Finally—a wholesome multigrain sandwich bread that won’t fall apart the second peanut butter shows up to the party. It’s nutty, slightly sweet, and soft enough for the kids but sturdy enough for a proper sandwich stack.
Table of Contents
No cardboard texture here—just chewy, golden goodness with a crisp crust and a load of feel-good ingredients like flaxseeds and whole grains (hello, omega-3s!). Whether you're toasting it, jamming it, or piling it high with ham and cheese, this bread delivers. And if the words healthy recipe make you flinch? I get it. But trust me—this one actually tastes like something you want to eat.
🧾 Ingredient Notes
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
- Active dry yeast is what causes the dough to rise. You can use active dry yeast or instant yeast. Either is fine. If you use instant yeast you'll add it with the dry ingredients and skip steps 1 and 2.
- Honey is the sweetener of choice here. Strongly flavored honeys will add more of their flavor. You can also use maple syrup or agave for a completely vegan recipe.
- 7 grain cereal is a dry mix of grains. I use Bob's Red Mill but you can use whatever you need. You can often find hot mixed grain cereals at Whole Foods and health food stores.
- Rolled oats add chewiness and nuttiness to the bread. The old fashioned oatmeal is best but you can use quick oats if you want. Just don't try to use instant.
- Whole wheat flour is made by grinding the whole wheat berry so that you get all the vitamins and minerals and fiber.
- Whole flax seed adds fiber, texture, and Omega-3s. Be sure to get the whole seed and not the ground.
- Bread flour has a higher protein content that all-purpose flour so the dough rises a little higher than it would with regular flour. More about different types of flour here.
- Vital wheat gluten helps the bread rise high and increases that soft, fluffy texture.
- Salt helps control the yeast (it can get a little wild otherwise) and gives flavor to the bread. I always use kosher salt.
- Butter or use vegetable oil or coconut oil for a vegan recipe.
- I also like to use homemade dough enhancer to help it rise light and fluffy.
🔪 How to make multigrain bread
Yeast looks like this when it's proofed properly. It gets foamy. That shows it's alive and kickin' and ready to be used.
When the dough has risen properly you can see that it's puffy and has nearly doubled in size. If you push your finger into the dough it won't "push back".
Multigrain bread often takes longer to rise than other types of bread. Be patient and keep it in a warm place.
Shape this homemade multigrain bread into loaves or rounds before baking.
Can I make this recipe in a bread machine?
Most bread machines can't handle the stiff dough of this multigrain bread recipe so you'd better plan on using your stand mixer or kneading by hand. Here's a video I made showing you how to knead by hand.
📖 Recipe
Multigrain Bread with Flaxseed
Print Pin Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 2 packages yeast
- ¼ cup warm water, (110F)
- 5 tablespoons honey, divided use (use maple syrup or agave to make it vegan)
- 2 cups warm water
- ½ cup 7 grain cereal
- 1 cup old fashioned oatmeal
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 cup flaxseed
- 3 cups bread flour, more as needed
- ¼ cup vital wheat gluten
- 1 ½ tablespoons salt, yes, that is tablespoons
- ½ cup melted butter, use coconut oil or vegetable oil to make it vegan
Instructions
- Add the yeast and 1 tablespoon honey to the warm water.
- Set the mixture aside for about five minutes. It will get bubbly.
Sponge
- Add the 2 cups of warm water, remaining honey, 7 grain cereal, oatmeal, 1 cup of the whole wheat flour, 1 cup of flaxseed, 1 cup of bread flour, and ¼ cup gluten.
- Stir until well mixed.
- Cover and set in a warm place to rise - about 30 minutes and up to 3 hours.
Bread
- Stir the sponge down and add the salt and butter.
- Using the dough hook on your mixer beat in the remaining whole wheat flour and enough of the remaining bread flour to make an elastic dough.
- Knead for 6 - 10 minutes, or until smooth and elastic.
- Cover and place in a warm spot to rise.
- Let rise until double, about 1 ½ hours.
- Punch down.
- Let rest for 15 minutes.
- Form into loaves and place in greased pans.
- Oil tops and cover, let rise for 1 hour or until doubled.
- Bake at 375F for 40 minutes or until golden brown.
- Loaves will sound hollow when tapped if they are done.
- Cool completely before slicing!
Notes
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
If you have more questions check out this Bread Baking FAQs post!
Last time I put together the sponge for my multigrain bread recipe Sunday before church.
I figured it could do the first rise when I was at church and I'd finish it up when I got home. Although I hadn't tried it this way before it was actually better than the old method.
The longer rising time for the sponge made the bread even more soft in texture and seemed to give it more flavor, too.
📚 Related recipes
I love making homemade bread - I made my first loaf in 1974 and I haven't stopped since! I probably love to eat it as much as to bake it - which may not be such a good thing!
- Oatmeal honey bread is moist, soft, and a little chewy with a slightly sweet honey and oat flavor that makes it irresistible. This is my go to bread for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches — there is no bread that is better for that!
