste is just perfect