Chicken Free Bread Machine Whole Wheat Bread
There is something deeply satisfying about pulling a freshly baked whole wheat loaf out of a bread machine, and this one delivers every time. A touch of honey adds just enough sweetness to balance the earthy, nutty depth of the whole wheat flour, while unsalted butter keeps the crumb tender and rich. Vital wheat gluten is the quiet hero here — it gives the loaf the structure and chew that whole wheat breads sometimes struggle to achieve on their own. The bread machine does all the heavy lifting through kneading, rising, and baking, so you can walk away and come back to a golden, hollow-sounding loaf ready for the rack. Store-bought whole wheat breads can be a minefield of unexpected additives and shared production lines, but this one keeps the ingredient list clean and completely in your control. Letting it cool for a full hour before slicing is genuinely worth the patience — the crumb sets up beautifully and slices without compressing. Whether you're loading it up for sandwiches or just toasting a thick slab with butter, this loaf is the kind of everyday staple that earns a permanent spot in your weekly routine.
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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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