Oatmeal Bread (Wholegrain + Yummy!) (2024)

1. Place oatmeal in a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer along with maple syrup, cinnamon, oil and salt.

2. Stir in hot milk and mix with a wooden spoon or spatula. Set aside for 10 minutes.

3. Stir in the instant yeast...

4. ...followed by 2 cups of bread flour and 1 cup of whole wheat flour.

5. Mix with the ladle until a shaggy dough forms. Then begin kneading it by hand or in a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment. Knead at low speed, adding a tablespoon of whole wheat flour at a time if the dough is too wet. On a humid day I needed to add just ¼ cup more of flour.

6. Continue kneading the dough for seven more minutes in a stand mixer at medium speed, or by hand for 10 minutes. The dough should be soft and smooth with a slightly tacky look to it, but it shouldn't stick to your hands when you touch it. You don't want a stiff dough because that will result in a dry bread.

7. Form the kneaded dough into a smooth ball. Coat the bowl with oil and place the ball of dough in it. Coat the top with oil. Cover with a tight lid or cling wrap and set in a warm spot for an hour.

8. After an hour the dough should have more than doubled. Turn it out onto an unfloured surface and pat it down lightly with your hands to deflate.

9. Still using your hands, shape the dough into a rectangle.

10. Flip the dough over so the smooth side is on the bottom, then fold the edges of the dough over along the long side.

11. Begin rolling the dough as shown above.

12. With the seam side down, tuck the ends over and under to form a loaf.

13. Place the loaf in a lightly oiled loaf pan. Cover loosely with oiled cling wrap. In an hour the loaf should be springing well above the rim of the pan.

14. About 15 minutes before the bread has risen preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Brush the loaf, if desired, with some milk and sprinkle on some oats. Bake the bread for 40 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes, then remove carefully from loaf pan and continue cooling on rack.

Can I use active dry yeast?

Yes. If using active dry yeast, reserve half a cup of the 1 ½ cups of milk added to the oatmeal. Mix one packet or 2 ¼ teaspoons of active dry yeast with lukewarm -- not hot! -- milk and let it bloom, for about five minutes, then add to the bowl with the other ingredients and proceed.

I don't want a very tall bread. Can I divide this into two loaves?

Yes, absolutely. You can divide the dough after the first rise, shape each half into loaves, place the loaves in two lightly oiled loaf pans, and let them rise for an hour. Reduce baking time to 35 minutes.

Can I add more whole wheat flour to the recipe?

You can use two cups of whole wheat flour and one cup of bread flour to the recipe. However, you won't get as much spring and the crumb will be more dense. It will still taste delicious, though.

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ cup maple syrup (or sugar)
• ¼ cup oil (any neutral oil, including avocado oil, grape seed oil, sunflower oil or safflower oil)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1½ cups non-dairy milk (I used oat milk. You can use any non-dairy milk of choice)
• 2¼ teaspoons instant yeast (1 packet. See FAQs for substituting with active dry yeast)
• 2 cups bread flour
• 1½ cups whole wheat flour (you may not need all of it)

• Place oatmeal in a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer along with maple syrup, cinnamon, oil and salt. Stir in hot milk and mix with a wooden spoon or spatula. Set aside for 10 minutes.

• Stir in the instant yeast followed by 2 cups of bread flour and 1 cup of whole wheat flour.

• Mix with the wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms. Then begin kneading it by hand or in a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment. Knead at low speed, adding a tablespoon of whole wheat flour at a time if the dough is too wet. On a humid day I needed to add just ¼ cup more of flour.

• Continue kneading the dough for seven more minutes in a stand mixer at medium speed, or by hand for 10 minutes. The dough should be soft and smooth with a slightly tacky look to it, but it shouldn't stick to your hands when you touch it. You don't want a stiff dough because that will result in a dry bread.

• Form the kneaded dough into a smooth ball. Coat the bowl with oil and place the ball of dough in it. Coat the top with oil. Cover with a tight lid or cling wrap and set in a warm spot for an hour.

• After an hour the dough should have more than doubled. Turn it out onto an unfloured surface and pat it down lightly with your hands to deflate.

• Still using your hands, shape the dough into a rectangle. Flip the dough over so the smooth side is on the bottom, then fold the edges of the dough over along the long side. Begin rolling the dough. With the seam side down, tuck the ends over and under to form a loaf. (See process shots above for guidance on shaping the loaf).

• Place the loaf in a lightly oiled loaf pan. Cover loosely with oiled cling wrap. In an hour the loaf should be springing well above the rim of the pan.

• About 15 minutes before the bread has risen preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Brush the loaf, if desired, with some milk and sprinkle on some oats. Bake the bread for 40 minutes. Cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes, then remove carefully from loaf pan and continue cooling on rack.

Helpful tips

• Use a clean shower cap to cover the loaf of bread while it's rising in the loaf pan. You don't even need to oil it, just make sure it's fluffed up and not touching the dough.
• Don't be tempted to add too much flour to the dough. The dough should look smooth but slightly tacky, and it should be soft. A stiff dough will yield a dry loaf.
• If using active dry yeast, reserve half a cup of the 1 ½ cups of milk added to the oatmeal. Mix one packet or 2 ¼ teaspoons of active dry yeast with lukewarm -- not hot! -- milk and let it bloom, for about five minutes, then add to the bowl with the other ingredients and proceed.

Storage suggestions

• Refrigerate: Place the bread in an airtight bag or container and refrigerate for up to a week.
• Freeze:The oatmeal bread can be frozen for up to three months. Thaw or toast before eating.