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Bread machine whole wheat bread is easier than you think. Just a few ingredients tossed into the machine, and a few hours later a wholesome loaf of soft 100% whole wheat sandwich bread emerges almost by magic.
In the past few weeks, we’ve been our bread machine to nearly daily use. I love making bread at home, but with two toddlers underfoot, I’m glad to have a bread machine that does the work for me. My little ones are especially fond of my simple bread machine white bread, and they go nuts for my bread machine honey white bread, but I was hoping to up the nutritional content a bit by trying whole wheat.
I know there are a lot of transitional loaves out there, with part whole wheat and part white flour, but I decided to go all in and see how they like it. The crumb on this 100% whole wheat sandwich bread is softened a bit by adding a bit of olive oil, and then a hint of sweetness comes through thanks to the addition of maple syrup.
All in all, it’s a very wholesome loaf that stays soft with baking and holds together beautifully when sliced. I couldn’t be more pleased.
The real test comes when I hand a slice to the babies. The verdict! Toddler Approved! Slather a slice with butter, and my little ones clean their plates every time.
This bread is soft and flavorful enough that it allows for a seamless transition from white bread to 100% whole wheat. And this mama’s happy that I didn’t have to sneak the whole wheat into the bread a cup at a time. It makes things simpler, and everyone’s happy with the outcome.
In the next few batches, I’m planning on trying honey (instead of maple) as a sweetener, and I’ll be testing whether or not I can substitute butter for the olive oil to enrich this whole wheat loaf. I may also try adding small amounts adding whole grains like oats or millet, and maybe some flax seeds too.
If you’re not ready to go all in on 100% whole wheat, I’ve recently added a couple of transitional recipes as well. I’d suggest trying my Bread Machine Honey Wheat Bread or Whole Wheat Cinnamon Raisin Bread, as both have a good bit of sweetness to balance the whole wheat flavor.
Ingredients for Bread Machine 100% Whole Wheat Bread
I’m baking this as a 2-pound loaf in my Zojirushi Supreme Bread Machine, which makes beautiful horizontal loaves in a pan that uses two paddles for more efficient mixing. I’ve worked with many different machines over the years, and this one’s my favorite.
I’ve also included instructions for a 1 1/2-pound loaf if you’re working with a smaller machine or a machine that bakes vertically since they don’t work as well with full-sized loaves.
To make an extra small 1-pound loaf, just divide the 2-pound quantities in half.
Two Pound Loaf Ingredients
To make a 2-pound loaf of Bread Machine 100% Whole Wheat Bread, you’ll need the following:
Liquid Ingredients (add first)
- 1 1/4 cups (300 ml) lukewarm water
- 2 Tbsp. (30 ml) olive oil
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) maple syrup (or liquid honey)
Dry Ingredients (on top of wet)
- 3 1/2 cups (400 g) Whole Wheat Flour
- 1 1/2 tsp. (9 g) salt
- 2 tsp. (6 g) SAF Instant Yeast (or 2 1/2 tsp bread machine yeast)
One and a Half Pound Loaf Ingredients
To make a 1 ½ pound loaf of Bread Machine 100% Whole Wheat Bread, you’ll need the following:
Liquid Ingredients (add first)
- 1 cup (240 ml) lukewarm water
- 1 1/2 Tbsp. (22 ml) olive oil
- 3 Tbsp. (45 ml) Maple syrup (or liquid honey)
Dry Ingredients (on top of wet)
- 2 2/3 cups (300 g) Whole Wheat Flour
- 1 1/8 tsp. (7 g) salt
- 1 1/2 tsp. (5 g) SAF instant yeast (or 2 tsp bread machine yeast)
Making Bread Machine Whole Wheat Bread
To make this simple bread machine whole wheat bread, you’ll follow the instructions from the manufacturer of your machine. For most machines, that means starting with the wet ingredients first in the bottom of the pan. You then make an “island” on top of the wet ingredients with the flour, and then make a well in the flour to hold the other dry ingredients (in this case, salt and yeast).
