Honey wheat bread recipe — a never-fail family loaf that’s slightly sweet and soft, perfect alongside soups, for sandwiches, or warm with butter. This two-loaf method yields tender, hearty loaves with a golden crust.
Prep Time: 30 mins • Cook Time: 30 mins • Additional Time (rise): 1 hr • Total Time: 2 hrs • Servings: 24 • Yield: 2 loaves
Ingredients
- 2 cups warm water (110°F / 45°C)
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- ⅓ cup honey
- ⅓ cup vegetable oil
- 5 cups all-purpose flour (more as needed)
Directions
Step 1
Dissolve yeast in warm water in a large mixing bowl. Stir in honey until combined. Add whole wheat flour, salt, and vegetable oil and mix.
Step 2
Gradually add the all-purpose flour, 1 cup at a time, and stir until the dough pulls together. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead 10–15 minutes until smooth and elastic. (If you have a stand mixer, knead 6–8 minutes with the dough hook.)
Step 3
Place dough in a well-oiled bowl, turning to coat. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in bulk, about 45 minutes.
Step 4
Punch down the dough. Divide into two equal pieces, shape into loaves and place into two greased 9×5-inch loaf pans. Cover and let rise until dough rises 1 to 1½ inches above the pans.
Step 5
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake loaves 25–30 minutes until golden brown and internal temperature reaches about 190°F (88°C).
Step 6
Remove from oven and cool 10 minutes in pans, then turn out onto a rack to cool completely before slicing.
Cook’s Note
For a softer crust, brush the tops with melted butter right after baking. If dough seems too sticky while kneading, add flour tablespoon by tablespoon until manageable — avoid adding too much or bread will be dense.
How to Store
Cool completely, then wrap loaves in plastic wrap and store at room temperature up to 3 days. Slice and freeze for longer storage up to 3 months; toast slices directly from frozen.
Nutrition Facts (per slice approx.)
Calories 172 • Total Fat 4g • Saturated Fat 1g • Sodium 98mg • Carbohydrate 31g • Fiber 2g • Sugars 4g • Protein 4g