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    Home » Breads » Whole Wheat Honey Bread: Yeast Free!

    Whole Wheat Honey Bread: Yeast Free!

    February 16, 2023 Maria 212 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    A loaf of wheat bread with honey on a wooden board.

    This easy-to-make, no-knead, no yeast whole wheat honey bread recipe is ready in less than one hour! This quick bread requires a few wholesome ingredients like whole wheat flour, honey, buttermilk, and baking soda.

    This healthy homemade bread is great as a base for whipped ricotta toast or for spreading with hazelnut butter. It’s also a great accompaniment to this escarole and bean soup or the best Italian lentil soup recipe!

    Sliced whole wheat bread on a wooden board.
    Jump to:
    • Introduction
    • More reasons to love this easy recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Tips
    • Faq
    • Baking with honey recipes
    • Recipe origins
    • Recipe

    Introduction

    Let me repeat: no yeast, no knead, quick whole wheat bread!

    A bread recipe without yeast is the simplest definition of quick bread. Baking soda or baking powder (or a combination of both) is used as the leavening agent to get a quick rise.

    If you are looking for more yeast-free recipes, this non-traditional Irish soda bread also requires no kneading and is leavened with baking powder and baking soda. This Piadina recipe uses only baking powder, and this quick flatbread requires only flour, water, salt and oil. 

    So many wonderful possibilities!

    In a way, it’s the fast-food version of bread! 

    You won’t believe how easy it is to make this homemade wheat bread.

    More reasons to love this easy recipe

    • Besides being easy and quick to make, this bread can be enjoyed in various ways, from sliced toast to sandwiches. It’s also a great accompaniment to soups and salads.
    • Combining honey and whole wheat flour creates a slightly sweet and nutty flavor that anyone who tries it loves.

    As a dietitian, I love that this recipe uses wholesome ingredients that are both healthier and more affordable than most store-bought bread.

    Ingredients

    • Whole wheat flour. A great way to get that fiber we all need!
    • Baking soda. This will provide the bread to rise.
    • Salt. Not much, just a few pinches.
    • Buttermilk. A wonderful addition to a quick bread.
    • Honey. A natural ingredient.
    • Olive oil. Adds a fruity element.

    As far as accessories are concerned, you don’t need much. You need two bowls, a whisk, a wooden spoon and a 9 x 5 rectangle baking pan. That’s it!

    An overhead shot of sliced honey bread with a checkered blue tea towel and a bread knife.

    Instructions

    The first thing we will do is either grease and flour or spray non-stick spray in a 9 x 5 (2L) loaf pan.

    Set the pan aside while we measure and combine the ingredients.

    An overhead shot of a bowl of whole wheat flour, salt and baking soda.

    In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the whole wheat flour (3 cups), baking soda (2 teaspoons), and salt (¼ teaspoon). Take a few minutes to properly whisk these ingredients together to ensure an even distribution of the baking soda. Set it aside.

    An overhead shot of a bowl of buttermilk, oil and honey.

    In another large mixing bowl, whisk together the buttermilk (2 cups), olive oil (2 tablespoons), and honey (¼ cup).

    An overhead shot the honey wheat dough in the process of being combined.

    Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and, with a wooden spoon, stir to combine. You will notice that the mixture comes together very quickly.

    Do not over-mix. 

    Sunflower seeds can be seen on the honey bread dough in a rectangular pan, about to be baked.

    Immediately transfer the batter to the 9 x 5 loaf pan. If desired, sprinkle the top of the loaf with about one tablespoon of sunflower seeds. 

    Place the pan in a preheated oven at 300℉ (150ºC) for about 55 minutes. 

    A freshly baked loaf of whole wheat bread on a cooling rack.

    Remove from the oven and allow it to cool down on a wire rack for 10 minutes before removing it from the pan. 

    Cool completely before slicing.

    A few slices of a no yeast wheat bread on a wooden board, next to a bread knife.

    Tips

    • Preheat your oven to the right temperature.
    • Prepare your pan before you begin this recipe, as the baking soda will start reacting as soon as it comes into contact with the liquid ingredients. 
    • Properly whisking together your dry ingredients ensures even distribution of the baking soda, ensuring a uniform rise in your bread.
    • Do not over-stir; combine wet and dry and stir until moistened…resist the urge to keep stirring.
    • The minute you combine your wet and dry ingredients, immediately place the mixture in your pan and bake. The “lifting” component of the soda (carbon dioxide) starts reacting as soon as it’s in contact with the wet ingredients.

