This easy multigrain bread is soft, tender, hearty and flavorful. The 8 grain hot cereal mix, oats and whole wheat flour add fiber, nutrients and protein! The perfect bread for breakfast toast, sandwiches, or to accompany dinner!

multigrain bread loaf sliced on cutting board.

A simple, straightforward homemade bread recipe that is healthy and delicious! A little butter and honey make this multigrain bread super soft and even more flavorful. It makes exceptional sandwiches like this spicy Thai veggie sandwich or toast like this healthy avocado coconut toast.

Add this bread to your repertoire of soft sandwich breads alongside this marble rye bread, whole wheat sandwich bread, potato bread and pumpernickel bread! Or hit up a classic like my sandwich bread recipe or sourdough sandwich bread next!

Why You Will Love this Multigrain Bread

  • Hearty & filling. The addition of multigrain hot cereal mix makes this multigrain bread more robust and filling than even whole wheat bread!
  • Warm, homemade multigrain bread in under 3 hours. Plus the recipe makes 2 loaves, so there are plenty of leftovers to be frozen for quick, on-the-go breakfasts or hearty sandwiches.
  • Soft, tender and just a little sweet. Just a hint of honey and a bit of butter go a long way towards rounding out the flavor and turning this hearty bread into a soft and tender loaf!
sliced multigrain sandwich bread

Ingredients & Substitutions

  • 8 Grain Hot Cereal: I used Bob’s Red Mill 8 Grain Hot Cereal, but you could also use any whole grain hot cereal mix. You could also make your own using the Mayo Clinic’s recipe pulsed in a food processor or blender. If you do not have, or do not care to use hot cereal, you should make my soft oatmeal bread, which is similar but does not use hot cereal and has more oatmeal and whole wheat flour.
  • Boiling Water: The water should be boiling hot to properly hydrate the hot cereal. This is also the water for mixing the dough.
  • All-Purpose Flour: This bread uses a mixture of all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour for flavor, health and texture. I would not recommend changing the ratio too drastically because you will need to adjust the water. If you want to dive into 100% whole wheat try my whole wheat bread recipe or whole wheat sourdough bread recipe instead.
  • Whole Wheat Flour
  • Honey: I love the classic combination of honey, oats and whole wheat, but you could also use molasses, maple syrup, granulated sugar, or brown sugar. You could also omit all sweeteners.
  • Unsalted Butter
  • Instant Yeast: I use instant yeast for a quick rise and to streamline the mixing process. The gluten in this dough is developed in the mixer, unlike in my no knead dutch oven bread or no knead sourdough bread, so you do not need a slow, consistent rise like that of active dry yeast. If you only have active dry yeast, add the yeast to the water/cereal mixture after it cools to 110°F and allow to bloom an additional 10 minutes before mixing the dough.
  • Salt: Salt is essential to the flavor and texture of the dough. I prefer kosher salt but you could also use fine sea salt.  
  • Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats: Use old-fashioned rolled oats rather than quick oats for the most added flavor and texture just like in giant oatmeal raisin cookies.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Possible Variations

  • Add additional flavorings or mix-ins. Add cinnamon or pumpkin spice mix to the dry ingredients or gently knead raisins, dried cranberries, or other dried fruit and nuts to the bread dough after development.
  • Add additional seeds or grains. The hot cereal mix already includes a variety of whole grains and seeds, but I also love to add additional sunflower seeds, whole chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, whole flax seeds, or a mix of all four. My whole grain seeded bread is a great spot to find more info for a seeded variation!
  • Make into multigrain rolls: I do have another oatmeal dinner rolls recipe but you can certainly divide this dough and shape it into 16 multigrain rolls instead of 2 loaves, or make a combination.

How to Make this Multigrain Bread Recipe

Use these instructions to make soft, tender multigrain sandwich bread! Further details and measurements can be found in the recipe card below.

Step 1: In bowl of stand mixer with dough hook attachment, stir cereal and boiling water until combined. Let cool to 110 degrees F, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in large bowl, whisk together flours and salt to combine.

Step 2: Add honey, melted butter, yeast and flour mixture to the cooled cereal mixture. Stir on low speed to combine.

Step 3: Continue kneading on medium speed for 8-10 minutes. You should be able to pull a window pane. It will be difficult because the grains from the hot cereal will tear the dough and look under-developed when it isn’t.

