The Easiest Whole Grain Seeded Bread

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Slices of simple homemade Whole Grain Seedy Vegan Bread with various toppings

My mom used to make her own bread and yogurt from scratch.

I mean, come on. How cool is she?

I remember learning that and thinking my mom was the most awesome hippie mom ever and I wanted to do the same if I was ever a mama.

The bread-making season in our house ended sometime around the arrival of 10-pound me. But can you blame her? She had two babies to look after and who has time to make bread with so much life happening?

Well, the good news is, you do have time to make this bread. I even speculate you could make it with a baby on your hip because it is literally a dump, mix, rise and bake kind of bread! Let’s get to baking!

Wood platter with ingredients for making super simple homemade vegan bread

This recipe is simple in both preparation and ingredients.

Just 9 basic ingredients that are very forgiving. If you don’t have any of the seeds or oats on hand, just omit them! It’s still totally doable.

Mixing together ingredients for making easy Vegan Whole Grain Seeded Bread

With a short 20-minute bake time, hands on prep time is only 15 minutes + the rise! Hello, free time.

When I say dump, mix, rise, I mean it.

You literally dump the ingredients in a bowl, mix and let it do its thing in the fridge.

Bread dough rising in a mixing bowl

All that’s left to do is knead in the seedy and oat-y things and let it rise once more while the oven preheats.

Twenty minutes later and you have a perfectly delicious, seedy, whole grain loaf on your hands.

Loaf of our simple homemade Whole Grain Seedy Vegan Bread that's perfect for making sandwiches
Freshly baked loaf of Whole Grain Seedy Vegan Bread in a bread pan
Partially sliced loaf of our homemade Seedy Vegan Bread recipe

This loaf is magnificent; everything you want in a homemade bread. It’s:

Seriously simple
Tender on the inside
Crusty on the outside
Loaded with whole grains
Seedy
Dreamy
& Perfect

This makes the perfect bread for toast, sandwiches, french toast, and everything in between.

I’ve been loving it with smashed avocado and a little vegan parmesan cheese and hemp seeds, or with peanut butter and flax seed. You really can’t go wrong.

Sliced homemade Whole Grain Vegan Seeded Bread perfect for making sandwiches

More Vegan Bread Recipes

If you give this recipe a try, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, or take a picture and tag it #minimalistbaker on Instagram! We’d love to see what you come up with. Happy baking!

Slices of homemade bread with vegan butter, nut butter, avocado, and jam

The Easiest Whole Grain Seeded Bread

Easy, 9-ingredient seeded whole grain bread with oats, sunflower seeds, and flaxseed. Naturally sweetened, hearty, wholesome, and SO simple to make! Mix, rise, bake.
Author Minimalist Baker
Print
Partially sliced loaf of homemade Whole Grain Vegan Bread on a cutting board
4.81 from 467 votes
Prep Time 5 hours 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 5 hours 45 minutes
Servings 12 (slices)
Course Bread
Cuisine Vegan
Freezer Friendly 1 month
Does it keep? 3-4 Days

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine warm water (like bath water, or 110 degrees F / 43 C), yeast, maple syrup (or other sweetener), salt, flaxseed meal, and flours in a large mixing bowl and stir. The result will be a sticky, rough dough. If using a stand mixer, beat at medium speed for about a minute. Otherwise just use a spoon to stir until well combined and when it can no longer do the job, knead and turn it in the bowl with your hands. Add flour until the dough is no longer sticking to the sides – about 3 3/4 cups total (amount as original recipe is written // adjust if altering batch size).
  • Lift the dough out and lightly grease the bowl with nonstick spray or olive oil. Cover and let rise for 2 hours at room temperature and 2 hours in the fridge. Alternatively, if you only have 2 hours, let rise at room temperature and skip the fridge (though a longer rise is best).
  • Use fingers to create a small hole in the dough and pour in sunflower seeds and oats. Transfer dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead about 20 turns or until elastic. Form into a loaf-like shape.
  • Place seam-side down in a lightly greased loaf pan or baking sheet and sift a light coating of flour over the top to help keep the dough moist. Loosely cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 45-60 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (218 C)* toward the end of the dough resting time and place a metal or cast iron pan (NOT glass, Pyrex, or ceramic) on the lowest oven rack. Also have 1 cup of hot water ready.
  • When the oven is preheated, slash the bread 2 or 3 times with a knife, making a cut about ½-inch deep.
  • Place in oven on middle rack. Then carefully pour hot water into the shallow pan on the rack beneath. Expect it to bubble and steam; then close oven door quickly.
  • Bake the bread for 26 to 35 minutes, or until deep golden brown and risen.
  • Remove the bread from the oven and let rest in the pan for 5 minutes. Then carefully remove from pan and transfer to a cooling rack to cool. Let it cool completely before slicing for best results (otherwise it can be doughy in the middle).
  • Store leftovers in a plastic bag at room temperature for up to a few days. Transfer to freezer for longer term storage.

Video

Notes

*Based on some users’ experience, I lowered the baking temperature to 425* F (from 450) to ensure the middle gets all the way done. I’ve had success at 450* F, but it seems some people’s ovens or loaf pans are not allowing it to cook all the way through. This information was updated 3/15/16.
*Adapted from my 7 Ingredient Muesli Bread.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate.

Nutrition (1 of 12 servings)

Serving: 1 slices Calories: 169 Carbohydrates: 32.4 g Protein: 6.1 g Fat: 1.9 g Saturated Fat: 0.3 g Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.52 g Monounsaturated Fat: 0.36 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Sodium: 294 mg Potassium: 124 mg Fiber: 4.2 g Sugar: 2.4 g Vitamin A: 0.73 IU Vitamin C: 0.02 mg Calcium: 18.86 mg Iron: 2.2 mg

This post was sponsored by the lovely folks at Bob’s Red Mill. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Minimalist Baker!