That keeps everything dry until it’s time to start the machine, and allows you to do the time delay cycle if you’d like. (Even if you’re not doing a time delay, adding the dry on top of the wet helps the paddles evenly incorporate the flour without lumps).
turn on the bread machine and select the “whole wheat” cycle. Some machines don’t have a whole wheat cycle, in that case, just choose basic yeast bread.
The main difference with a whole wheat cycle is that the machine gives the bread more rise time, which helps the yeast slowly digest the more nutritionally dense whole wheat flour. If you don’t have a whole wheat cycle, I’d suggest adding 1/2 tsp extra yeast to help make up for that.
Turn the machine on and let it go. It should make a loaf of whole wheat bread without any more intervention from you.
Sometimes, however, it can help to watch for the first few minutes of the knead to ensure the water/flour balance is right. Add an extra tablespoon of water, if necessary, to help the dough come together. I’ve never had to do that with this recipe, but it’s always a good idea to watch just incase.
Otherwise, just let the machine do its thing, and you’ll have a loaf of fresh-baked bread before you know it.
Bread Machine 100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread
Equipment
Ingredients
Liquid Ingredients (add first)
- 1 1/4 cups water, lukewarm
- 2 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1/4 cup maple syrup, or liquid honey
Dry Ingredients (on top of wet)
- 3 1/2 cups Whole Wheat Flour
- 1 1/2 tsp. salt
- 2 tsp. SAF Instant Yeast, or 2 1/2 tsp bread machine yeast
Instructions
- Place all ingredients into the bread machine in the order listed. The dry ingredients go on top of the wet, making an island with the flour. Make a well in the flour and place the salt and yeast in it, so they don’t get wet until the machine starts kneading.
- Select the "whole wheat" setting if your bread machine has one. If not, choose basic white. If using the "basic white" setting, add an extra 1/2 tsp of yeast.
- Turn the machine on and allow it to run a full cycle, first kneading and then baking the bread in the machine.
- Allow bread to cool completely before cutting.
- Note: This recipe is perfectly fine to do as a time delayed bread. Be sure you keep the salt and yeast above the liquid and in the flour so they don’t get wet until the cycle starts.
Notes
One and a Half Pound Loaf Ingredients
To make a 1 ½ pound loaf of Bread Machine 100% Whole Wheat Bread, you’ll need the following:Liquid Ingredients (add first)
- 1 cup (240 ml) lukewarm water
- 1 1/2 Tbsp. (22 ml) olive oil
- 3 Tbsp. (45 ml) Maple syrup (or liquid honey)
Dry Ingredients (on top of wet)
- 2 2/3 cups (300 g) Whole Wheat Flour
- 1 1/8 tsp. (7 g) salt
- 1 1/2 tsp. (5 g) SAF instant yeast (or 2 tsp bread machine yeast)
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Bread Machine Recipes
Looking for more bread machine recipes?
- Bread Machine Cinnamon Raisin Bread
- Bread Machine Apple Cinnamon Bread
- Bread Machine Brioche
- Bread Machine Challah
- Bread Machine French Bread
- Bread Machine Honey Wheat Oat Bread
Bread Recipes
If you’re ready to make bread without a machine, I have a few more recipes for handmade bread too!
I am interested in trying this is my bread maker, but your recipes specify cups….Is that that American or British? As I convert these into mls and grams its essential I know, as they both differ. Many thanks.
Hi there. This is American cups.
Could you use less syrup or honey and still get a good rise? I don’t want the bread to taste sweet but I know the yeast needs some sugar.
You can make it without any sugar if you want, but a small amount helps balance out the taste a bit (in much the same way that salt does). Feel free to reduce it though, it won’t really impact your final rise much.
My first loaf (whole wheat) in my new Oster bread machine is absolutely PERFECT! Thank you for such a simple and delicious recipe!
i would like to give this a try but with no sweeteners.
Hi
Please confirm whether you used ordinary wholemeal flour or wholemeal bread flour
Thank you
You can use either, but in the bread pictured I used regular wholemeal flour because that’s what I had on hand.
Hello!
Thank you for sharing this recipe. Was really hunting for a good whole wheat bread recipe and glad that I found this one. I baked this bread today in my Kent bread maker (Indian brand). And it came out really soft with a lovely brown colour and just the right amount of honeyed sweetness with tint of savoury. And to my surprise not dense at all!
