This homemade Whole Wheat Bread is embellished with sunflower seeds and oats for added protein, texture and flavor. The nutty combination of bread and whole wheat flours along with rolled oats and toasted sunflower seeds makes it absolutely irresistible.

Easy Whole Wheat Bread Recipe

I know, when a recipe calls for yeast you keep searching right? I totally understand, yeast can be a finicky character. Intimidating at the very least and incredibly scary to most people. I used to be the exact same way. One day some years ago, long before I started developing recipes professionally, I decided that I would conquer the yeast bread fear. And, you know what? Once you gain confidence working with yeast there’s a whole other baking world that opens up to you. I’m here to tell you that it IS possible for you to master bread making. How to make Whole Wheat Bread: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)

Scald Milk – In a small saucepan, heat the milk until it begins to foam around the edges. Remove from the heat and cool to 110°F.
Combine Dry Ingredients – In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, combine bread flour, yeast, and sugar. Mix the dry ingredients together just until the yeast is fully distributed.
Add Milk – Gradually add the scalded milk. Beat on low speed for 3 minutes.
Let Rise – Cover with a damp towel and let rise until double, about 30 minutes.
Add Whole Wheat Flour – Using a knife, release some of the air from the dough mixture, then on low speed add the whole-wheat flour, oats, sunflower kernels, sunflower oil, honey, and salt. Mix well.
Knead – Using the dough hook, or by hand on a lightly floured surface, knead the dough for 6-8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Let Rise – Place in a greased bowl. Cover and let rise until double, about 30 minutes.
Divide the Bread Dough – Punch the dough down to release air and shape into 2 loaves. Place in (2) greased metal 8 x 4 x 2-inch loaf pans. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise for 45 minutes.
Bake – Preheat oven to 375°F bake per the recipe until the bread makes a hollow sound when tapped in the middle. Cover with aluminum foil to prevent over browning, if needed.
Remove from pans and cool on wire rack.

How to Make the Best Whole Wheat Bread Recipe

Serve this bread fresh from the oven alongside soups or stews or make the ultimate pimento cheese sandwich and thick-cut toast to go with your oven eggs. It’s utterly impossible to eat only one piece making it one of those simple indulgent pleasures that makes life so sweet.

Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Sunflower Oat Wheat Bread: Bread flour, whole wheat flour, oats, whole milk, active dry yeast, granulated sugar, vegetable oil or sunflower oil, salt and sunflower seeds.
Kitchen gadgets you’ll need: A stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, mixing bowls, a whisk, measuring cups and spoons, two 8 x 4 inch loaf pans, a large mixing spoon and a non stick surface.
You can use a stand mixer or you can knead the dough by hand for this recipe.
When reading through bread recipes you’ll see terms like “let the yeast bloom” or “proof.” This means allowing the yeast to grown in a warm water or milk medium, and that’s what gives the rise to bread.
Ideally, the liquid temperature should be kept between 105-110°F which provides the optimal environment for yeast to bloom.
This sunflower oat wheat bread is a tad different in that the yeast is initially added to part of the dry ingredients and doesn’t bloom separately in warm liquid. So, in this case it’s best to go with the higher end of the recommended temperature for the scalded milk as it begins to cool immediately upon being mixed with the starter ingredients and therefore less likely to “kill” the yeast.
Store Sunflower Oat Wheat Bread tightly wrapped at room temperature for 2 days.

More Southern Style Bread Recipes to Make

Make this bread and give it to teachers, neighbors and friends as gifts or enjoy slathered with sweet cream butter and jam. Once you gain confidence making bread from scratch don’t stop with this recipe. Homemade bread is sure to impress your loved ones and show them the cooking love. It doesn’t get any better than that. More bread recipes to try:

Checkout a couple of my MOST popular bread recipes to date, my Easy No Knead Yeast Rolls and Honey Yeast Rolls.
This Dutch Oven Artisan White Bread makes the best sandwiches and side dish for soup and stew.
Make your own homemade Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Bread at home.
Homestyle Garlic Herb Bread turns on of those inexpensive loaves of bread into a buttery treat.
Italian Herb Beer Bread requires no yeast to make.
You may also like to checkout this recipe for English Muffin Bread from Barefeet in the Kitchen.

Thanks for visiting come back soon!

Disclosure ~ If a purchase is made using one of the affiliate links on this website we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you!

Helpful Kitchen Items:

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe