Honey Oat Bread

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This easy to bake homemade honey oat bread is free of processed sugar. It is incredibly delicious and slightly sweetened with a bit of natural honey.

This homemade, light and fluffy bread is great toasted with a bit of butter. It’s simple to prepare, and features oats and honey.

It’s been a reader favorite for a reason! Give it a try and see just what makes it so deliciously good!

slices of honey oat bread on a wooden cutting board.

This post has been updated from its original publish date of September 15, 2016. It has been updated to provide better photos, additional helpful information and step by step instructions.

Honey Oat Bread Recipe

This recipe has been a long time family and reader favorite.

This simple bread recipe is a hit with my entire family, can easily be made and kneaded in a stand mixer or by hand – totally your preference.

I thoroughly enjoy kneading by hand, but sometimes we don’t always have the time for that. I usually make a loaf about once or twice a week because my family likes it that much.

Around our home, we try to avoid as many processed or sugar filled foods as possible and since sugar is found in nearly everything — including bread, so I like to bake my own.

Spread butter over top of fresh baked slices, use it for sandwiches, serve with soups or stews, or enjoy all on its own!

Its so good!!

slices of honey oat bread on a white plate with a spread of butter over top.

Ingredients

Homemade bread is much more satisfying than store-bought bread. Throw together the ingredients for this easy recipe and you’ll have a new favorite bread recipe!

And this recipe uses just a few pantry staple ingredients.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • all purpose flour
  • old fashioned rolled oats
  • dry active yeast
  • fine sea salt
  • butter
  • whole milk
  • lukewarm water
  • raw, natural honey
  • For the top of the bread: 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons oats
ingredients for honey oat bread in small bowls.

Instructions

Begin by combining the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl or in the bowl of a standing mixer.

Next, add the milk and butter to a small saucepan over medium low heat. Heat just until the butter melts, but don’t allow to boil or scald the milk. Stir in the honey and water.

Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture. If using a stand mixer, use the dough hook attachment. Check often to make sure it isn’t becoming over kneaded. And knead for about 6-8 minutes.

dry ingredients for the honey oat bread in the stand mixer bowl.
saucepan with the melted butter and milk.
combining the dry ingredients with the milk, honey, and butter.

If kneading by hand, you’ll notice this bread is very sticky and may require more flour. Add a small amount at a time, approximately 1 tablespoon at a time, until it isn’t very tacky, but don’t allow to become too dry.

Knead the bread for about 10 minutes.

dough ball in the bowl of the stand mixer.
dough ball moved to a large glass bowl to rise.
bread dough in the large bowl with a bread pan and rolling pin to the side.

Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover with clean dry kitchen towel and allow to rise until doubled in size – approximately 1/2 hour to 1 hour.

rolling out the bread dough with a rolling pin.
bread dough inside of bread pan.
bread in bread pan with honey and oats in small bowls.

Add the bread dough to a lightly floured surface and roll dough out into loaf size and place in pan, seam side down.

I use a standard 9×5 inch loaf pan. Allow to rise again until doubled inside of the bread pan. This rise time is again for approximately 1/2 hour to 1 hour.

honey drizzled over top of the bread loaf.
oats over the top of the honey on the bread loaf.
finished bread loaf out of the oven with a kitchen tea towel next to it.

Brush the top of the bread with the honey and sprinkle with the remaining oats.

Bake bread in a preheated oven until golden brown. (see the complete recipe instructions in printable recipe card below)

half of the honey oat bread sliced on a wooden cutting board.

How to store homemade bread

My favorite way for storing homemade bread is by wrapping the loaf in a bread bag and storing in a bread box. Our family goes through bread fairly quickly so this option works great for us.

If you need to store for longer term, wrap the loaf in a resealable bag or silicone storage container for a more natural option. You could also use an airtight container or wrap in aluminum foil.

Homemade bread can also be stored frozen. My favorite way to do this is to keep the bread in a loaf shape and place in a freezer bag.

Pro tip: when storing frozen bread, be sure to allow the bread to cool after baking before moving it to storage.

Tips for Making this Bread

When making this bread, I usually use whole milk. But I have also had success with using nut milks like almond and coconut.

I like to hand knead bread so I can get a feel for when it is ready. But sometimes, I’m pressed for time so I will use my stand mixer with the dough hook.

It is important to stop and check it periodically when using a stand mixer to ensure it isn’t being kneaded too much.

When baking this loaf, check on it every now and then. I recommend “babysitting” homemade bread. It isn’t something that you can just throw in the oven and call it good.

Oven times vary for most people. If the bread starts to brown on one side more than the other, rotate it.

More favorite bread recipes

Here’s a few of our favorite bread recipes that we think you’ll love too!

🍅 Recipe tips

I wholeheartedly believe that good quality ingredients make for the best recipes! I don’t recommend any fake or overly processed ingredients and will usually recommend organic / non-gmo ingredients whenever possible. 

Sourcing good quality ingredients can be difficult sometimes. Did you know that most of the olive oil in grocery stores aren’t truly authentic? Or that most seafood is farmed and sourced from China? These are just a couple of examples of confusing product labels. 

How do we find the BEST ingredients? If you’re like me, then sourcing clean ingredients is important to you! So, I’ve created a favorite shop page with all of my recommendations. Here you can find all of the best places to source good quality ingredients!

