This bread machine whole wheat bread is an easy everyday loaf made with 100% whole wheat flour and just six simple ingredients. With only about 5 minutes of hands on prep, the bread machine takes care of the kneading, rising, and baking for a hearty, sliceable loaf that is great for sandwiches and toast.
I love making a simple loaf of bread in my bread machine to use for everyday breakfasts and lunches, or as a side with a quick dinner. Bread Machine White Bread, Oatmeal Bread, and Seed Bread are some of my favorites, but I come back to this bread machine whole wheat recipe often, too.
Don’t have a bread machine? Try my no-knead bread recipe instead! Try using your homemade sandwich bread to make tuna salad sandwiches or a classic BLT!
I love this recipe!! this is my second time making it!! thank you!
Kelly L
Why I Keep Coming Back to This Whole Wheat Bread
This has become one of my most popular bread machine recipes, with more than 140 reader ratings and hundreds of comments. I like it for everyday sandwiches and toast because the ingredient list is short and the bread machine handles everything from kneading to baking. One thing I have learned from making whole wheat bread is that checking the dough during kneading makes a big difference, since different whole wheat flours can absorb water differently.
Key Ingredients
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
- Whole Wheat Flour: The type you should search for in the US and Canada will be labeled as “Whole wheat flour”. In the UK and Australia, this is called “Strong wholemeal bread flour”. It will have a coarser, more grainy texture than white flour. It will also usually be labeled as “strong” or “high-gluten” which means that it has a high amount of gluten, which is perfect for breadmaking. For the most accurate results, weigh the flour rather than measuring it by volume.
- Instant Yeast: This recipe was developed using instant yeast, sometimes labeled bread machine yeast. For the most consistent results, I recommend using it rather than substituting another type of yeast.
- Melted Butter: Adds flavor and helps keep the crumb tender. Olive oil can also be used if you prefer.
- Sugar: A small amount of granulated sugar adds a touch of sweetness and helps the crust brown. Leaving the sugar out will give you a paler crust and a slower rise.
- Salt: Salt does more than season the loaf. It controls how fast the yeast works and strengthens the dough. Do not leave it out or reduce it, or the loaf will rise too fast and sink in the middle.
- Water: Use water at 110°F (43°C), as tested for this recipe.
How to Make Whole Wheat Bread in a Bread Machine
Visit my recipe for Bread Machine White Bread for more tips and tricks!
- Add Ingredients: Layer your ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the following order: Water, Butter/Oil, Sugar, Salt, Flour, and lastly, Yeast.
- Set Up and Turn On: Add the bread pan to the bread machine, and make sure that it’s secured. Close the lid, and plug in the machine. Select the Whole Wheat or Whole Grain cycle and the 1½ pound loaf size.
- Let the Bread Maker Work: The bread machine will now take over for you, and knead, proof, and bake your bread dough!
- Cool: When the baking cycle ends, unplug the bread machine, open the lid, and remove the pan from the machine with kitchen mitts. Allow the bread to cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then shake it out of the pan and allow it to cool completely. Carefully remove the paddle from the bottom of the loaf if it got stuck there.
Check the Dough During Kneading
Bread machines vary, and whole wheat flour can absorb different amounts of water, so it is worth checking the dough during the first kneading cycle. The dough should form a soft, smooth ball that is slightly tacky but not wet or smeared around the bottom of the pan.
If the dough looks dry or crumbly, add water 1 teaspoon at a time. If it looks very sticky and is not forming a ball, add whole wheat flour 1 tablespoon at a time.
What to Expect From 100% Whole Wheat Bread
Because this loaf is made entirely with whole wheat flour, it will be darker and slightly denser than bread made with white bread flour. It should still rise well and have a soft, sliceable crumb, but it will have the heartier texture and nutty flavor you expect from whole wheat bread.
More Bread Machine Recipes to Try
Bread Machine Brown Bread
Bread Machine Rye Bread Recipe
Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls
Bread Machine Dinner Rolls
FAQs
Follow your bread machine manufacturer’s recommended ingredient order. For the machine used to test this recipe, the ingredients are added with the liquids first and the yeast last.