Step 4: Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rise 45 minutes to 1 hour until doubled.

Step 5: Spray two 9-by-5-inch loaf pans with cooking spray. Punch down dough. Divide in half. On lightly floured surface, press one half into 9-by-6-inch rectangle. Roll up from short end into log, tucking dough under itself as you roll to create taut surface along log. Pinch seam to seal. Repeat with remaining dough half.

Step 6: Lightly spray loaves with cooking spray. Sprinkle oats on clean surface; roll loaves in oats to coat. Transfer each loaf to prepared loaf pans, seam side-down. Cover pans loosely with lightly greased plastic wrap. Let rise 45 minutes to 1 hour until nearly doubled.

Step 7: Meanwhile, heat oven to 375 degrees F. Bake loaves 35 to 40 minutes until deep golden brown and baked through (an instant read thermometer inserted in center of each loaf should read 185 degrees F).

multigrain sandwich loaf in pan

Step 8: Cool in pans 5 minutes then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing. 

two multigrain bread loaves cooling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to store multigrain bread?

Store fully cooled loaves tightly covered with plastic wrap up to 3 days at room temperature; if freezing, cover with plastic wrap and foil. Freeze up to 2 months.

Can you freeze this multigrain loaf?

Since this recipe makes 2 loaves, I usually use one fresh and then freeze the second loaf. Allow the loaf to cool completely at room temperature, wrap well in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. I like to slice my sandwich bread loaves before freezing for easy single serving use later!

sliced loaf of multigrain sandwich bread

If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how it goes in the comments below! I love hearing from you and your comments make my day!

4.86 from 7 votes

Multigrain Sandwich Bread

An easy multigrain sandwich bread recipe from scratch! Use for sandwiches, a side dish or toast!
Servings: 24 Slices
multigrain loaf sliced open.
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Proof Time: 3 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
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Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • In bowl of stand mixer with dough hook attachment, stir cereal and boiling water until combined. Let cool to 110 degrees F, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, in large bowl, whisk together flours, instant yeast and salt to combine.
  • Add honey, melted butter, and flour mixture to the cooled cereal mixture. Stir on low speed to combine.
  • Continue mixing on medium speed for 8-10 minutes.
  • Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let dough rise 1 to 1 hour 15 minutes until doubled. You can also transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl.
  • Spray two 9-by-5-inch loaf pans with cooking spray. Punch down dough. Divide in half. On lightly floured surface, press one half into 9-by-6-inch rectangle. Roll up from short end into log, tucking dough under itself as you roll to create taut surface along log. Pinch seam to seal. Repeat with remaining dough half.
  • Lightly spray loaves with cooking spray. Sprinkle oats on clean surface; roll loaves in oats to coat. Transfer each loaf to prepared loaf pans, seam side-down. Cover pans loosely with lightly greased plastic wrap. Let rise 45 minutes to 1 hour until nearly doubled.
  • Meanwhile, heat oven to 375 degrees F. Bake loaves 35 to 40 minutes until deep golden brown and baked through (an instant read thermometer inserted in center of each loaf should read 185 degrees F).
  • Cool in pans 5 minutes then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Video

Notes

Yield – 2 loaves
Presentation – Top with additional rolled oats!
Recipe Origin – Adapted from Our Best Bites
To mix by hand – If you don’t have a stand mixer, you can form the dough in the following method: Stir wet and dry ingredients with spatula just until dough comes together. Transfer dough to clean surface and knead by hand 15 to 25 minutes, adding more flour mixture as needed until dough is soft, smooth and elastic. Proceed with recipe as directed.
Storage – Store fully cooled loaves tightly covered with plastic wrap up to 3 days at room temperature; if freezing, cover with plastic wrap and foil. Freeze up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Calories: 139kcal, Carbohydrates: 29g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 5mg, Sodium: 292mg, Potassium: 69mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 60IU, Vitamin C: 0.02mg, Calcium: 8mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Before You Go

I hope you enjoyed this sandwich bread recipe. Check out our other delicious yeast bread recipes like my whole wheat baguette, or dive into sourdough recipes starting with my sourdough starter recipe!

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Stephanie Wise

Stephanie Wise is the founder and creator of Girl Versus Dough. She started sharing her bread baking adventures and recipes in 2009. Her love of bread only deepened as her skills and knowledge expanded. What began as a place to try others recipes quickly became a collection of her own creations!