FAQ (frequently asked questions)

Can you replace the milk with a non-dairy option?

Yes, absolutely! I’ve used both coconut and almond milk in this bread recipe with great results.

Can you freeze this homemade bread?

Yes, allow the fresh homemade bread to cool before storing. Then store in a freezer bag or other freezer safe container for about 4 months.

want more recipes?

Check out the recipe index where you can discover more homemade recipes from my homestead!

slices of honey oat bread on a white plate.

Honey Oat Bread

This Honey Oat Bread is a moist, hearty loaf sweetened with honey. The honey gives just the right amount of sweetness to this hearty-yet-tender bread that will satisfy any sweet tooth.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Serving Size 8

Ingredients

For the top of the bread

Instructions

  • In a large bowl or stand mixer bowl, combine the dry ingredients.
  • In a small saucepan, add the milk and butter. Heat just until the butter melts, but don’t allow to boil or scald the milk.
  • Stir in the honey and water.
  • Combine the milk mixture to the flour mixture. If using a mixer, use the dough hook attachment. Check often to make sure it isn't becoming over kneaded. Knead the bread for about 6-8 minutes.
  • If kneading by hand, knead for about 10 minutes. You’ll notice this bread is very sticky and may require more flour. Add a small amount at a time, approximately 1 tablespoon at a time, until it isn’t very tacky, but don’t allow to become too dry.
  • Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with clean dry kitchen towel and allow to rise until doubled in size – approximately 1/2 hour to 1 hour.
  • If dough is still too sticky, lightly flour your working surface and roll dough out into loaf size and place in a bread pan seam-side down. I use a standard 9×5 inch loaf pan. Allow to rise again, this time inside of the bread pan until doubled in size for approximately 1/2 hour to 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 350° F.
  • Brush the top of the bread with the reserved honey and sprinkle with the remaining oats.
  • Bake for 40 minutes.
  • Allow to cool completely (if you can!)
  • Slice up and enjoy!

Notes

When making this bread, I usually use whole milk. But you can substitute with almond or coconut milk. I’ve had success with both of these. 
If you’re using a stand mixer to knead the dough, t is important to stop and check it periodically to make sure that it’s not being over kneaded. 
When baking this loaf, check on it every now and then. I recommend “babysitting” homemade bread. It isn’t something that you can just throw in the oven and call it good.
Oven times vary for most people. If the bread starts to brown on one side more than the other, rotate it.

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Recipe Rating




33 Comments

  1. I’ve been on the look out for a good bread recipie. I’m going to test this in my bread machine, I still haven’t mastered baking bread on a wood stove!

  2. I am new to baking bread and tried this wonderful recipe. Unfortunately, I don’t know if this turned out the way I had hoped. Is this bread suppose to be light and fluffy or a little more dense?

    Mine turned out so dense. Please HELP!!!

  3. 5 stars
    Made this in my bread machine, using the dough setting. I had to add 2 more tablespoons of flour.
    After the dough setting was done, I poured the dough out onto the counter and shaped into a loaf. Next I put this in a traditional loaf pan, covered with a damp towel, and let rise about 45-60 minutes. Then I baked it in a hot 375 degree oven for 20-35 minutes.
    After I pulled it out of the oven I wrapped the loaf in a towel to cool.

    Absolutely delicious !

  4. 5 stars
    Love this recipe as I am about to begin proofing my bread for the second time! Great bread dough absolutely no problems no need for extra flour! One thing I noticed tho not to do with the fabulous recipe
    is that the 1 – 2 hours of proofing time wasnt added to the total recipe time . thank you I can’t wait to try this bread thank you

  5. 3 stars
    Great taste! Very very dense bread. I did not overmix. Kneaded for 6 min. Had to add a few tablespoons of flour during the kneading as it was very sticky. Any way to make this lighter and fluffier?

  6. 5 stars
    This recipe looks great! I plan on making it with chili. I was curious if you can make it with all or half wheat flour? Thanks!

  7. 5 stars
    This was my first time making bread, and it turned out beautifully! No joke my husband said it’s the best bread he has ever had. Sliced warm with a little butter out of the oven…wow. I hand kneaded the dough and added 4TBSP flour in that process. I will double the recipe next time so I have one in the freezer. Thanks so much for the recipe!

  8. 5 stars
    I have made this bread twice for my family and we are IN LOVE! This is by far the best bread we have ever had! We have decided to make this weekly now. I use almond milk and it turned out amazing. The sweetness of the honey is the best. Thank you for the recipe 🙂

  9. 5 stars
    this was truly the best recipe i have ever used. i did mine as you did except added more honey , red pepper flakes , about a 1/4 cup, no honey or oats on the top. and used those 6×3 bread tins for future finger sandwiches. awesome out come, BABYSITTING lol, yep i did. at 350 only took 20 mins not the 40. whew glad i read that part. the last one i dod was french bread , let it in there fro allotted time and had hockey pucks. thanks again.

  10. 5 stars
    I make this bread every week! And make it dairy free by using oatmilk and vegan butter! Tastes great and we use it for sandwiches throughout the week. I love that I can make this bread very quickly. We double the recipe and go through two loaves a week!