If you’re looking for a simple what bread with an artisan feel, this is the recipe for you! In this post I’m going to show you how to bake up a loaf you’ll be proud to serve.

My Rustic Wheat Bread Backstory
On the day I made this bread, I was really sick with the flu. Well, I should say that I was on day six of the flu and still not up to par. I was finally able to get up and do a few things around the house, (and work on this blog).
My neighbor was so sweet! She made a delicious chicken soup. It kept me going for a few days! But I kept thinking of how good it would be with a slice of warm, buttered bread.
An idea came to me right away, but could I pull it off?
What is Rustic Wheat Bread?
When I conceived the idea for this loaf, I was thinking of two things at once, (and wanted to combine them into one). I love, love, love my Rustic Artisan Bread but I’m trying to be more intentional about what I eat, adding more healthy foods to the mix.
So, I decided to add wheat flour to the mix. Adding in more grains is an easy way to work in both flavor and texture.
You might wonder why I didn’t just use straight up wheat flour in this recipe and skip the bread flour altogether. That’s simple. I knew that the “artisan” feel would be more achievable with a higher protein flour added in. I was looking for a loaf with a firmer, crispier crust and a traditional interior.
What is an Artisan Bread?
If you’ve been to a bakery and seen those loaves of fresh bread that practically call your name, you’ve seen artisan breads.
These breads are crafted using traditional methods, often by hand, and usually in smaller batches. Doing so develops complex flavors.
Artisan breads can have an interesting fermentation process. For instance, my Rustic Artisan bread is fermented over a pan of water and lemon juice.
Thank goodness, this bread doesn’t require a lengthy or complicated fermentation process. This is actually a really simple recipe. . .and process.
Which is good, because on the day I was making it, I was in a hurry!
No doubt you’re in a hurry, too. So, let’s get to it!
Rustic Wheat Bread Ingredients

You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. Until then, please take a quick peek at the ingredients here. They’re simple ones, and you likely already have them in your pantry.
- wheat flour
- bread flour
- rapid rise yeast
- warm water
- honey
- salt
- sesame seeds and/or poppy seeds
- Seasonings: suggested rosemary, parsley, dill, garlic, etc.
- egg
- *extra flour for dusting
- *olive oil for coating
How to Make Rustic Wheat Bread
This was a truly simple process. I’m so glad I made it and you will be, as well.
Start by mixing together all of your seeds, spices, and salt in a small bowl. Set aside.

Prepare a floured surface on your clean countertop.
Prepare a loaf pan (or dutch oven) with cooking spray or parchment paper.
Place water into a large bowl of the bowl of a stand mixer with hook attachment.
Add yeast and honey. Mix well and rest for five minutes.

Measure out your flours. You can really use any combination of the two that you like, as long as you end up with 3 14/ cups total. I wanted less wheat and more bread flour.
Now it’s time to add your spice mixture.


Knead for about 3 - 4 minutes until it all comes together.
Place on floured surface. Stretch and work into a ball.

Place in greased or floured bowl. Coat with olive oil.

Cover and set in warm spot for 30 minutes for the first rise.


When the 30 minutes is up, remove the cover and punch down to work the air out of the dough.


Place back on your floured surface and shape into a rectangle.
Place in prepared pan. I went with a loaf pan but you can use a Dutch oven with parchment paper in it, if you prefer a more rustic look.

Place back in warm spot for another 30 minutes to rise.
About ten minutes before it’s done rising, set your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit so it’s ready to go.
Now it's time to prep for baking. Use a sharp knife or razor blade to score the bread.

Whip the egg and use a pastry brush to add it to the top of the loaf. Add more sesame seeds on top.

