Artificial Flavors Free Bread Machine Whole Wheat Bread
There is something deeply satisfying about a loaf of bread made from ingredients you can actually name. Honey adds a gentle sweetness, butter brings richness, and whole wheat flour delivers that hearty, nutty depth that makes every slice feel substantial. No flavor packets, no additives, no mystery — just real pantry staples doing exactly what they're supposed to do. Store-bought whole wheat breads are notorious for long ingredient lists padded with "natural flavors" and other vague additives, which makes baking your own a genuinely smart move. This recipe keeps everything clean and straightforward, so you always know exactly what went into your loaf. The vital wheat gluten is the quiet hero here, giving the dense whole wheat flour the extra lift it needs for a proper, airy crumb rather than a dense brick. The bread machine does all the heavy lifting — kneading, rising, and baking while you go about your day. Once that golden-brown loaf comes out and cools on the rack, you'll have a sandwich-ready staple that tastes far better than anything wrapped in plastic at the grocery store.
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Learn more →Ingredients
12 servings
- 1 ⅛ cups warm water (80–90°f / 27–32°c)
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 3 cups whole wheat flour
- 2 tsp vital wheat gluten
- 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 standard packet)
Instructions
- 1
Add the ingredients to the bread machine pan in the order listed: water, butter, honey, salt, whole wheat flour, vital wheat gluten, and yeast. Keep the yeast separate from the salt by making a small well in the center of the flour and adding the yeast there.
- 2
Insert the pan into the bread machine, select the Whole Wheat cycle, choose a 1.5 lb loaf size, and set the crust to Medium. Press Start and allow the machine to complete the full cycle, including kneading, rising, and baking — typically 3 to 3 hours 30 minutes total.
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