Honey Whole Wheat Bread

The BEST honey whole wheat bread recipe with only 6 simple ingredients! Incredibly easy to make, deliciously fluffy and comforting, and perfectly sturdy for sandwiches. Say hello to your soon-to-be favorite homemade bread recipe! Learn how to make honey wheat bread with whole wheat flour and real honey.

This easy honey wheat bread recipe is great for beginners—you don’t need a bread machine and you can bake it right in the oven. It does require yeast, which means waiting for the dough to rise, but it’s worth the wait…You’ll end up with a homemade whole wheat bread that’s irresistibly fluffy, soft, and sliceable! Nourishing and satisfying, with a hint of sweetness.

Most store-bought honey wheat bread options use a blend of whole grain and refined flours—making them more like white bread than whole wheat. This recipe for whole wheat bread with honey is truly whole grain, made with 100% whole wheat flour. Making it richer in fiber, micronutrients, and flavor! See how to make honey whole wheat bread at home in just 4 hours.

Is honey wheat bread healthy?

With any bread, what’s “healthy” is relative. A gluten free oat bread may be ideal for someone with a gluten sensitivity, but almond flour bread is better for low carb or paleo lifestyles. This particular recipe for honey whole wheat bread is rich in healthy whole grains—offering complex carbs, dietary fiber, plant-based protein, and essential nutrients like iron, B vitamins, and more! A nourishing homemade wheat bread that’s less processed, with no unnecessary additives.

Is honey wheat bread made with whole wheat?

This homemade honey wheat bread is made with 100% whole wheat flour, so it’s a true whole wheat bread. However, popular brands like Sara Lee or Nature’s Own honey wheat bread are not really “whole wheat.” They contain some whole wheat flour, but the first ingredient is refined wheat flour—which means they’re more like highly processed white bread. (Plus, most also contain preservatives and other additives.)

Which is better: white or honey wheat bread?

Personally, I love a tasty sliced white bread! But nutritionally, honey wheat bread is generally more nutrient-rich than white bread. Even store-bought breads that only contain some whole wheat will offer more nutrients than refined white bread alone. For the most nutrient-rich option, opt for an all-natural or homemade honey whole wheat bread that’s 100% whole grain and preservative-free.

Honey Wheat Bread Ingredients

• Active Dry Yeast. For best results, use a fresh packet of active dry yeast in this homemade wheat bread recipe. Unlike instant yeast, active dry yeast is dormant, so it first needs to be “proofed” in warm liquid to re-activate before it can be used in a recipe. (Don’t skip the first step in the procedure!)
• Warm Water. To “wake up” dormant yeast, you need warm water: between 105°-115°F. If the water is too cold, the yeast won’t activate. If it’s too hot, the heat can kill the yeast. Use a thermometer to check the temperature, or test the water on the inside of your wrist to see whether it feels warm and comfortable to you.
• Honey. Of course, a honey bread recipe requires a sweet dose of honey! Use your favorite brand or variety of honey. I haven’t tried this recipe with an alternative sweetener (like maple syrup or granulated sugar), but you’re welcome to experiment if you’d like.
• Softened Butter. Just a bit of butter goes a long way in giving this bread a comforting, sturdy bite! Be sure to properly soften the butter—at least a few hours or overnight—and cut it into 6-8 small cubes. If desired or needed, you can try substituting for butter with vegetable oil.
• Whole Wheat Flour. For honey whole wheat bread that’s actually “whole wheat,” be sure to use a 100% whole wheat flour. There are 2 main varieties, both suitable for this recipe: “whole wheat flour” made from red wheat, or “white whole wheat flour” made from white wheat. Both are whole grain and equally nutritious, they’re just made from different types of wheat. The main difference is white whole wheat flour tends to be lighter in color and milder in flavor relative to red whole wheat.
• Salt. Don’t forget a dash of salt to enhance the flavor of your homemade bread!

Is there yeast in honey wheat bread?

This honey wheat bread recipe uses yeast to create its fluffy, airy texture! Yeast is a microorganism that feeds on sugars and produces carbon dioxide gas. In any homemade bread recipe, yeast acts as a leavening agent: producing bubbles of gas that make the dough rise. For this honey bread recipe, be sure to “proof” or activate your active dry yeast by sprinkling it onto warm water first!

How do you make whole wheat bread with honey?

Although homemade bread recipes can be intimidating, this honey whole wheat bread is surprisingly simple. With the help of a stand mixer, you don’t even need to knead your dough by hand! The whole process requires only 45 minutes of prep work, and the rest of the time is waiting.  Prep the dough, let it rest. Knead the dough, let it rise. Shape the loaf, let it rise. Then bake!

How to Make Honey Wheat Bread

• Proof active dry yeast. Add warm water (105-115°F) to the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle yeast on top—don’t stir. Allow to bloom for 5 minutes.
• Prepare dough & rest. Add remaining ingredients into the bowl and beat the mixture with a dough hook attachment for ~3 minutes on medium speed, until the dough pulls away cleanly from the sides. Remove dough hook, loosely cover the bowl with a warm cloth or plastic wrap, and rest 20 minutes.
• Knead dough & rest. Using the dough hook attachment, knead dough in the stand mixer for ~5 minutes on low speed. Transfer kneaded dough to a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Rest in a warm location for 45-90 minutes, until dough doubles in size.
• Punch dough, shape loaf & rest. Remove plastic and punch down the dough 2-3 times. Transfer to a clean surface and gently shape into a loaf without kneading or messing with it much. Add dough loaf into a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan and cover with plastic. Rest in a warm location 60-90 minutes, until doubled in size.
• Bake & check doneness. Remove plastic and bake at 350°F (180°C) for 30-45 minutes. Feel free to cover loaf with foil after the first 20 minutes to prevent excessive browning. When cooked through, honey wheat bread loaf should sound hollow when tapped.
• Cool completely before slicing. For optimal storage, cut only the slices you plan to eat immediately, and cut slices from the middle of your loaf rather than the ends. This way, you can store the loaf with the two halves pressed together, so no open surface is exposed.

See how to make homemade sandwich bread in my Honey Whole Wheat Bread video!

What’s the best way to store homemade whole wheat bread?

To keep your homemade honey wheat bread soft and as fresh as possible, store the loaf in a zip-top plastic bag or wrap it in foil. These options seal out air and help the bread retain moisture, keeping it soft. Be sure to store in a dry location at room temperature! Eat within 2-3 days, or up to 4-5 days. For longer storage, your best option is to freeze the loaf/slices in sealed freezer-safe bag(s).

Meal Ideas for Homemade Sandwich Bread

The beauty of this homemade whole wheat sandwich bread is you can use it in all the ways you’d use a store-bought loaf! Personally, I love to enjoy a slice of honey wheat bread with a dab of butter, some strawberry jam, or sliced avocado for a satisfying breakfast toast. But it’s also sturdy enough for making sandwiches: PB&J sandwiches, deli meat and cheese, a tuna salad sandwich—whatever you like!

More homemade bread recipes:

• 3-Ingredient Homemade Whole Wheat Bread
• 5-Ingredient Banana Bread
• Easy Pumpkin Bread
• Easy Gluten Free Bread without Yeast
• Gluten Free Honey Oat Bread Recipe
• Vegan Gluten Free Bread without Yeast
• Low Carb Almond Flour Bread
• Keto Cloud Bread Recipe
• Gluten Free Pita Bread Recipe