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  1. Radikha says

    Hi
    Made this bread countless times and every time has come out perfect. Soft inside and crispy out. Also light. I rinsed some sunflower, pumpkin and flaxseed and place on top before baking. Used bran flour instead of wholemeal pastry flour. When adding the 1 3/4 cup plain flour added until combined and not to dry. Basically 1 1/4 to 2/4 cup only. Since its winter at home I keep the bread for over 2-4 hours out depending on the rise.
    Would like to know at the stage of adding oats and pumpkin seeds is it possible to add chopped garlic plain or garlic and parsley or garlic parsley butter to the dough ?

    Thank you for such a easy and good recipe. Really makes a difference during this lockdown times. Thank you !

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      We’re so glad you enjoy it, Radikha! Those sound like lovely additions! We’d probably add them a bit later in the cooking process so that the garlic doesn’t burn.

  2. Kit G. says

    I have made this a couple of times now and I must say that it’s a delicious, easy to prepare bread. I’ll definitely make it time and time again. It pairs wonderfully with vanilla almond butter (:
    My criticism is the same as many I’ve read in the comments here. After hours in the fridge, the dough is far too tough to knead in the seeds or to shape into a loaf. The second time I prepared this, I skipped the fridge and left the dough to rise for about 3 hours total in my kitchen, which is about 78°. After that I followed the recipe as written and it was much better than the first loaf.
    Now to make it again.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      Thanks for sharing, Kit! Are you saying it turned out better for you when you didn’t refrigerate?

      • Kit G. says

        The taste and texture were pretty much the same, but because the dough was so much easier to shape and knead when it hadn’t been refrigerated, it looked much better the second time. It also reduced the prep time by one or two hours, so overall, I’d say it was better the second time, without refrigeration.

  3. Anita says

    Do you this this recipe would work halved? I have made this once and love it but the loaf is just too large as I live alone.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Anita, we haven’t tried it that way, but yes, we think so! Just bake for less time.

  4. Rosie says

    I made this, followed the recipe exactly, but there wasn’t enough water for it so i had to keep adding more, which most likely contributed to a super bland bread. Besides that, it was nice and fluffy.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Rosie, we wonder if you used all of the flour? The flour amount varies depending on what kind of flour you use and the climate and the general consistency of the dough. That’s why we leave a range with instructions on how to adjust. Next time, we’d suggest starting with less flour and only adding as much as needed. Hope that helps!

    • Elana says

      Rosie- I’ve come across the water issue *only* when mixing water into dry ingredients, instead of mixing dry ingredients into water. I mix my flour directly into my water/yeast/sugar, one cup at a time. It’s a night and day difference, try it!
      Great recipe! Thanks! :D

  5. Madonna says

    Have made this loaf 3-4x now even though I said I was gonna try a different recipe next. I’ve modified SLIGHTLY each time because I haven’t had the sunflower seeds so had to use pumpkin seeds and wanted to try it with the different sweeteners. Can barely tell the difference in taste with the different loaves, but one thing has been consistent, it’s been delicious every time! My family loves it and we usually finish the whole loaf in a day (2 at most). And best part is it is beyond easy, thus the challenge in trying new recipes.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Aw, yay! We’re so glad you and your family enjoy it, Madonna! Thanks so much for sharing!

      • Barbara says

        Hi! I like this recipe, and it was easy to prepare; my bread had risen nicely too. However, right now I have been baking it for more than 2 hours and it’s still pale outside and doughy on the inside. May I ask what could have caused that? Thank you in advance!

          • Barbara says

            I’m not sure as I didn’t bake the bread at my house; the oven I used is connected to a gas tank and I could only turn it on with a match. In the end, my bread came out on the denser side, which I actually like, tasty but still very pale on the outside, with a very hard crust. Could it be that I used too much flour? Thank you for your help!

  6. Tamara says

    Making today. You are my go to for recipes which I make over & over again. Thank you & your food photography is perfection!

    • Heather says

      Thank you for this recipe! My husband has been making it since the winter and when I have to eat store-bought bread for my breakfast toast, it’s just not the same. I am spoiled! An easy recipe, too.

      • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

        We’re so glad you enjoy it! Thanks so much for the lovely review! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo

    • Anita says

      Hi, do you think if I split this laid and baked as 2 smaller loaves (adjusting the cook time) if would still that the same results?

      PS. I have made this once and love the recipe.

    • Henna says

      I made this bread last weekend and it turned out very delicious but slightly on the hard side, I believe I didn’t knead it long enough, do you have any kneading time you would recommend? Also, I only have a glass Pyrex bread dish, why are you not recommending it? Could I put baking sheet inside and then use it?
      Thank you so much for the recipe x!

      • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

        Hi Henna, we don’t suggest glass/pyrex for the water dish because it will break. For kneading, when the dough gets smooth and a little hard to work with you know it’s done! Hope that helps!

        • Henna says

          Thank you for the tips.
          I actually started making the bread yesterday and finished it this morning, it turned out so good this time!! So moist on the inside and nice crust on the outside, definitely will make again!

          I also realized that you meant to not use the pyrex as the empty dish with only water in the oven. I did make my bread in the pyrex bread tin but had a dutch oven with water at the bottom.