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45 Comments

  1. Michelle says:

    5 stars
    ohmygoditssogood! My family and I have almost eaten an entire loaf straight from the oven! I was planning to slice and freeze the second loaf for future toasts and sandwiches, but I don’t think there will be any left! Will be making this again (tomorrow)! 

    1. Lauren says:

      Hi Michelle! Thank you so much for coming back to rate and comment! It really made my day to read that your family enjoyed this so much together. Happy baking!! ~gvd team

  2. Sheila says:

    I made this, and it was delicious. The weird thing is that one loaf rose perfectly, but the other loaf rose only half of that. As a result the smaller loaf was really dense.

    How could this happen when the two loaves were made from the same dough?

    1. Lauren says:

      Hi Sheila! I’m so happy to hear it turned out so delicious! That is weird, but not unheard of! There are a couple of things that could have happened. The loaves might have been unevenly shaped/rolled (one might have been too tight), the oven might have spots with different temperatures (resulting in different rises), or slightly different proofing environments. Give it a go again and try to notice if there’s anything a little different between the two loaves. Can’t wait to hear of your success! Happy baking! ~gvd team

    2. Lindsey Farr says:

      Hi Sheila, I just wanted to jump in here and ask if you proofed them the same amount of time? If you did, then your smaller loaf was most likely over proofed. That will make a dense loaf that falls flat in the oven.
      ~Lindsey

  3. Debra Peterson says:

    5 stars
    hi Addison! I’m looking for some advice. First, my family and I LOVE this recipe. So  flavorful and soft.   As I continue to grow in my bread baking journey, I am now using freshly milled whole grains.  My first attempt was delicious, but dense with a great first rise, but not the second.  Could you give me some advice? This is such a wonderful loaf of bread!  Thank you!

    1. Addison LaBonte says:

      Hi Debra! I am so glad you enjoy this bread so much. My initial thought is that the dough was overworked after the first rise and before the second rise. That could cause the bread to not rise again. Hopefully, this helps!

  4. John Needham says:

    Either I measured really poorly here or the ingredient list is way off. Mine never came together is my stand mixer, despite adding all the flour. I eventually gave up, scraped it out into my bench and finished kneading by hand, and had to add a lot more flour.

    (Maybe because I used bread flour rather than A/P?)

    Not sure, but it is in the first rise and seems to be back in track. I’m looking forward to trying this loaf when it is done.

  5. Sherri says:

    5 stars
    Hi Katrina,

    I love this recipe! I’ve made it many times now  and it always turns out fabulous. Sometime times during the 10 minutes of kneading, I’ll add in poppyseeds or sesame seeds, whatever I have around. So good!

    I’m actually baking your bread right now to give to our neighbours, along with some homemade jam, as Christmas gifts!  Homemade gifts you can are the best…in my humble opinion!

    Thanks for a great recipe. Enjoy the Holidays!
    Sherri

  6. Tina Scott says:

    Hi! I’m wondering if any hot cereal will do, or if you specifically recommend this Bob’s 8-grain variety. Thank you! 

    1. Stephanie says:

      Tina, Most hot cereals will work great!

  7. Donna says:

    4 stars
    Ok, my eternal question….can this be made in a breadmachine, like a Zojirushi?

    1. Stephanie says:

      Donna, I have not made this in a bread machine so I can’t speak to its success. Worth a try, though!

  8. Ashley says:

    Hello, what a lovely loaf! Am baking it now and it smells heavenly. I got a good first and second rise, but no rise in the oven, so it doesn’t have the lovely top yours does, is that normal? Also taking much longer than 45 to brown, although it has reached 200 in the middle. Any advice is appreciated!

    1. Stephanie says:

      Hi Ashley! It sounds like there might be something off with the oven temperature? If you don’t have an oven thermometer, I highly suggest getting one! They work wonders in making sure you’re baking at the right temp, and they cost around $5-10. I hope that helps!

  9. Sol says:

    Hi Stephanie!
    I just started baking breads and I am hooked! The first bread I baked was your “no knead dutch oven bread.” Do you have any suggestions on what to substitute for the hot cereal?

    Thanks in advance!

  10. mike says:

    My loafs keep splitting when they rise in the loaf pans. They taste great but do not look like yours. A video of the first two steps would be great, not sure if I am doing everything 100% right. IE how much flower I do or do not have left over. Thanks!