Will definitely try more variations the next time.
Thank you once again 🙂
This was the tastiest beautiful easy loaf of bread maker whole wheat bread I have ever had thank you very much
My husband and I love this recipe! I’d love to talk to you about adapting and republishing it, but I can’t find your preferred method of contact on this website. What’s the best way to reach you with questions?
Thanks for your time!
Hey Ann, It’s Ashley dot Adamant at gmail dot com for contact. (I’ll go and put that in my about page.)
Do you have measurements for the flour in grams or ounces?
I have only had Sunbeam bread makers. I’ve been making bread in them for many years. I have perfected so many recipes. Any additions can be used. Herbs, loose dry tea, instant coffee, chocolate chips, dried fruit, nuts, oats, TSP, seeds etc. You can substitute butter with pumpkin puree or applesauce or banana. One banana equals about a quarter cup of oil or butter. I pretty much use the dough setting only as I prefer to have bread baked in a loaf pan. I like the way the bread maker bakes it but there is always a slash and hole in the bottom because of the hook. I know there are some bread machines that have a hook that automatically drops down out of the loaf pan right before baking. I love my sunbeams so much that it’s not worth it for me. It’s easy enough to let the dough rise in a pan and then bake it in the oven myself. 375 for 35 minutes is pretty average for most breads.
I have a Zojirushi and don’t like the hole in the bottom either! So, right before the 2nd rise i take out the dough, remove the paddle, and replace the dough. No holes and perfect loaf!
That’s a good idea 👍!!
Dear Ashley
i am considering buying a bread machine but a friend of mine bought one and it worked only for white wheat but not work for whale wheat and eventually she had to give away the bread machine.
Can u recommend a brand that bakes whole wheat ? so far those i saw on sale does not have the option of “whole wheat” stated.as a choice.
Also, is it possible to add ingredients like pumpkin seed or raisin into the machine?
thanks so much
I really like this inexpensive model from sunbeam. It works really well and has a whole wheat setting. It’s what I baked this loaf in for this blog post.
You can add mix ins (seeds, dried fruit, etc) and most models will pause right before the final knead cycle so you can put it in. If you add them at the beginning it messes with the gluten formation in the loaf, as all the little bits in there cut the gluten while it’s kneading and it wont rise as high in the end. That means you have to pay attention and be there to add it in later.
More modern bread machines have a little spot where you put the mix-ins into the machine, and they add them automatically so you don’t even have to be home. My kids actually broke my sunbeam bread maker, so I’m in the market for a new one. I’m looking at this stainless steel breadman machine which has a cup for nuts/seeds and adds them automatically. It’s also stainless, so they wont be able to break this one by dropping it…
I second that, the cheapest and simplest sunbeam brand bread maker is the best 🙂
Thank you for this simple recipe! I recently dug out my ancient Breadman and was disappointed at all the recipes in it that called for milk, whey, powdered milk, etc.
I used your recipe as a base and mixed 360g of whole wheat with 60g of unbleached white AP flours. I used 84g of local honey for sweetener. This is my standard loaf now and my husband says it’s better than his precious Dave’s Killer 21 grain!
We are looking for an oat based recipe now. Do you have one you’d recommend? Did you end up experimenting with different add-ins?
Finally, what flours are you using? I have been going through 5lb bags like crazy and figured it was time to get into the bulk game!
Is this recipe for a 1.5 lb or 2 lb loaf?
Thanks!
It’s for a 2# loaf.
You don’t add vital gluten with a whole wheat recipe?
No, I didn’t add it for this recipe.
I’m trying to not use white bread flour when making my whole wheat bread in my bread machine, but every recipe says I have to use 2-2/3 cups bread flour plus 3-1/3 cups of whole wheat flour. How does the bread consistency come out when bakes? I’m trying to be more natural and healthy. Thanks.
This one came out really light for a whole wheat loaf and perfect for sandwiches for my picky kids. It’s all whole wheat, which is what I like about it, and the honey or maple adds just enough sweetness.
Could you use coconut oil in place of olive oil? Thank you for the recipe.
Yes, you can!