  7. Mary says

    I made this yesterday. I have small children, and a distracted brain, so here’s what I did differently:
    1) whole chia instead of flax (turned out that I couldn’t find any flax in the cupboard)
    2) chopped sunflower seeds, millet, and oats (1/4 cup total)
    3) I left this to rise for about 2 hours (maybe very slightly longer), then put it in the fridge for 7-7.5 hours, because I couldn’t find time to deal with it
    4) during the rise, I covered it with reusable beeswax wrap
    5) I made my cuts into the top of the bread before the final rise

    The bread looks lovely. The texture is a bit dense, and it has more of a yeasty (maybe slightly fermented) flavour than I would prefer. It did get somewhat dry on the surface, under the wax wrap (more porous than plastic). The dough was very tough when I was kneading in the seeds and oats. I wonder if the chia and lack of plastic sucked some of the moisture out, making it dense. And I wonder if the flavour is normal, or if it was because it sat for so long. My daughter doesn’t like it, but my husband does!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Mary, Too much sugar or yeast will make the yeast grow too fast or too much, and will result in a dough with an unpleasant, yeasty taste. And the dense texture may have been from the whole wheat flour. Hope that helps for next time!

  8. Susanne says

    My family and I love this recipe. I know that one already for few years but haven’t done it for awhile. Decided to make it again but somehow this time and my last time, the dough smells very yeasty and I follow your exact instructions. Should I shorten the rise time or what else can be done? One more question, what is the purpose placing the dough for another 2 hours into the fridge? Just curious what it does. Thanks again for this amazing bread recipe!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Susanne, Too much sugar will make the yeast grow too fast or too much, and that (or just too much yeast) will result in a dough with an unpleasant, yeasty taste. If it rises in the refrigerator it allows for a slower more methodical rise, versus a quick one which happens in a warmer environment.

  9. Laurey says

    This is the 3rd time I made this bread….so delicious. I made a double recipe today and added the oats and sunflower seeds at the beginning to distribute. It’s so easy but a little time consuming. Will be a staple in our house. Thanks for the fantastic bread recipe.

  10. Rachael says

    I’ve made this recipe twice in the last two days and both times it was not cooked in the middle. The first loaf is edible, but the second loaf is not, the entire core is completely raw. With the second loaf, I baked it at 425 for 15 minutes and 400 for another 15. I then let it cool for 10 minutes in the pan. It looked and sounded perfect (sounded hollow when tapped), but when I cut it in half to freeze, it was completely raw inside. The only alteration I made to the recipe was adding 2 Tbs pumpkin seeds with the other seeds. I’ve made bread before and never had this problem!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Rachael, sorry to hear that! Is it possible your oven runs hot? Either way, we would recommend maybe lowering your oven temperature next time. This definitely varies depending on your oven and altitude, and cooking time can vary depending on your loaf pan size and what material it is (glass, metal, etc.). We think lowering the temperature and cooking for longer will help!

    • Shaunna says

      Same thing happened to me! Once it was totally fine and today it was completely raw in the middle but the outside was done. Will try lowering the temperature and cooking longer and see how it goes :-)

  11. Leigh says

    This became my go-to recipe, and I made it several times (five, I think) with great results. Then, primary audience asked if I could make “grittier” version with the seeds more pronounced. So I doubled the flax, the oats, and the sunflower seeds. The result was delicious! It was a little too crumbly for sandwiches, but it made heavenly toast.

  12. Maria says

    my first bread ever to bake. I followed the recipe with only whole wheat flour and it was a success. I have a gas oven and it was ready in 30 min! I can’t wait to repeat it. thank you for the recipe!

  13. Paola Cabal says

    I’m calling this bread “Pony” bread from now on because it’s Just what I Always Wanted. Lovely seeded whole wheat with plenty of fluffy loft. I followed the recipe exactly, and swapped out the sunflower seeds for a tablesooon each of flax and poppyseeds. My bake time was a lot longer than the recipe indicates: about 45-50m. I inserted a thermometer into the bread and took it out once the internal temp was at/a little over 190. This bread is comparable to Whole Foods Market’s “seeduction” loaf, though it’s a little less sweet making it more versatile.

      • Nancy Tran says

        This is a wonderful recipe and I will definitely be making it again! I didn’t have whole wheat pastry flour so I used white whole wheat flour instead. I doubled the rolled oats instead of using sunflower seeds (I have 2 toddlers not quite ready for sunflower seeds). I have never used maple syrup in a bread recipe and now I’m hooked! I made it into 2 loaves and we almost finished one before it was completely cooled. Excited for toast tomorrow morning.

    • Anita says

      Would you be able to make this dough and leave is overnight in the fridge? Our would this cause over-proofing?

  14. Diane says

    I tried this recipe after making whole wheat bread in the bread machine several times and not being while about the results. I just tasted my first slice and OMG, this is the best. Fluffy and not at all dense. I used whole wheat flour since I didn’t have whole wheat pastry flour, used chickpea cooking liquid instead of water (learned that trick from another recipe and I had it on hand), and replaced some of the flour with a couple tablespoons of vital wheat gluten.

  15. Ashley says

    I’ve been looking forward to making this bread and then my husband brought home Whole Wheat flour instead of WW Pastry flour (sigh). Will this work as a substitution? If so, what, if any adjustments should I make.

  16. Mira C says

    I have made this bread twice already this week. I love it – tastes so good , especially with butter, Nutella, jam or honey! Yum yum! The recipe is simple and easy to follow and because of the long proving time, it felt easier to fit into my day. I used my grandmother’s brown tin 9×5×3 and I used a different brand of flour (sorry Bob lol). I also added more seeds to it (flax, chia, pine nuts, pistachios, etc). 25 min on the middle rack made the top very brown and the center feel slightly undercooked – 30 min just under the middle rack, helped cook the inside more, but the top was still pretty brown in comparison to the bottom. Any suggestions on how to get a more even browning?

