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Home » Recipe Index » Bread: Yeast Bread » Soft Wheat Bread Recipe

Soft Wheat Bread Recipe

July 5, 2019 by Kara Cook 5 Comments

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Soft Whole Wheat Bread recipe – say goodbye to dry, crumbly whole wheat bread. This bread turns out soft and fluffy every time! It’s perfect for sandwiches and toast.

loaf of homemade wheat bread sliced on a cutting board

Best Soft Whole Wheat Bread Recipe

I have been baking bread for years, and I like it so much more than store bought bread. There’s not many comfort foods I enjoy more than a warm piece of bread slathered with butter. It is also much more economical, which makes my thrifty heart happy.

I’ve tried many, many homemade wheat bread recipes over the years and this is my very favorite. It is fast, easy, and virtually foolproof. I make it in my Bosch mixer, but if you are using a Kitchenaid, I recommend cutting the recipe in half and just making two loaves.

I try to time it so the bread is coming out of the oven when we have just finished a meal and everyone is full. Otherwise my husband and five kids (ok, and me too) can finish off two loaves before they have even had a chance to cool. 

 It freezes well if you can manage to get some wrapped up and in bags before it is devoured. Or of course you can share a loaf or two with friends or neighbors.

loaves of homemade whole wheat bread in bread pans

 

How to Make Whole Wheat Bread

 
Ingredients needed for wheat bread:
  • warm water
  • vegetable oil
  • honey
  • instant yeast
  • wheat gluten
  • potato flakes (optional)
  • salt
  • all purpose flour
  • freshly ground wheat flour
Mix water, oil, honey, yeast, gluten, potato flakes and white flour in a Bosch mixer. Add 4-5 cups of wheat flour and salt, beat till smooth. Let sit for 20 minutes.

Add enough whole wheat flour to make a soft dough, then knead for five minutes. Shape dough into four loaves and place in bread pans sprayed with non stick spray.Let rise till doubled, then bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until lightly browned.

Pro Tips for making wheat bread from scratch:

  1. Use WHITE WHEAT! Hard red wheat works, but white wheat makes a much softer and fluffier loaf. If all you have is red wheat, you can use more white flour and less wheat flour and it will be almost as good. But white wheat totally Rocks!
  2. Use freshly ground wheat, not whole wheat flour from the grocery store. It is best to use when it is still warm from the grinder. (I have a Nutrimill grinder and I adore it.)
  3. Vital wheat gluten is what helps keep this bread silky soft, and prevents it from being crumbly. With wheat gluten, your dough will be easier to work with and have an elasticity to it. It also adds a boost of protein to the bread.
  4. Potato flakes help keep the bread moist, and give it a longer shelf life. The bread is still good without them, but they do make a difference. You can substitute potato flour, or even mashed potatoes.
  5. Use non-stick spray instead of flour when shaping your loaves. You should have already added enough flour to make a soft dough, so sprinkling flour on the counter will just cause your dough to absorb more flour, resulting in a drier loaf.

Why is my whole wheat bread crumbly?

If you use this recipe and your wheat bread turns out crumbly, it is usually because you added too much flour. Wheat flour absorbs moisture, so if you add too much it will result in a crumbly bread. You want to add just enough flour to make a soft dough that you can touch without it sticking to your hands. 

The second reason whole wheat bread is sometimes crumbly is because it has been overbaked. Watch it closely. It may take a few tries to get the timing exact with your pans and your oven, but the more you make whole wheat bread, the easier it is to make a perfect loaf!

 

loaves of soft wheat bread on cooling racks

 

Can I freeze homemade bread?

Yes, and since this recipe makes four loaves, it’s perfect for freezing to keep on hand. I like to wrap a loaf of bread in plastic wrap when it is still slightly warm. Then I place it in another plastic bag and pop it in the freezer. The loaves will last for 3-4 months in the freezer.
 
Frozen loaves aren’t quite as soft as fresh loaves, but they are still great. (My kids can’t tell a difference.) 
 

Is whole wheat bread good for you?

Whole wheat bread is much healthier than white bread because it hasn’t had all the nutrients stripped out of it. It is a good source of fiber, and also contains protein, iron, B vitamins, and other minerals. But it should still be eaten in moderation. 

 
If you’ve never tried making homemade wheat bread before, I hope you’ll give it a try. We love this whole wheat bread recipe, and I think you will too!
whole wheat bread recipe collage
 
MORE TASTY RECIPES THAT USE WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR:
  • Whole Wheat Zucchini Pancakes
  • Tasty Whole Wheat Muffins
  • Whole Wheat Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins
  • Whole Wheat Blender Pancakes

MORE AMAZING YEAST BREAD RECIPES:

  • No Knead Artisan Bread
  • Oatmeal Rolls
  • Bacon Cheese Rolls
  • Cinnamon Swirl Bread
 

Whole Wheat Bread Recipe

Yield: 4 loaves

Soft Wheat Bread

Soft Wheat Bread

Soft and fluffy yeast bread made with freshly ground whole wheat flour.

Prep Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours

Ingredients

  • 5 cups hot water
  • 3/4 cup oil
  • 3/4 cup honey
  • 2 Tbsp SAF instant yeast
  • 1/3 cup wheat gluten
  • 1/3 cup instant potato flakes
  • 2 cups white flour
  • 4 tsp salt
  • 12-13 cups freshly ground wheat flour

Instructions

  1. Spray four 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch loaf pans with non-stick spray; set aside.
  2. Mix water, oil, honey, yeast, gluten, potato flakes and white flour in a Bosch mixer. Add salt and 4-5 cups of whole wheat flour, beat till smooth. Let sit for 20 minutes.
  3. Add enough whole wheat flour to make a soft dough, then knead for five minutes in the Bosch.
  4. On a counter sprayed with non-stick spray, shape dough into four loaves. Place in prepared loaf pans.
  5. Let rise till doubled, (30-60 minutes) then bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes or until lightly browned.
  6. Brush tops of hot bread with melted butter if desired.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn a small amount from your purchase, no cost to you.

  • Bosch  Universal Plus Stand Mixer, 6.5-Quarts with Blender
    Bosch  Universal Plus Stand Mixer, 6.5-Quarts with Blender
  • Chicago Non-Stick 1-Pound Loaf Pan
    Chicago Non-Stick 1-Pound Loaf Pan
Cuisine: American / Category: Bread: Yeast Bread

See all my BREAD RECIPES.

Filed Under: Bread: Yeast Bread, Recipe Index Tagged With: potato flakes, whole wheat, yeast

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Stephanie

    August 5, 2019 at 11:55 am

    My loaves turned out soft and fluffy…thanks!!

    Reply
  2. Cyd

    August 5, 2019 at 11:11 am

    Always looking for good bread recipes and this looks amazing!

    Reply
  3. Melissa

    August 5, 2019 at 10:37 am

    Yum – homemade bread is my favorite! Great recipe!

    Reply
  4. Sara Welch

    August 5, 2019 at 10:20 am

    I never realized how easy it was to make my own bread! Looking forward to making this myself versus buying from the store! Awesome!

    Reply
  5. Jodie

    November 11, 2010 at 11:32 am

    Hi Kara, I was just looking at this recipe and in the instructions you have listed potato flakes, but I don’t see it in the ingredient list. How much do you use? This bread looks so yummy and I want to try it!!

    Reply

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Hi. I’m Kara, and I love to create! I share recipes, DIY tutorials, craft projects, and thrifty home decor. I hope that I can inspire you to create something! Read More…

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