Description
Honey oat bread is soft, lightly sweet, and hearty with a tender crumb and subtle nutty flavor from oats. It’s perfect for sandwiches, toast, or serving warm with butter, making it a comforting everyday homemade bread.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 3½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1¼ cups warm water (about 110°F / 43°C)
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1½ teaspoons salt
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a large bowl, combine the warm water, honey, and yeast. Let sit for 5–10 minutes, until foamy to ensure the yeast is active and ready to work.
- Add Ingredients: Stir in the melted butter, salt, and rolled oats, mixing to incorporate all flavors evenly.
- Form Dough: Gradually add the flour, mixing until a soft dough forms that is neither too sticky nor too dry.
- Knead Dough: Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic, developing the gluten for a good structure.
- First Rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in size, allowing fermentation and flavor development.
- Shape the Dough: Punch down the dough gently to release air, shape it into a loaf, and place it in a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan preparing it for the final rise.
- Second Rise: Cover the loaf and let it rise again for 30–40 minutes until the dough rises just above the pan edge for a light, airy texture.
- Preheat Oven: Heat the oven to 350°F (175°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking.
- Bake: Bake the bread for 35–40 minutes until it is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped, confirming doneness.
- Cool: Remove the bread from the pan and cool completely on a wire rack before slicing to maintain its texture and avoid crunchiness.
Notes
- Brush the top with honey butter after baking for extra flavor and a glossy finish.
- Bread slices best once fully cooled to avoid crumbly texture.
- Substitute half the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for a heartier, more wholesome loaf.
- Store bread at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage to retain freshness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