  17. Laurey says

    I’ve made this bread twice during our Covid isolation and it is truly delicious. Followed the instructions and it turned out perfect. The second time I doubled the recipe as the first loaf disappeared. Next time I’m going to put the rolled oats and sunflower seeds in the dough.
    Thankyou for the great and super easy recipe.

  18. Madison says

    I just made this bread tonight and followed the instructions perfectly. I have baked plenty of desserts but this is my first time making bread! While it cooked beautifully and looks amazing, the taste is a bit yeasty. Do you have any idea what caused this? I used a packet of instant yeast. Thank you!! :-)

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Madison, it sounds like the yeast grew too fast or too much! Is it possible there was too much sugar? Or perhaps the rise time was too long?

  19. Mary Bailey says

    I loved the ingredients and taste of this bread so I decided to stick with the recipe until I could successfully modify it to consistently work in our toaster oven. Here’s what I have found (after making approx 10 times):
    -Reduce the water to 1 cup. 1.5 cups makes the loaf too large (it actually rose into the heating elements!). This also means the flour will be reduced. I add 1/2 cup at a time alternating between regular Whole Wheat and AP and usually move the dough to a floured surface to continue kneading at around 2 or 2.5 cups. I would *estimate* I end up at a little over 3 cups by the time it’s all said and done.
    -I use a standard loaf pan
    -425 works fine, but once the top crust reaches your preferred color (I like dark brown and this usually happens between 15-20 minutes for me) lightly cover with foil AND remove the pan with water from underneath. The bottom crust was not cooking all the way and stayed soggy when i left the pan in the whole time: I assume because the steam was too close and it also blocked the heat from the bottom elements.
    -I leave it in for the full 35 minutes. It’s never doughy in the middle and has the best crust, in my opinion.

    Hope this helps anyone else who is also trying to make things work without a regular sized oven.

    Thank you for a fantastic recipe! Your site makes vegan cuisine accessible and less intimidating to this mom of a crazy 10 month old <3

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Thanks so much for sharing, Mary! We’re so glad you were able to modify to your oven!

  20. Nancy says

    This is the best bread I’ve made (and maybe tasted). I’m not much of a baker, but it was easy and SO delish. I did 4 hours on the counter and skipped the fridge after reading comments about how hard it was to knead after fridge. I doubled the recipe, and also added quite a lot more seeds (pumpkin and sunflower) than the recipe calls for, and it worked great.

  21. conner says

    Best. Bread. Ever. Just had a slice smeared with peanut butter and sliced banana for breakfast and I cannot get over it. I’ve tried it multiple ways with homemade jam, avocado, and just plain. And wow!! I actually never want to buy bread again.
    Also, I used normal whole wheat flour and bread flour (rather than AP) with a slightly longer rise time. Heavenly!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Whoop! Thanks so much for the lovely review, Conner. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Talia, active dry yeast should work, just allow a longer rise. Hope that helps!

  22. Chloe E says

    I was nervous for the result with all the Covid-pantry substitutions I made, but it turned out delicious! I used only all-purpose flour, refrigerated overnight, and both worked well. I found the most rise was achieved during the cover in plastic wrap right before baking. I used sliced almonds instead of sunflower seeds, and baked for 29 mins. It was soft, dense yet fluffy, with a beautiful touch of sweetness from the honey & oats. It kept really well too, 7 days in a Ziplock. Will definitely make again!

  23. Sara says

    Fantastic! Absolutely delicious and so easy to make. Didn’t change a thing and took out after 26 min. My partner & I just kept eating and raving about it. The problem now is how often will I make it?? Good problems to have! Thank you!

  24. Kimberly Weik says

    It seems like I read that someone made this recipe and used spelt flour instead of the the pastry and AP flour. Do you know what if that would work, any recommendations?

    • Conner says

      Can I use bread flour instead of all purpose flour? Having trouble finding ap flour in stores lately!

      • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

        Hi Conner, we haven’t tried it so we aren’t certain, but we think it should work! Let us know if you try it!

  25. Nicole Madsen says

    I made this in my toaster oven on a tray and it turned out perfect! I actually left the dough overnight in the fridge (it was a 2 day process). Everyone loved it!

  26. Julia says

    Hi! Can I replace the flaxseed with chia seed? Will it make any difference in the rise/baking time?

  27. Alice says

    I made this bread yesterday. I wanted so much to love it, and it does look good, is sliceable and one of my kids really likes it. I found it a bit dense and doughy on the inside. I took it out at 26 minutes because the top was burning, and I can see now that I should have left it in for longer and covered with foil. My main issue is with the taste. It tastes very yeasty and has a bitter aftertaste. I am hoping for some guidance here, being a novice. I’d really like to try again. I am confused by the procedure: when doing the initial mix, do you hold back some of the 3 3/4 total? If so, how much? I put it all in and then, because it still seemed a little wet added an additional 1/3 cup, just about. It rose without incident on the counter (2 hours) and then in the fridge (another 2). When we turned it out after the cold rise, it was wet on the bottom, so I sprinkled a bit more flour. It rose nicely in the oven, and everything seemed ok. When we sliced it, I did have the feeling that I should have left it in for an additional 5-8 minutes, because of the doughiness. I used all ingredients in the recipe and yet there is this yeasty, slightly bitter taste that overpowers the bread. Do you have any idea why this could be? Did I add too much flour? Thanks so much. Four stars because my son likes it!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hmm, the yeasty flavor is interesting. Your yeast was fresh, yes? I did not find this to be overly yeasty in my experience. As for being doughy inside, some others have experienced this and I wonder if it has to do with different oven temperatures / size of loaf pan being used. In your case I’d say you could very slightly reduce the amount of yeast added, slightly reduce oven temperature, and bake for 10-15/20 minutes longer. Let us know if you try, Alice! Appreciate the feedback!

