Here is a straightforward recipe for making whole wheat bread based on multiple reliable sources:

Ingredients

• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 ½ cups warm water
• 2 tablespoons honey (or maple syrup)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil (or melted butter)
• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 ½ teaspoons salt

Instructions

1. Activate Yeast: In a large bowl, combine warm water and honey. Stir until dissolved. Sprinkle yeast on top and let it sit for about 5 minutes until foamy.
2. Mix Wet Ingredients: Add olive oil to the yeast mixture and stir.
3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In another bowl, mix whole wheat flour and salt.
4. Form Dough: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Stir with a wooden spoon or dough whisk until a dough forms.
5. Knead: Transfer dough to a floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until elastic.
6. First Rise: Shape dough into a ball, place in a greased bowl, cover with a towel, and let rise in a warm place for 1 to 1.5 hours until doubled in size.
7. Shape Loaf: Punch down the dough, shape into a loaf, and place in a greased loaf pan.
8. Second Rise: Cover and let the dough rise for another 30-45 minutes until it rises above the pan edges.
9. Bake: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake for 35-40 minutes until golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
10. Cool: Remove from oven, cool in pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

This recipe yields a soft, fluffy, and hearty whole wheat bread perfect for toast or sandwiches

. Variations include adding seeds for texture or using different oils or sweeteners

. This method is accessible for beginners and does not require a bread machine, only basic kitchen tools