Follow this recipe, using 50% whole wheat flour and 50% white bread flour. Increase the yeast to 1 ½ teaspoons, then follow the recipe as written.
You should store your homemade bread wrapped in plastic wrap or foil to keep it soft and fresh. Bread machine wheat bread can also be frozen, wrapped well and airtight, for up to two months. Avoid putting bread in the fridge, as the conditions there will dry out your loaf.
You should always make sure that your yeast is fresh and active. It could be that your yeast is dead, or you added too much salt or sugar, or you forgot to add the yeast.
You probably added too much yeast.
If this happens for some reason, add more liquid (1 tablespoon at a time) until a ball of dough is formed.
You need to add more flour, add it gradually (1 tablespoon at a time) until a ball of dough is formed.
This loaf makes good peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and good toast.
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Bread Machine Whole Wheat Bread
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups (350 ml) water at 110°F (43°C)
- 2 tablespoons (28 g) unsalted butter melted, or 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 4 cups (480 g) whole wheat flour strong wholemeal flour in the UK
- 1 teaspoon instant yeast
Instructions
- Layer your ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the following order: Water, Butter/Oil, Sugar, Salt, Flour, and lastly, Yeast.
- Add the bread pan to the bread machine, and make sure that it’s secured. Close the lid, and plug in the machine. Select the Whole Wheat or Whole Grain cycle, the 1½ pound loaf size, and medium crust.
- The bread machine will now take over for you, and knead, proof, and bake your bread dough!
- When the baking cycle ends, unplug the bread machine, open the lid, and remove the pan from the machine with kitchen mitts.
- Allow the bread to cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then turn it out and let it cool completely on a wire rack before slicing. Carefully remove the paddle from the bottom of the loaf if it got stuck there.
Notes:
- Weigh the Flour: 4 cups of whole wheat flour can differ by 50 to 70 grams from one person to the next depending on how it goes into the cup, and that swing is the most common reason this loaf comes out dense or sinks in the middle. This recipe is built on 480 g. If you do not have a scale, stir the flour in the bag to loosen it, spoon it into the measuring cup, and level the top with a knife. Do not scoop the cup straight through the flour.
- Water temperature: Use water at about 110°F (43°C), as tested for this recipe. An instant-read thermometer is the easiest way to check the temperature.
- Yield: One medium loaf, about 1½ pounds (680 g).
- Cook Time: 4 hours, based on the tested bread machine. Cycle times vary by model.
- Nutrition: Nutrition is a rough estimate, based on the loaf cut into 10 slices.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
© Little Sunny Kitchen
James Barker says
Since whole wheat flour takes longer to adequately mix and rise than white flour – are there machines that can be set to mix and rise whole wheat longer? Can you recommend a machine that can be specific and is best for whole wheat?
Thanks, Jim
Diana says
Hi Jim, I have a basic Hamilton Beach programmable bread maker and it has the whole wheat program so I’m assuming that they took that into account when they created the whole wheat setting.
Brittany says
Can I double the recipe for a 3 lb loaf?
Diana says
My bread maker doesn’t make a 3 lb loaf, I think the maximum is 2 lb. So I’d check the manual and see if that’s possible in your bread machine.
Ben Thomas says
Hi Diana, I have tried this recipe twice now, both times the top of the bread has sank with about 40 minutes left on the baking time. The second time I reduced the water to 300ml. But still the same result. Having read other reviews, I wonder if 1 and a half TSP of yeast might be better? Thanks, Ben
Laura Lowe says
Is the salt necessary, or just for taste?
Diana says
just for taste!
Liz says
Love this recipe! I make my own mixed grains flour and needed to swap out about 3/4c for white flour to get it to rise but it’s delicious. Question though- can I add seeds like flax and sunflower to this recipe?
Diana says
You definitely can! Check out my Bread Machine Seed Bread recipe. Enjoy!
Cash says
Easy to make and very good to eat. My first bread for about 30yrs and my first ever whole wheat bread.