      • Alice says

        Thanks so much, Dana! I’m really eager to try again with your suggestions, but unfortunately the inner glass on my oven door is cracked now. (I think I was too careless when I dumped the hot water into the pan on the lower rack. I’ve since learned that it is a good idea to cover the door with a towel while pouring.) A replacement glass is on order, but what with delivery delays, my excellent baking adventure is postponed. This bread will be first on the agenda when the repair is made. Love your recipes and love this site!

        • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

          Oh goodness! We’re so sorry to hear that happened, Alice! Hope you’re back to baking soon =)

  28. Kathy says

    I’m trying this but my dough is looking very wet. I’m letting it rise in the refrigerator overnight and hope this will help. I could only find all purpose flour. Could this be the problem? Should I add more flour in the am if it’s still too wet? Thanks for your help.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hmm, it probably is because of the flour swap! Try adding more flour. Hope that helps!

  29. Soumya says

    Hello! Can this be made in. Microwave oven ? If yes what’s the temperature and other details to be followed

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Soumya, we haven’t tried that, so we’re not sure. Let us know if you do some experimenting!

  30. Robyn says

    Have made this recipe four times now and just love it. I added some finely chopped pumpkin seeds, almonds, and flax seeds at the last kneading step as well; adds a bit more cooking time, but is very tasty! Thanks Minimalist Baker for all of these wonderful, healthy recipes! :)

  31. WT says

    Hello! Do you have any suggestions for substitutes to unbleached AP flour? ? Interested in trying other more nutrient dense flours.

  32. Jasmine Fern says

    One of my favourite bread recipes. Makes a deliciously textured loaf, and so simple to put together!

  33. Michelle says

    I’ve made this several times and use “normal”
    whole wheat flour (impossible to find whole wheat pastry flour in a pandemic). I love this recipe but it’s IMPOSSIBLE to knead after 2 hours in the fridge. After some research, I changed things up. It was so much easier. My process: 1) do prescribed 2 hour room temp rise 2) punch it down and add seeds/oats 3) do the “20 kneads”, form it, place in oiled bread loaf 4) cover and let rise another hour on the counter. No fridge at all. Success! It’s less dense, equally yummy and kneading was a breeze. Wanted to pass along for others with the same struggle who have zero baking skills (like me).

  34. Don'L says

    I made this bread a few weeks ago! It was delicious the first time, made my house smell SO GOOD, and I am already eager to make it again! I am even making a loaf for my boyfriend’s mom for Mother’s Day :) :). I am a novice bread-maker and I want to say thanks for making my introduction to bread-making so easy and fun!!

    Unfortunately, I am running out of rapid-rise yeast and the grocery shelves are still a little empty in my area due to COVID-19. Can you please tell me how I can make this with regular yeast instead, which I do have?

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Don’L, we are so glad you enjoy this recipe! Thanks so much for sharing! Active dry yeast should work, but just allow a longer rise. Hope that helps!

  35. Maia Matalon says

    I’m on round 4 or 5 of making this loaf and it’s easy and successful every time. I’ve been doing a whole wheat/ spelt flour loaf and it comes out great. Thanks for the recipe!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Thanks so much for the lovely review, Maia. We are so glad you are enjoying it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo

  36. Irish says

    Making this right now and waited 4 hours and realized I forgot the flaxseed meal!!! Omg, hoping it’ll still work cause I know it’s too late to add it in. Sighs

  37. Hannah says

    I could only find Active Dry yeast, is this the same as fast-acting yeast? If not will it make a difference? Thanks and can’t wait to try it!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Haroon, that should work, but it will likely be more dense. Let us know if you try it!

    • Patsy says

      I did this – all I have is whole wheat (stores are wiped out! The bread is WONDERFUL. Definitely do both rises.

  38. Patsy Brunner says

    Hi Dana – hope you can answer this morning because this bread is on my to-do list for today (or tomorrow) It’s Sat. April 25, 2020. I only have whole wheat flour and, given the situation at grocery stores, I was lucky to find THAT. Finding yeast was even more of a challenge.

    So, with no white flour (pastry or all purpose), I’ll be making the bread with whole wheat flour and the yeast I could find (active dry yeast, not quick-acting). Any suggestions to ensure success?

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi there! There aren’t any changes I could recommend, although I haven’t tried it that way and can’t guarantee the results. Let us know how it goes!

      • Hanah says

        What happens if you don’t steam the bread? I’ve made this bread a few times and put the hot water into a metal baking sheet, but I think I might be damaging the baking sheet in doing so, and I don’t have any pans that I could put into the oven.

        • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

          Hi Hanah, The water helps add moisture to the bread. But you could maybe try skipping it? Let us know if you try it that way!

  39. JulieALibrarian says

    Fabulous result. Take the time to add the cool rise in the frig. Texture and flavor are great. I used the wheat flours I had – white whole wheat and unbleached AP – so a little higher protein level than the recipe specified. Still a lovely loaf. Take the time and be patient with the rises – no complicated techniques. It’s worth it.

      • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

        Hi Jenine, the flax isn’t used as an egg substitute in this recipe. You can replace with another seed or omit.

