Honey Whole Wheat Bread

This delicious Honey Whole Wheat Bread is a healthy wheat bread recipe made with whole grains, honey, and Greek yogurt.  It’s soft, moist and absolutely delicious!!

I understand that homemade bread can seem intimidating, but not this recipe! Whether you are a novice or advanced bread maker, anyone can make this easy bread recipe.  If you love healthy bread, check out my Oatmeal Bread and Cinnamon Applesauce Bread!

Healthy Honey Whole Wheat Bread

There’s really nothing like a slice of warm wheat bread, fresh out of the oven! This recipe makes two loaves of bread, so you can enjoy one and give the other away, or freeze it for another day. It makes great sandwiches and yummy toast, but my family prefers it warm from the oven with Homemade Raspberry Jam or Strawberry Jam.

What is the difference between wheat and whole wheat?

There is a lot of confusion in the bread world over terms like white, bread, enriched bread, wheat bread, and whole wheat bread.  When a grain of flour is “milled” it is put through a refining process where the grain is striped apart.  This milling process strips the grain of valuable nutrients and results in white flour.  When the grain is left whole, it’s left with all its components and contains high levels of nutrients, particularly and most importantly- FIBER!

When you are shopping for bread, many breads are labeled as wheat, but this does not mean they are “whole wheat.”  Make sure to read the ingredients, and if the first ingredient is anything other than “whole wheat flour”, then it’s not true wheat bread.  You can also compare the amount of fiber to be sure you are getting all the benefits of wheat bread.

Is wheat bread healthy?

Whole wheat is the recommended source of grains by the USDA.  Whole wheat means the grain contains the entire grain (including the bran, germ, and endosperm) and is rich in vitamins and minerals.  In particular, the fiber found in whole grains is shown to play a role in proper digestion, satiation, and in helping lower risks of heart disease and diabetes.  So when it comes to choosing bread, choose 100% whole wheat bread that contains fiber and low levels of sugar!

Calories in wheat bread:

Wheat bread ranges in calories.  Sara Lee’s whole wheat bread contains 60 calories per slice, Nature’s Own honey whole wheat contains 70 calories per slice, and Dave’s Killer whole wheat bread contains 110 calories per slice.  The calories in this homemade honey whole wheat bread depend largely on how thick you cut your slices.

How do you make whole wheat bread?

1. Add 4.5 cups wheat flour and instant yeast to the bowl of a stand mixer. Add warm water and mix well. Cover and allow to rise for 15 minutes.

2. Add vital wheat gluten, salt, melted butter, honey, Greek yogurt and mix well.

3. Add remaining 1 1/2 cups of flour and mix the dough until it begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl. It should be slightly sticky when touched.

4. Knead the dough with your mixer for 5 more minutes (or for at least 10 minutes if you’re kneading it by hand).

   

5. Spray two 9×5″ bread pans with non-stick cooking spray.I also like to line the bottom of the pans with wax or parchment paper. Spray your countertop and hands. (If the dough is still sticky, flour your counter-top, instead of spraying it ).

6. Turn the dough out onto your counter and divide it into two equal pieces. Press each portion into a rectangle about 9 inches on the long side. Roll into a log and place in you prepared bread pan.

   

7. Cover and allow to rise for about an hour, or until the dough is rounded over the tops of the pans.
8. Place both bread pans on the middle rack of your cold oven. Turn the oven to 350 degrees F and bake for 30-38 minutes, until the tops are golden.

This homemade wheat bread is easy to freeze (I always like to eat one loaf warm from the oven and freeze the other). To freeze, first let it cool to room temperature.  Then place it in a large ziplock freezer bag or bread bag. To thaw bread, take the loaf out of the freezer and let it come to room temperature on your countertop (about 3 hours).

Check out all my Healthy Snack Ideas!  Some of my favorites include:  

• Healthy Applesauce Oat Muffins
• No-Bake Granola Bars
• Skinny Banana Muffins

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Honey Whole Wheat Bread

This delicious Honey Whole Wheat Bread is a healthy wheat bread recipe made with whole grains, honey, and Greek yogurt.  It's soft, moist and absolutely delicious!!

4.91 from 11 votes

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Course: Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours

Servings: 20

Calories: 162kcal

Author: Lauren Allen

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Ingredients

• ▢ 6-7 cups whole wheat flour
• ▢ 2 3/4 cups + 2 Tablespoons very warm water
• ▢ 1 1/4 Tablespoons instant yeast , or active dry yeast
• ▢ 1 heaping Tablespoon vital wheat gluten *
• ▢ 1 Tablespoon salt
• ▢ 1/4 cup unsalted butter , melted
• ▢ 1/3 cup honey
• ▢ 2 Tablespoons plain Greek yogurts

Instructions

• Add 4.5 cups wheat flour and yeast to the bowl of a stand mixer and stir to combine. 
• Add warm water and mix. Cover and allow to rise for 15 minutes.
• Add vital wheat gluten, salt, melted butter, honey, Greek yogurt and mix well. 
• Add remaining 1 1/2 cups of flour and mix the dough until it begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl. It should be slightly sticky when touched. 
• Knead the dough with your mixer for 5 minutes (or for at least 10 minutes if you're kneading it by hand).
• Spray two 9×5″ bread pans with non-stick cooking spray. I also like to line the bottom of the pans with wax or parchment paper. Also spray your countertop and hands. 
• Turn the dough out onto your counter and divide it into two equal pieces. Press each portion into a rectangle about 9 inches on the long side. 
• Roll them into logs and place in your prepared pans. Spray plastic wrap with non-stick cook spray and cover the pans. Allow the bread to rise for about an hour, or until the dough is rounded over the tops of the pans.
• Place both bread pans on the middle rack of your cold oven. Turn the oven to 350 degrees F and bake for 30-38 minutes, until the tops are golden. 
• Remove from oven and smooth a stick of cold butter over the tops of the hot bread. Remove from pans and allow to cool. 

Notes

*Vital wheat gluten can be found in the making aisle at the grocery store.

Since whole wheat flour is a low-protein flour, the gluten helps to enhance the elasticity and light fluffy texture of the bread. I think it's essential in making really good whole wheat bread. 

*Recipe adapted from Bosch

 

Nutrition

Calories: 162kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 352mg | Potassium: 138mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 74IU | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 1mg

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*I originally shared this recipe February 2015. Updated February 2019.

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