    Faq

    How to make buttermilk

    To replace 1 cup of buttermilk, measure and pour 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar in a 1 cup measurer. Pour enough milk to reach the 1-cup mark. Stir and allow to sit for about 5 minutes. 

    How to store baking soda

    Baking soda is a key ingredient in many baking recipes, and it’s essential to store it properly to stay fresh and effective.  Store baking soda in an airtight container at room temperature for up to six months. This will help keep it fresh and prevent it from absorbing moisture.

    Baking with honey recipes

    If you enjoy baking with honey, you will love this flavorful, moist and perfectly sweetened honey spice cake. Cookie recipes with honey are also quick, easy and delicious to make. Two of my favorite recipes are these honey cookies and, of course, honey almond biscotti.

    A sliced biscotti cookie with an almond and chocolate filling.

    Biscotti Cookies

    These delicious honey-spiced biscotti cookies are perfect for the holidays or any special occasion! 

    GET THE RECIPE

    If you’re looking for unique Italian cookies utilizing honey, try my family’s recipe for mostaccioli and caragnoli, Italian Christmas fritters.

    Recipe origins

    This non-yeast bread recipe is from my collection of recipe booklets from Robin Hood.

    Does anyone remember those? 

    I’ve had this recipe for years but never got around to it until recently.

    To be honest, I had some whole wheat flour that was expiring, and I finally remembered I had tagged this recipe. It was so good that I made it three times this week. I had to buy whole wheat flour!

    As usual, I’ve made a couple of changes: I decreased the amount of salt and used olive oil in the recipe.

    If you are expecting light, airy bread, this is not the recipe for you.

    This quick whole wheat honey bread provides a crumb that is dense and soft, and, you know what, it works!

    I am enjoying mine, toasted and smothered with almond butter – yum!

    It only takes 5 minutes of prep time and less than one hour in the oven!

    This recipe is for you if you have ever wondered how to make bread without yeast!

    THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community, where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

    Ciao for now,

    Maria 

    WELCOME! Sign up for my FREE NEWSLETTER for more delicious recipes, tips and updates!

    ★★★★★ If you have made this whole grain bread recipe, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

    Recipe

    Sliced honey wheat bread on a wooden board.

    Whole Wheat Honey Bread: Yeast Free!

    This easy-to-make, no-knead, no yeast whole wheat honey bread recipe is ready in less than one hour! This quick bread requires just a few wholesome ingredients.
    4.94 from 45 votes
    Print Save RecipeSaved! Pin Rate
    Course: snack/breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 55 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Servings: 10 servings
    Calories: 202kcal
    Author: Maria Vannelli RD
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 3 cups whole wheat flour 468 grams
    • 2 teaspoon baking soda
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 2 cups buttermilk or sour milk, room temperature
    • ¼ cup honey
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 tablespoon sunflower seeds Optional, to sprinkle over the top.

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 300℉ (150ºC).
    • Spray 9″ x 5″ (2 L) loaf pan with non-stick spray.
    • In a very large mixing bowl, whisk together the whole wheat flour, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
    • In a medium bowl, whisk buttermilk, honey and oil together.
    • Combine this mixture to the dry ingredients and mix only until combined with a wooden spoon.
    • Place batter in a pan.
    • If using, sprinkle top with sunflower seeds.
    • Bake for approximately 55 minutes or until done.
    • Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes before removing bread from pan. Cool completely before slicing.
    Scroll UP for the STEP by STEP PhotosDon’t miss the process shots and videos included in most posts. Simply scroll up the post to find them. Those were created especially for you so that you can make the recipe perfectly every single time you try it.