        • Teri says

          ooh….should have read this first. haha. I definitely did sub in an egg because I assumed that’s what it was for. It’s cooling now so I guess we’ll see what happens! (I also had to make some flour subs as whole wheat pastry flour is not a thing here in Scotland…I used a nuts-and-seeds wholemeal bread flour instead) lol. it has risen beautifully, smells and looks good, so we’ll see.

  40. Nikki says

    I made this with some weird yeast that was substituted in my grocery delivery order. It’s a brick of Fleischmann’s yeast with cornstarch. I followed the recipe exactly with the exception of this weird yeast and I ended up with a flat brick. I’m so sad! I will try again when I can get real, active yeast.

  41. Jennifer says

    I am a terrific cook, but a terrible baker. Thank you for the wonderful recipe. My bread came out perfect! My only replacement was swapping out one cup of the wheat flour with rye flour. I am so impressed with myself and couldn’t have done it without your recipe!

  42. Dana says

    So delicious and easy! I didn’t have the seeds but I followed everything else exactly as written. Turned out moist with a brown crispy crust! I probably let it rise longer than instructed because I was working but it turned out great! First time making bread I feel so proud <3

  43. Rachel says

    I just made this bread yesterday because I’ve been baking a lot during all of this staying at home, and I am SO EXCITED. I’ve never made bread before from scratch, and this recipe was very easy to follow. I’m so excited to try it!

  44. ooonagh says

    Hi, I loved this recipe. It was easy and foolproof. I added two tablespoons of mixed seeds and it is so yummy. Make store-bought bread totally unappealing. I slice it and freeze it and toast it when I need it . Thanks for demystifying bread-making for me!

  45. Miel says

    I’m a beginner at baking and I tried making the bread with white flour since I was out of whole wheat. My bread didnt rise well… i wonder if it was because I left it in the fridge overnight?? Everything else, I did as the direction..

  46. Amanda M says

    Made this with active dry yeast. I followed advice to use 25% more active dry yeast to substitute for instant. Then “proved” the yeast by adding part of the water (approx 1/2 cup) of the warmed 105F water and stirred until dissolved. Then followed the recipe as usual. But I let it rise on the counter for approx 3 hours and skipped the fridge. It doubled in size by the 2 hour mark. It was so delicious. I used all purpose flour for all the flour as that was all that was available right now. LOVE this recipe. So good!!!!

  47. Nicole says

    I have live active yeast. How do I use this in the recipe? Do I still use water when starting the recipe?

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      I’ve never tried using live active yeast! But I’d guess it would be similar to how the recipe suggests. Let us know how it goes!

  48. Judy Davis says

    I have issues with my joints, and am unable to stir and knead. I am looking for recipes for a bread machine. Do you have any suggestions for how this lovely sounding bread will do best in a machine? Would you say it is a 1.5 or 2 pound loaf.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Judy, we haven’t experimented with a bread machine, but some other readers have! We’d recommend searching the comments to see what they have tried. Good luck!

      • Alex says

        I’ve made this recipe once step by step and once using a bread machine to make the dough. Both times worked out wonderfully.

        After making the dough in the bread machine, I let it rise an extra 2 hours at room temp, 1 hour in the fridge, and followed the rest of the steps, cooking it in the oven. Just press the oats/seeds on top of the bread before the final shorter rise, to avoid kneading them in.

        Most easy and satisfying bread, this is a keeper!

  49. Judith Beauregard says

    Amazing recipe! It raises more than I expected for a whole wheat bread. (20 cm high when cooked) The dough was not sticky so I didn’t add much flour. I use regular wheat flour and also add pumpkin seeds. So impress of the results. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.

  50. Lucy says

    Made this bread for the second time and I love it! This time I subbed the oats for pumpkin seeds and it is great!

  51. Ula Wojdakowska says

    Hi,
    I am really eager to bake the bread, however I have a small oven with only one rack. IS the water step necessary or can be skipped?
    Thanks,

  52. Patty says

    I made this last week with a 2 year old pack of instant yeast I found in my pantry and it was still amazing! I found this recipe because a I had Bob’s Red Mill whole wheat pastry flour that I wanted to put to use with limited baking ingredients available now. I’d love to make it again but only have active dry yeast packets left to use, can that be used if the yeast is bloomed 1st? Once I can get instant yeast again, this will be my weekly baking project. I can’t see myself ever buying bread again!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Patty, yes that should work. As long as it (approximately) doubles in size, you are good to go.

    • Donna says

      Made this as written and it was very good. Rose nicely and had good texture and the flavour is so good. I have been making more homemade bread because of self isolation and my expanding waistline is evidence. Haha.

  53. Robin says

    The dough was very sloppy/runny even after two hours in the refrigerator. Started adding flour by the 1/4 cups to firm it up. Must have added 2 cups at least. Never made this recipe before and perhaps I made a mistake but just don’t want to try it again. The taste was excellent and in the end the dough was too moist in the middle. Mixed feelings.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Robin, sorry to hear that happened! It sounds like it needed additional flour. Did you make any modifications?

  54. Jess says

    This is my new go to bread recipe! I have made other bread recipes from you in the past but this one is by far my favourite and I keep coming back to it!

  55. Chloe Bowers says

    This came out great. I used molasses as the sweetener because I had some to use up. It gave it a particular flavor, but we liked it! I added some wheat germ in place of the flax. Next time, I wouldn’t bother. As far as rising instructions, bake temp and time, and the rest of the ingredients, I followed exactly. Thanks for the recipe!

  56. Peter says

    Perfect, first recipe to become a staple, as it’s the first one I can replicate great results. I do make sure to activate yeast with correct temperature water and honey, it needs less time for rising that way.