- Whole wheat bread with the chewy goodness of cracked wheat and the sweetness of honey is much easier to make than you might think! This soft, fluffy wheat bread makes fantastic sandwiches, toast, and even dinner rolls.
- Buttermilk bread is a light sandwich bread that is probably the most popular recipe here on Restless Chipotle. It's got hundreds of comments and 5 star reviews. It's an easy for beginners, too. It's the first yeast recipe my kids used when they were learning.
Maya says
I want to try this bread, but I don't have a stand mixer! Any suggestions of how to make it work?
Marye Audet says
There 's a video here on how to hand knead bread. You'll need to hand knead it - about 10 to 15 minutes. https://www.restlesschipotle.com/buttermilk-bread/
Esther says
I just made the bread today and it’s very delicious ? and it fills you up because it has healthy ingredients
I’m so happy I found the recipe
I will added to my book recipe
Michele says
Hello...one question...the recipe calls for 1 cup of flaxseed. Does this mean the actual seeds, the ground seeds, or a flaxseed flour? Thank so much! I am eager to make this!
Marye Audet says
actual seeds 🙂
Cynthia says
This bread recipe looks awesome!
Can I reduce the salt a bit without affecting the chemical reaction ?
I was also wondering if this bread is a bit sweet or can it be used for sandwiches?
Marye Audet says
SO good for sandwiches. Sure - reduce the salt if you want to.
Susan says
Wheat gluten? Mine says wheat gluten flour? Is that okay?
Marye Audet says
Same thing. 🙂
Allison says
This bread is amazing! Thank you for posting! I thoroughly enjoyed the ritual of spending the day making it. I followed the recipe and the steps pretty much exactly, and it turned out as a spectacularly delicious treat. I’m going to make it again and again, I’m sure. It baked beautifully, and it sliced like a dream. I’ve gotten nothing but compliments. I can’t wait to explore your blog further and try other recipes. Also, I’ve tried literally dozens of whole grain bread recipes, and none have been as good as this one.
Marye Audet says
Allison, thank you! I am so glad you liked it! It's definitely one of my favorites.
Jana says
Terrific bread! I use 9 grain instead of 7 grain & a blend of flax, chai & hemp seeds instead of just flax seeds. I mill my own flour and this recipe has replaced the one I have used for years. Super easy to cut when completely cooled, freezes well too. Only one downside, this bread does take over half a day to make.
Marye Audet says
I'm so glad you like it!
sandie says
The flax machine bread looks so good but I do all of my bread in a bread machine. Wish this one was.
Marye Audet says
any kind is fine but I use Bob's Red Mill or Hodgson Mill
Rhonda says
What kind of salt did you use?
Marye Audet says
Rhonda -I use kosher salt in everything. I need to go back and make that clear in the recipes. 🙂
Missy says
What could I replace the Flax seed with?
Marye Audet says
There really isn't anything. I'd suggest trying another one of the bread recipes on the blog.
Karmon says
I made the multigrain flaxseed bread, and the 1 1/2 Tablespoons of salt ruined it. I think it should read 1 1/2 teaspoons.
Marye Audet says
Nope. That's correct unless you use a very fine salt.
Linda Padgett says
How many loaves does this recipe make? I use 9x4x2 pans.
Marye Audet says
It should make 2 loaves
Sandra says
Where is the gluten on the ingredient list?
Marye Audet says
It's there now. Thanks for bringing it my attention!
Maria says
Hi,
Your multigrain bread is so delicious looking, sure it taste nice also.
U mentioned gluten in the method of making the bread, but did not
See it in the ingredients list. Is this item a must, as where I live in the
West Indies may not be able to find this item
Thank you,
Maria
Marye Audet says
If you can't find it the bread will work anyway but it won't be as light.
Ranayb says
Do you think this bread can be made in a bread maker?
Marye Audet says
No I think the dough is much too heavy.
Cynthia | What A Girl Eats says
Do you ever bake a bad loaf of bread Marye? Every loaf you make is picture perfect, and this one looks especially delicious!
Marye Audet says
LOL! I've been baking bread since I was 14 and I am 56 now. I better be good at it! Thank you so much!
Kate says
Oh my gosh, this recipe looks amazing!
Marye Audet says
Thank you! I am kind of addicted to it.
Katie Webster says
This bread looks so yummy and healthy!! Love that your Mom and Dad were so into growing, preserving and cooking their own food. Sounds like you had an amazing childhood surrounded by love and good food!
Marye Audet says
They were definitely old school! I really did. 🙂
Janice Allen says
I am trying to make your Multi-Grain with Flaxseed Bread. I am not seeing when to add the 1/4 c. honey. I see about the 1 Tbsp. with the yeast and beginning water, but I am not seeing when to add the additional. I am sorry if I am just overlooking it.
Marye Audet says
It was my mistake Janice. 🙂 It goes in with the second batch of water and the flours. It's in the instructions now!. 🙂