Full of flavor, with a great balance of nutty flavor from the whole wheat and sweetness from the honey, this is a wonderful whole wheat bread recipe.
This recipe gives you light-textured whole wheat sandwich quality bread dough prepared in just minutes and then simply tucked into the refrigerator until you are ready to bake it. This it the easiest whole wheat bread I’ve made yet.
The bread follows the principles of Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. This whole wheat recipe is in the book and I am very happy with it. Read through the recipe and see how simple the actual directions are.
This recipe makes three small 1 ½ pound loaves. The bread can be baked in loaf pans or shaped and made free-form style. Another simple bread is a Cool Rise Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread.
If you’re looking for another great bread to try now, this Honey Buttermilk Bread looks super easy and it rises beautifully. This Tender High Rising Gluten-Free Bread is another great option if you’re avoiding wheat.
The reviews on both of these bread recipes are fantastic. Happy Baking!
100% Whole Wheat Free-Form Artisan Bread
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
- 1 1/2 cups lukewarm milk
- 1 1/2 tablespoons yeast I used active dry yeast
- 4 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/2 cup honey
- 5 tablespoons light olive oil
- 6 2/3 cups whole wheat flour I used freshly ground hard white wheat
Instructions
- Day One: Mix all ingredients except the flour in a large bowl or a lidded (not airtight) storage container. I use a plastic shoebox size container with a lid that simply clicks on and off. If you do not have a lid that is NOT airtight, you can drill or cut a small hole in the lid and vent it that way.
- Next, add in the flour and stir until combined. Let this rest on the counter, covered, in the non-airtight container, for approximately 2-3 hours. The dough should rise and then collapse (flatten on top). Store this dough in the refrigerator for 2-5 days.
- On Baking Day: Lightly flour a baking sheet or pizza stone and set aside. Wet your hands first and then remove a ⅓ portion of your dough. It will be very sticky and wetting your hands makes it much easier to handle. Keeping your hands wet, quickly shape the dough into a ball and stretch the surface of the dough around to the bottom on all sides, rotate the ball as you go around it shaping the dough.
- Place the dough (folded ends tucked underneath) on a pizza peel (or directly on your baking sheet if you do not have one). Allow it to rise for 1 hour and 40 minutes. Flour the top of the loaf and slash, using the tip of a serrated knife.
- Twenty minutes before it's time to make the bread, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place an empty broiler tray on the lowest shelf of the oven. I keep a baking pan in the oven that I use just for this purpose. If your dough is rising on a pizza peel, put the stoneware in the oven now to heat.
- Transfer your dough from the peel to the stone that is now hot in the oven. If your bread is rising on a baking sheet already, simply place the baking sheet in the oven. Pour 1 cup of hot water into the broiler tray (or pan) in the bottom of the water. Quickly close the oven door. This is essential for breads with a cracked crust. The steam from the water creates the lovely crust.
- Bake for 50-60 minutes or until deeply browned and firm. Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing.
Becki's Whole Life says
I will have to try this. I have read about this book, but have never read through a recipe and this sounds very doable. Plus, 3 loaves of WW bread is a huge plus. Your bread looks beautiful and definitely artisanal!
Jenn says
Gorgeous!! I love baking bread.. I bet your house smelled amazing 🙂
The Slow Roasted Italian says
Looks delicious Miss Mary. I need to get on the bread baking. I actually bought some at the store. Shocking, I know!
The Walmart Ninja says
I've wanted to attempt to try and bake my own bread and this recipe is easy enough for me to try on my own.
Looks good!
Brittany says
Oh, this sounds amazing! I love the way baking bread makes your house smell. So inviting and warm!
hobby baker says
Mmmm, it looks so beautiful! Do you use your vitamix to grind your flour or a grain mill?
Barefeet In The Kitchen says
Hobby Baker, I use a Nutrimill grain mill. I absolutely love it. We use far too much wheat to efficiently process that quantity in the Vitamix. If I recall correctly, the Vitamix produces about 2 cups of flour at a time. I usually grind at least 5-6 times that amount. I store the extra flour in the freezer and it is waiting for me next time I need it.
Pam says
It looks wonderful!
dishingthedivine says
This is gorgeous! I don't love whole wheat bread, but my bread flour is slightly whole wheat-y, so it might be a good compromise! I hope my loaf turns out as beautiful as yours!
sweetcarolinescooking.com says
Oh yum! Whole wheat bread is the best, and homemade really takes it to the next level. I'm sure your kitchen smelled amazing. 🙂
thekitchenaffaire says
Ohh Mary.. This looks just awesome. 😀 I love breads.. I tried a whole wheat walnut bread just a few days back. 🙂
Heidi @ Food Doodles says
That looks great! I love the crust on it, my 100% whole wheat bread doesn't have the best crust. I'll have to try this out for sure!
Marjie says
I've heard of this cookbook, but never had a peek inside it. Looks like wonderful bread!
Jen of My Tiny Oven says
Carbs are my life! There is nothing better than a fresh warm slice of bread with butter! Looks awesome Mary!!
Zoë François says
Your loaf is so lovely! Thanks!
no spring chicken says
I've never had a whole wheat free form loaf that I loved. I'm giving this a go. It's not too hot here, maybe this afternoon!
Blessings, Debbie
Autumn @ Good Eats Girl says
This looks amazing!!! That book is currently in my shopping cart on amazon…I just haven't pushed purchase!
Grace In Full Measure says
Looks so good!!! I've never made bread before but I want to try to make this one, if only to find another good use for my pizza stone and peel! 🙂
Lizzy says
I am printing this off! Looks fabulous~
Anne @ Quick and Easy Cheap and Healthy says
I love artisan bread! Although I'm almost always making something besides a loaf of bread with it, lol.