What’s the best thing since sliced bread?… The Best Healthy Whole Wheat Bread, in my opinion. Honestly, there is something so special about a warm slice of homemade bread. I think knowing you’ve put your time into making something yourself and having it turn out great is the most satisfying feeling.
Bread Baking Trials
It wasn’t until the last couple of years that I started learning bread baking techniques. I do have to say that it can be hard in the beginning! Making sure the yeast activates, kneading the dough and waiting for it to rise. It’s a time-consuming project to learn. However, now that I put the time in, I think I have this bread baking thing down! So, if you struggle to get your bread to turn out, don’t give up! Keep practicing, and it’ll work out!
Bread Techniques
One technique I like to use while using whole wheat flour is soaking it in water and vinegar solution. That’s why I let the yeast and flour mixture sit for 30 minutes in this recipe.
It’s absorbing the liquid, and the acid from the vinegar is breaking down the starches. It makes the grains easier to work with and gives the bread a better texture. If you want to learn more about it, here’s a link to an interesting article about Soaking Whole Grains.
Now, this bread is not fully whole wheat. I use a combination of all-purpose and whole wheat flour because it makes a much fluffier loaf. Loaves that are fully whole wheat tend to come out dry and dense. I prefer the way my bread turns out with a mixture of two flours. However, you are more than welcome to try it with just whole wheat!
The Best Healthy Whole Wheat Bread Ingredients
- Water
- Molasses
- Active dry yeast
- Fine sea salt
- Olive oil
- Egg
- Apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
- Unbleached all-purpose flour
- Whole wheat flour
For this bread, I really like using molasses as the sweetener. It adds the perfect flavor and keeps the bread moist. However, you can easily use raw honey in its place if you prefer.
Best Yeast For Wheat Bread
My favorite brand of yeast for this bread is Red Star Active Dry Yeast. I always have consistent results, and it proves well! But if you prefer to use Instant Yeast, I recommend Saf Instant Yeast. I have used both of these in this recipe, and I get great results with either one.
If you choose to use instant yeast in this bread, you can leave out the 5 minute proofing time in the beginning.
Tangzhong Whole Wheat Bread
I also have another recipe for whole wheat bread that uses the tangzhong method. It’s an Asian technique for making soft, fluffy yeast bread. It involves cooking a portion of the flour and liquid in the recipe into a pudding-like texture. Then you add it to the dough. That recipe is a little bit more complicated than this Healthy Whole Wheat Bread, but it’s worth it to try it out! I use that technique in my loaves often now because I love the way they turn out! If you’re interested in trying my tangzhong whole wheat bread, I promise you won’t be disappointed!
The Best Healthy Whole Wheat Bread
Equipment
- Stand Mixer with dough attachment
- Measuring Cups
- Large mixing bowl
- Spatula
- 8×4 Loaf pan
Ingredients
- 3/4 Cup Warm water
- 1 1/2 Tbsps Molasses not blackstrap
- 1 1/2 tsp Active dry yeast
- 1 tsp Fine sea salt
- 1 Tbsp Olive oil plus extra for greasing
- 1 Medium Egg
- 2 tsp Apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
- 1 1/4 Cups Unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 Cups Whole wheat flour
Instructions
- To activate the yeast, add the warm water, molasses, and yeast to the bowl of your stand mixer. Cover with a towel and let it sit for 5 minutes. The yeast should be bubbling up at this point.
- To the yeast mixture, add whole wheat flour, egg, olive oil, apple cidar vinegar, and salt. Once everything is mixed together, cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and let it sit for 30 minutes.
- Add all of the all-purpose flour to the mixing bowl and combine lightly with a spoon. Attach the dough hook to your mixer and turn it on to a medium speed. Knead the dough for 7 minutes. The dough should start to pull away from the sides of the bowl and be soft but not sticky.
- Grease a large bowl with baking spray or olive oil and then transfer the dough to the bowl. Cover it up with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel. Let it proof in a warm place for 45 minutes.
- Uncover the dough and punch it down a bit. Cover again and let it proof for 45 minutes, or until it has fully doubled in size.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Grease your 8×4 loaf pan with baking spray. Take the doubled dough out of the bowl and shape it into a loaf. Place it in the tin and cover it with plastic wrap. Proof it for 30 more minutes.
- Bake the loaf in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until the top is golden and it sounds hollow when you tap it. Let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing it.
- Remove the loaf from the pan and place on a wire rack or large plate to finish cooling.
Notes
- To keep the bread fresh, wrap it in plastic wrap or foil and leave it on the counter. It should last up to 5 days this way.
- I recommend not keeping it in the fridge because it will dry it out.
- Bread can be frozen by wrapping in plastic wrap and placing it in a zip-top freezer bag. (Keeps good up to 6 months) Defrost on the counter for a few hours when you’re ready to use it.
- If you’re kneading the dough by hand it will take about 10 minutes.
What a great looking loaf of bread. Love the addition of apple cider vinegar.
Thank you! I hope you’ll try it out!
Found my next recipe to try. Thank you for sharing this.
Great recipe. I definitely have to try this one.
This recipe is so clean, lean and I am sure pretty delicious. Thank you can’t wait to make it for my husband.
Thank you, Gabriela!
I’ve been looking for a good whole wheat bread recipe and this one looks fantastic. Can’t wait to try it!
Thank you, Melinda! I hope you enjoy it!
I did not know the vinegar trick; I will consider it from now on. I’ve been making my bread for many years and always use the breadmaker – perfect for time-saving. This recipe is on the list to do, hopefully following the traditional method. I miss a bit of dough boxing😄
I’m sure this can be done in a bread maker! I just like doing things the old-fashioned way lol. I’m looking forward to hearing how yours turns out! 🙂
Is there anything better than fresh baked bread? Love this recipe!!
Thank you, Jessica!
Your bread always looks so amazing! I usually don’t bake with whole wheat flour, but I really want this bread lol
Love this recipe, I think my family will love it, definitely trying it. Thanks for sharing it
Thank you, Heidi! I hope you and your family do enjoy it.
Such a beautiful big bread, great for snacking and sharing to everyone. I haven’t tried apple cider vinegar, interesting!
Thank you, Jeannie! It’s a great trick! 🙂
I’m always looking for delicious and easy read recipes, this is perfect!
Thank you, Emily!
Yum! There is nothing better than a freshly baked loaf of bread! I am so happy that this is a healthy recipe and I love that you share so many of your techniques in the recipe.
Thank you, Colette! I’m glad that you found my recipe helpful!
Is there anything better than homemade whole wheat bread? It’s wholesome, healthy, satisfying, and makes the whole house smell amazing!
Yes, I agree! I’m glad you share my satisfaction with making homemade bread, Katrina!