    Video

    Notes

    • Preheat your oven to the right temperature.
    • Prepare your pan before you begin this recipe as the baking soda will start reacting as soon as it comes into contact with the liquid ingredients. 
    • Properly whisking together your dry ingredients ensures even distribution of the baking soda or baking powder, which will, in turn, ensure a uniform rising in your bread.
    • Do not over stir; combine wet and dry and stir until moistened…resist the urge to keep stirring.
    • The minute you combine your wet and dry ingredients, immediately place the mixture in your pan and in the oven. The “lifting” component of the soda (which is really the carbon dioxide) starts reacting as soon as it’s in contact with the wet ingredients.
    Buttermilk Substitution: To replace 1 cup of buttermilk, measure and pour 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar in a 1 cup measurer. Pour enough milk to reach the 1 cup mark. Stir and allow to sit for about 5 minutes. 
    Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used. 
    *Recipe adapted from Robin Hood

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 202kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 328mg | Potassium: 199mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 80IU | Calcium: 67mg | Iron: 1.3mg
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    This post was originally published on June 4, 2015, republished on February 22, 2019, March 25, 2020 and more recently on February 16, 2023 with updated content. Thanks for watching and sharing.

     

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    Filed Under: Breads, Breakfast and Brunch

    About Maria

    Maria Vannelli is a registered dietitian who lives in a suburb just outside Montreal, Canada. She's the founder of the food blog She Loves Biscotti. Maria hopes to inspire you and bring you and your loved ones closer together at meal times enabling you to create some memorable moments.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anne sekyi

      March 06, 2023 at 11:13 am

      Hi,my name is Anne.i live in Ghana in west Africa.I just baked your bread recipe and it came out soft and fluffy!! I love it.thank you.

      Reply
      • Maria

        March 17, 2023 at 7:45 pm

        My pleasure Anne! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment, I appreciate it!

        Reply
    2. John in Maine

      February 06, 2023 at 9:26 am

      Before I make a mess, can you use a Pullman Loaf Pan for this? It has a slide on top and I know some recipes over-rise and cause a mess. Just wondering.

      Reply
      • Maria

        February 15, 2023 at 7:43 pm

        Thanks for your interest John. This bread does have a nice rise. I have never baked with a Pullman Loaf Pan… can you bake it without the sliding top?

        Reply
    3. Kim

      February 05, 2023 at 9:51 pm

      5 stars
      made this tonight and…YUM! I’m fairly new to making bread so this was a great experience😁

      Reply
      • Maria

        February 15, 2023 at 7:36 pm

        How wonderful Kim! Thanks for sharing!

        Reply
    4. Nancy Maus

      February 02, 2023 at 2:13 pm

      Will the recipe turn out if you put in 2 smaller bread pans to shorten baking time?

      Thank you for your responce.

      Reply
      • Maria

        February 15, 2023 at 7:50 pm

        Thanks for your interest Nancy. Although I have never tried it, it should be fine. It is a low oven temperature, so I suspect it will take at least 40-45 minutes to bake. Great question, thank-you.

        Reply
    5. Debra

      January 29, 2023 at 10:58 am

      5 stars
      Very good bread. Thank you for sharing

      Reply
      • Maria

        January 30, 2023 at 6:52 pm

        My pleasure Debra! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment!

        Reply
        • Pat

          February 14, 2023 at 7:37 pm

          5 stars
          Found the recipe at the beginning of the pandemic and we’ve been making it periodically since then. Easy and quick recipe that my family likes!

        • Maria

          February 15, 2023 at 7:50 pm

          Thanks so much Pat! Happy to hear you are enjoying this recipe.

    6. John Downey

      January 16, 2023 at 7:29 am

      5 stars
      very good thanks for sharing just what i was looking for i like to try new things
      ive adjusted to 2 cup whole wheat , i/2 all purpose , 1/4 cup bran, 1/4 cup germ
      i am going to try white wheat next

      Reply
      • Maria

        January 16, 2023 at 7:23 pm

        My pleasure John! Thanks so much for sharing! So much fun to experiment!

        Reply
    7. Watson Anne L.

      June 22, 2022 at 3:38 pm

      5 stars
      I make this with whey drained from my Greek yogurt making instead of buttermilk. It’s great!

      Reply
      • Maria

        June 24, 2022 at 10:27 am

        Thanks so much for sharing Watson! This is such a wonderful idea!

        Reply
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    Maria from She loves biscotti

    Hi, I'm Maria! a dietitian and full-time content creator. Join me as I share traditional Italian recipes from my youth to modern twists on classics using fresh and seasonal ingredients.

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