Place risen loaf in oven and bake for 40 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove and allow to cool for a few minutes in the pan.
Release from the pan and continue to cool until bread can be handled.
Slice and serve! (Enjoy!)
Store bread at room temperature, tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container. Bread should stay fresh for about three days.
What to Expect from this Bread
First, let’s talk about how easy it was to make this bread. So many breads are complicated but this one surprised me with its ease.
Second, I love the density of this bread. It’s what I call a “heavy” bread, meaning a little goes a l-o-n-g way. I cut about a 1” slice and ended up dividing that in half! I thin it would make perfect sandwich bread.
If I had any complaints at all, it was that the bread lacked a tiny bit of flavor. That’s why I upped the salt content of the recipe to a full teaspoon and suggested adding more herbs. Choose the ones you love.
I’m so glad I came up with this recipe and I’m happy to share it with you. It really hit the spot on this dreary chicken soup kind of day.
Variations on this Recipe
If you like, you can skip the savory herbs and go with sweet. Add more honey. Add a bit of cinnamon. It’s all up to you!
Nuts: This is an obvious choice and it’s one I wish I’d used! Unfortunately, I didn’t have any appropriate nuts to add. Slivered almonds would be a good choice. Pine nuts. Sunflower seeds. Pistachios would work, too.
Bake it in a dutch oven: I mentioned this before, but if you’re looking for a truly artisan loaf, then a hand-shaped loaf baked in a Dutch oven is always a great idea.
Ranch dressing: If you really want to punch up the flavor, add a packet of dry Ranch salad dressing mix.
Change the amount of wheat and bread flours. If you like, you can add more wheat flour and less bread flour. I think this would help with the density.
Use your imagination! There are so many ways to change up this recipe.
Other Favorite Breads from Out of the Box Baking
Rustic Artisan Bread with Ranch Dressing: If you’re in the mood for an easy artisan bread, one you could make at home that’s loaded with flavor and texture, then this recipe is sure to make you very, very happy!
Easy Italian Herb Bread from Scratch: This simple Italian herb bread is easy to whip up and has an added bonus ingredient: parmesan cheese!
Classic Wheat Bread from Scratch: If you’re looking for a delicious wheat bread, perfect for sandwiches, toast, or slathered in melted butter, this is it!
Easy Multigrain Seed and Nut Bread: If you love nutty seed breads, have I got a treat for you! This simple bread recipe is loaded with the seeds and nuts of your choice. It’s packed full of nutrients and super easy to make!
That’s it for this post, friends! I hope you enjoyed this delicious recipe.
If you make this recipe and love it, don’t forget to leave a review and a comment below. And while you're at it, go ahead and pin some photos to your Pinterest boards!



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Rustic Wheat Bread
If you’re looking for a simple what bread with an artisan feel, this is the recipe for you! In this post I’m going to show you how to bake up a loaf you’ll be proud to serve.
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups wheat flour
- 2 cups bread flour
- 1 packet (2 ¼ teaspoons) rapid rise yeast
- 1 ½ cups (plus two tablespoons) warm water
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons sesame and/or poppy seeds (more for topping)
- Seasonings, as you prefer (suggested rosemary, parsley, dill, garlic, etc.)
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
Instructions
- Prepare a floured surface on your clean countertop.
- Prepare a loaf pan (or dutch oven) with cooking spray or parchment paper.
- Place water into a large bowl of the bowl of a stand mixer with hook attachment.
- Add yeast and honey. Mix well and rest for five minutes.
- Measure out your flours. You can really use any combination of the two that you like, as long as you end up with 3 14/ cups total. I wanted less wheat and more bread flour.
- Now it’s time to add your spice mixture.
- Knead for about 3 - 4 minutes until it all comes together.
- Place on floured surface. Stretch and work into a ball.
- Place in greased or floured bowl. Coat with olive oil.
- Cover and set in warm spot for 30 minutes for the first rise.
- When the 30 minutes is up, remove the cover and punch down to work the air out of the dough.
- Place back on your floured surface and shape into a rectangle.
- Place in prepared pan. I went with a loaf pan but you can use a Dutch oven with parchment paper in it, if you prefer a more rustic look.
- Place back in warm spot for another 30 minutes to rise.
- About ten minutes before it’s done rising, set your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit so it’s ready to go.
- Now it's time to prep for baking. Use a sharp knife or razor blade to score the bread.
- Whip the egg and use a pastry brush to add it to the top of the loaf. Add more sesame seeds on top.
- Place risen loaf in oven and bake for 40 minutes or until golden brown.
Remove and allow to cool for a few minutes in the pan. - Release from the pan and continue to cool until bread can be handled.
Slice and serve! (Enjoy!) - Store bread at room temperature, tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight container. Bread should stay fresh for about three days.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 157Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 16mgSodium: 185mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 5g
The nutrition information is a product of online calculators. I try to provide true and accurate information, but these numbers are estimates.
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