    • Kajal says

      Wonderful recipe! I’m going to try making this tomorrow. But I have a question – what size baking tin did you use? Mine is around 9.5″ x 4.5* so I’m wondering how to scale this to fit mine. Also, if I avoid using all-purpose flour entirely, will it still work?
      Thanks in advance :)

      • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

        Hi Kajal, ours was a standard size loaf pan- so slightly smaller than yours. But it should work without adjusting the recipe. If you sub the all purpose for additional whole wheat, it will end up more dense, but should still work. Let us know if you try it!

  57. Patti says

    Hi Dana. Do you what modifications I should make cooking this bread at altitude. Planning on making it in the next day or two. Thanks for any hints.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Patti, we haven’t experimented with baking at altitude so we’re not sure. We’d recommend scanning the comments to see what others have tried. If you press “ctrl+f” on a PC or “command+f” on a mac, a find bar should pop up that allows you to search for specific words (such as altitude) in the post and comments. Hope that’s helpful!

  58. Gabriella says

    I made this bread yesterday and it is SO so good. I followed the recipe to a T up until I got to the baking time. I baked at 425° per the directions but had to bake for probably at least 40 minutes instead of the recommended 26-35 and I still feel like I should have maybe baked longer to make the bread browner on top. The inside came out cooked, and the bread really is delicious, so I’m not complaining but am wondering how to get the top to brown better without potentially overcooking the insides.

    Wondering if cooking at 450° in my oven might help solve this slight browning conundrum?

    Overall though, 10/10. Would def make again.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi, Gabriella! Thanks for sharing! As for the cook time, in your oven I’d say you made the right call. I wouldn’t increase heat to 450F as it would likely cook the outside too fast. If anything, you could reduce temperature to 400F and experiment with a slower, lower bake.

    • Caroline says

      I’m in Denver and made this bread today without any modifications. It turned out great, and is delicious!!

      • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

        Thanks so much for the lovely review, Caroline. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo

  59. Amy says

    First off, I am definitely not a bread maker, I have had many unsuccessful attempts with other people’s recipes And usually get a hard dense bread. After reading this over many times I gave it a go and am I glad. This Bread turned out absolutely delicious. The crust is crunchy and the inside was soft, the perfect combination. I used honey, and bobs white and wheat flours. Our oven cooks hot so I did 425 for 30 minutes and let it rest for an hour. Will be making this again and again, definitely a keeper.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi El, we haven’t had success making a gluten-free version yet. Let us know if you do some experimenting!

  60. Jeannie says

    Thank you for the great recipe! I made it last night and it turned out text book. I used red fife flour and all purpose. I did the recipe in my standard mixer, I probably let it sit for a total of 41/2 hours and baked it at 425 for the full 35 mins like you mentioned in your comments. I did not add seeds. This will be my go to bread! Love your recipes Dana.

  61. Alejandra says

    I made this bread yesterday. I loved it and my husband love it as well. It turned out perfect! I followed the instructions except that instead of 2 hours rest at room temp and 2 in fridge, I left it 4 hours at room temp (just because we were on a walk in the woods and it took longer than expected to get back home!). I will be making this bread all the time now!

  62. Lona says

    I can’t wait to make this. I’m out of some of the ingredients listed, including WW pastry flour… but Bob’s Red Mill and my local market are out of a bunch of baking supplies during this quarantine period. But honestly, I didn’t think you can make regular bread bread from a quick bread loaf pan! Super excited for this recipe!

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Kayla, we haven’t had success making a gluten-free version of this recipe yet. Let us know if you do some experimenting!

        • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

          Hi Danielle, If it rises in the refrigerator it allows for a slower more methodical rise, versus a quick one which happens in a warmer environment. Hope that helps!

  63. Moira says

    Hello! Do you think I could substitute with alternative flours? I have oat, brown rice and almond on hand (trying to avoid extra trips to the store)

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Moira, we haven’t had success with a gluten-free version yet, so we can’t say. Let us know if you do some experimenting!

  64. Cindy Leinonen says

    I normally do not change recipes and am excited to try this bread as is but with covid 19 I am short on some supplies. I am not vegan, and while normally have flaxseed I do not currently. Can I replace the flaxseed with an egg and remove 3tbs of water? I assume that’s what the flaxseed was for? I don’t want to ruin the bread by making this change. Thanks

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Cindy, it should be fine to just leave it out or use a different seed such as chia. It doesn’t act as an egg substitute here. Let us know how it goes!

  65. Andrea says

    Hi Dana,
    I made this bread last week and although it looked and smelled lovely on the outside, it was dense on the inside. I could also see bits of white flour after the bake. I actually baked it 5-10 minutes longer than the recipe called for.
    Do you think it needed baked even longer, kneaded longer… all of the above? Any advice is appreciated as I’m very new to bread-baking!
    Thanks!

  66. Shireen says

    Hi. Can you please tell me if I have to put in the bread in the oven, then put water and not close the door immediately? Because isnt it like that if we don’t close the door immediately the bread sinks?

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Shireen, it is recommended to close it quickly, but we haven’t had any issues doing it as specified in the instructions. Hope that helps!

  67. Celia says

    This bread is amazing! I modified the recipe slightly by not adding the sunflower seeds and outs (my kids do not agree with seedy bread), and I did not put in the fridge to rise. Instead I just left it on the counter for 3 hours. Seriously, this is the best bread recipe I have ever made!

