100% Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread

Did you know that most store-bought whole wheat bread isn’t actually whole wheat? Bread made with whole wheat flour has a natural, slightly grainy texture compared to white bread. A lot of people don’t like that, but we’re the exact opposite: our family especially loves whole wheat everything, precisely because of that special texture and wheaty aroma. Besides its noticeably grainy texture, whole wheat flour is milled from the entire wheat kernel, so it contains plenty of bran and germ. Compared to bread made with refined white flour, it keeps much more of the vitamins and fiber. Because many people don’t like the “rougher” texture of whole wheat bread, store-bought whole wheat loaves are usually made mostly with white flour, with some bran or germ added, so the actual whole wheat flour content is very low!

100% whole wheat bread

To enjoy truly 100% whole wheat bread, I like to bake my own at home. No need to worry about additives: homemade bread uses the simplest natural ingredients, so you get the pure, natural flavor of whole wheat. Not only are the ingredients simple, the method is very easy too. The moment you see your beautiful loaf and your home fills with the smell of a bakery, you’ll feel so proud and realize how easy whole wheat bread can be~ And best of all, even though it has that whole wheat texture, it’s very soft, moist, and a little airy. It really is a perfect basic bread.

100% whole wheat bread

Once the bread is sliced, my favorite way to eat it is lightly toasted with a simple layer of jam, so I can really enjoy the aroma of the bread and the sweetness of the jam. It tastes like the moment spring flowers bloom. Caesar’s favorite is toasted bread spread with chunky peanut butter, then a layer of jam, topped with another slice: a classic PB&J sandwich.

If you’ve never baked bread before, you’re probably worried it’s complicated, but I promise this recipe is so easy you’ll fall in love with baking bread, and you might even want to make a loaf every week.

Choosing good whole wheat flour

Thank you so much to everyone who has asked how I choose my whole wheat flour! Most of the time I use Bob’s Red Mill 100% stone ground whole wheat flour. Here is Bob’s Red Mill’s official Taiwan website for reference, which lists where to buy it across Taiwan ➢ http://www.bobsredmill.com.tw/ I also sometimes go to baking supply shops and just ask the staff or the owner. They sell it all the time, so they’ll usually have good recommendations. French whole wheat flour is also very fragrant. Also, here is an article by Brian Cuisine on the characteristics and uses of whole wheat flour. If you’d like to learn more about whole wheat flour, it’s a great article worth checking out.

How to make 100% whole wheat bread

Activating the yeast

First prepare the water. It should be around 45-55°C (113-131°F): warm, but not hot, or the yeast will die. Sprinkle the instant yeast evenly over the surface of the warm water and wait for it to activate, usually about 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, you’ll see the yeast has dissolved and turned a bit foamy. Now add the honey and vegetable oil and stir well with a spatula.

Making the dough and the first rise

Next, get a large bowl, pour in the yeast water, and add half of the whole wheat flour. Slowly mix the flour and water together, then add the remaining half of the flour and mix well. Once the dough comes together (when you stir it, it pulls cleanly away from the sides of the bowl), turn it out of the bowl onto the counter, and we’re ready to knead.

If you have a stand mixer, you can use it to knead the dough, but I like to knead by hand because it really only takes about 5 minutes, and I find kneading dough super therapeutic.

When the dough becomes elastic and the surface is fairly smooth, take the large bowl from earlier and brush the inside with a very thin layer of oil. Place the dough in the bowl and brush a very thin layer of oil over the surface of the dough too. This keeps the dough from drying out and forming a skin where it’s exposed to the air while it rises. Then cover with plastic wrap or a clean towel and leave it at room temperature to rise for about 45-90 minutes, until doubled in size (45-60 minutes is usually enough; it may take longer in winter).

After 45-60 minutes, once the dough has doubled, press it down with your hand to release the air, then turn it out and knead for 3 minutes. Prepare the loaf pan by brushing the inside with a very thin layer of oil as well, then press the dough into a rough rectangle, place it in the pan, cover with plastic wrap, and leave it at room temperature for a second rise of about 45 minutes.

Then it’s ready to go into the oven. Bake until the bread has risen and the crust is golden brown.

100% whole wheat bread

How to enjoy 100% whole wheat bread

Fresh out of the oven, you can take a big bite while it’s still warm! (Careful not to burn your mouth!) Of course there are plenty of other ways to enjoy it too~ This bread is soft, but its structure isn’t so soft that it can’t hold up, so slice it and spread on your favorite topping. Simple and perfect! Before making sandwiches, always toast the slices first. Then simply spread on butter, jam (my favorite), peanut butter, chocolate spread, or cream cheese, and pair it with a cup of Earl Grey tea. Pure heaven.

Two slices make a perfect sandwich. Remember to toast them first, then add your favorite fillings: start with a spread like butter, tomato, or avocado, then add lettuce, tomato, onion, and so on. You can also add meat like ham or tuna. There are so many combinations waiting for you to get creative.

For breakfast, I like to simply add a soft poached egg. You can check out this post, which shows you how to make the pretty poached eggs you see at trendy brunch spots ➣ Easiest Perfect Poached Egg Or pair it with the most delicious ➣ Healthy Homemade Low-Sugar Chia Seed Jam

You can also cut the bread into small cubes and bake them until dry and crunchy, then sprinkle them over salads or soups to add texture. It instantly upgrades your salad or soup to five-star hotel level.

Besides the oven, an air fryer is also a quick and convenient way to toast the bread.

Vegan 100% whole wheat bread

Making a vegan version of this whole wheat bread is very easy: just replace the honey with maple syrup or another syrup, or with 30g of white sugar.

How to store 100% whole wheat bread and how long it keeps

Since homemade bread has no preservatives or stabilizers, it won’t keep as long as store-bought bread.

When the bread comes out of the oven, let it cool to room temperature, then seal it in a zip-top bag or an airtight container. It will keep in the fridge for 3 days. Or, take out the amount you’ll eat within 2 days, put it in a zip-top bag or airtight container, and keep it at room temperature, then put the rest straight into the freezer. That’s right, bread can be frozen, and freezing keeps it fresher and moister than refrigerating. Before eating, thaw it at room temperature or in the microwave. After thawing, it’s even tastier if you toast it again.

100% whole wheat bread

Update 2021/8/20:

Someone on YouTube asked about the kneading board I use in the video. I love it and have been using it for over two years, so here’s the info:

I use the JEmarble marble pastry board / cutting board. It comes from a marble factory in Hualien, so it’s made in Taiwan (definitely worth supporting)! Although the marble board is very heavy (I bought the largest size, 40*60), I find marble boards really great for kneading because the dough doesn’t stick. They’re also clean, hygienic, and easy to wash. The brand’s website says it won’t show knife marks, but because I treasure my marble board, I don’t cut anything on it. I only use it for kneading all kinds of dough.

Learn more ☞ JEmarble marble pastry board / cutting boardJEmarble’s brand shop and other marble products