  68. Anne-Marie says

    Hope all is well! We have active dry yeast. Could that be used as a substitute to quick yeast? Thanks for all your great recipes. xx

  69. Sara says

    I attempted this recipe again after the first loaf being under cooked. I used whole wheat flour and bread flour because that’s what I had and I left out the seeds. I baked for 26 min at 425 (which is how long I baked it the first time). I used an internal thermometer to test the bread and I came right at 190F which is technically cooked from the research I did but on the lower side. So I then covered the loaf with aluminum foil to prevent anymore browning and stuck the loaf back in the oven for 5 more minutes. When I tested the temperature of the bread after then 5 minutes it came to ~200. After letting it cool completely and slicing – success!

  70. Nicole McLaren says

    I subbed pastry flour with almond flour, vegan butter with coconut oil , and I added 4 different nuts. This recipe is the BOMB. You’re my hero!

  71. Jess says

    I found my “stay at home” bread recipe! So delicious. I followed the recipe as written, except left out the 2hr fridge rise due to time and subbed all purpose wheat flour for pastry flour, since it’s what I have on hand. Thanks for the delicious recipe!

  72. Sara says

    I baked this at 425 for 26 minutes and it was a beautiful golden brown on top. But after slicing into it when it was completely cooled it was still doughy inside. I will try again but maybe tack on 10 more minutes with foil on top so that it doesn’t brown too much.

      • sara says

        It went well. The second loaf I used an internal thermometer to check the temperature of the bread after 26 min and it was 190F which is at the low end for the bread to be technically cooked through. So i put foil on top of the bread (since it was browned plenty) and put it back in for 5 additional minutes. After those 5 minutes the internal temp of the bread was right around 200F so I took it out. Turned out great! I also made this with regular whole wheat flour and bread flour because that’s what I had.

  73. Juniper says

    I have been trying to make bread for about 6 years. This bread recipe is the first one I have tried that I have been able to be successful with everytime! Today was my 4th time making it and it turned out perfect. Interestingly, I left out the refrigerator rise and used whole wheat flour instead of whole wheat pastry flour (because that’s all I had).

    I did not slash the top before baking and it honestly made it easier to cut.

    I think the biggest difference was how much I kneaded it and I didn’t end up needing as much white flour to get to my desired consistency (maybe 1 1/3 cup).

    For the final rise, I turned the oven to warm and put the sheet pan with water in it on the bottom rack. When the oven got warm, I turned it off and put my bread in with a large ziplock bag set on top (I re-use these until they become unusable to decrease my plastic waste). It rose beautifully!

    I used a glass 9×5″ pan. My elevation is 4,464′ and I live in low humidity.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Thanks so much for sharing your experience, Juniper. We are so glad you enjoy this recipe! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo

  74. Lenka says

    Delicious and so easy to make we have stopped buying bread from shops! My family love this recipe. Sometimes, we add a mix of seeds and dried berries or dates to it. Thank you!

  75. Jenna says

    This looks so good! Does the honey sweeten the bread? I want to use for sandwiches, so should I keep the honey in or leave it out? Thanks!!

  76. Samantha says

    This bread recipe turned out perfectly! Followed the instructions and ingredient list exactly as written and the end result yielded a perfectly crisp crust with a light and moist interior. 30 minutes is how long I baked my loaf. I will be coming back to this recipe time and time again!

  77. Chris says

    Hello,
    This is my go-to recipe that I follow all the time (except I sub bread flour for AP)
    Do you have any recommendations for using this dough to make rolls or buns? Bake time, temp or grams of dough per bun?
    Thanks!

  78. Jenn says

    Great, easy recipe. I made it yesterday and We used it for tuna salad sandwiches. We finished off the loaf this morning so I made another today. My kids actually bickered over the leftovers this morning so I guess I’m making this often.
    I used my KitchenAid mixer + dough hook and it came together very quickly and used regular yeast.

  79. Jessica says

    I followed the recipe except I didn’t add seeds but it’s been cooking for 35 min the top is very brown but I stuck a thermometer inside and it’s all doughy? I used a stoneware loaf pan because that’s all I have. I am not sure what is wrong? I just covered it was tinfoil to stop of from browning and hoping it cooks in the middle.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      Jessica, how did it turn out in the end? Did the foil help? I’ve never used a stoneware loaf pan but I’d presume that it takes longer to heat up/conduct heat than a metal loaf pan. Perhaps that was the issue?

  80. Christine E Culver says

    Very easy, came out crusty and relatively light. Probably would be just as good with no seeds, or with an abundance of seeds, nuts and dried fruit.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Thanks so much for the lovely review, Michelle. We are so glad you enjoyed it! Next time, would you mind leaving a rating with your review? It’s super helpful for us and other readers. Thanks so much! Xo

  81. Dan says

    Can I prep this bread the night before and leave the uncooked dough to rise in the fridge overnight (as opposed to just the two hours)? I was hoping to get some of the heavy work out of the way the night before and then have it fresh for brunch in the morning.

      • Emily says

        Hi there, I left mine in the fridge overnight and just baked it now. I took it out at 30 minutes and when I took it out of the pan, the middle/bottom was undercooked. The top of the bread is hard as a rock! I’m assuming I did something wrong. I put it back in the oven for 10 more minutes to cook the middle, I think it worked but I’ve only sliced the edge so far. It is very dense with basically no bubbles but tastes good. The only other difference from the recipe was I used active dry yeast instead of instant (I adjusted the amount). Will have to try again I guess.

        • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

          Hmm, did you bake it in the center of your oven? I haven’t tried this with active dry yeast but assuming it rose that shouldn’t have been the issue…

  82. Danielle says

    So the only types of flour I have at home are whole wheat bread flour and unbleached all purpose. Will it make much of a difference if I use the bread flour in place of the pastry flour in a 1:1? Thanks so much for posting this recipe! I’m excited to try this out and not rely on grocery stores!