This incredibly light and fluffy multigrain bread is the best of both worlds – light and fluffy bread that is perfect for sandwiches or toast, together with the added goodness of whole grains and a crunchy, seedy topping.

seeded multigrain bread sliced on cooling rack

This light and fluffy multigrain bread recipe has become my favourite when it comes to a great everyday bread. It’s a “best of both worlds” bread, with a light and fluffy texture, combined with some whole grain goodness. And did I mention the lovely, crispy, toasted seed crust?

You’ll love the great flavour and texture of this multi grain bread, together with the added goodness of whole grains. It makes great sandwich bread and is lovely toasted, as well. It’s also a fast-riser, so you’ll be enjoying it in no time!

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Ingredients and substitutions

A few notes about the key ingredients …

Cereal Mix – This loaf uses multi grain cereal mix, which is a mix that is generally used to make a hot cereal when combined with hot water or milk. This kind of mix is the most efficient way to get a variety of whole grains together. Do note though, that these mixes are 100% whole grains, with no added sweeteners etc, so steer away from the commercial flavoured oatmeal mixes etc.

The most common is a “7-grain” cereal mix. If you are in Canada, Bulk Barn sells both a 7-grain (Hard red wheat, barley, rye, steel cut oats, brown flaxseed, millet, buckwheat) and a 12-grain (Cracked wheat, cracked rye, cracked triticale, oat flakes, millet, cracked oats, barley flakes, sunflower seeds, natural sesame seeds, buckwheat grits, brown flaxseeds, yellow flaxseeds) cereal mix. Either of those will work fine. Bob’s Red Mill also has a 7-grain cereal mix, as well as an 8, 10 or 12-grain cereal.

If you can’t find any of those mixes, look for something like a porridge mix. Rogers makes a couple of Porridge mixes – Porridge Oats and Healthy Grains (oat flakes, oat bran, wheat bran and flaxseed) or Porridge Oats and Ancient Grains (Oat, rye, barley, spelt and khorasan flakes, oat bran, millet, flaxseed, quinoa flakes). Quaker makes a mix called Quaker Super Grains Hot Cereal, that is a mix of whole grain oats, flaxseed, and quinoa.

My best advice is to browse the hot cereal/oatmeal section at the grocery store or the natural foods section and see what you can find. If you really can’t find something, see below for a homemade multigrain cereal mix.

All Purpose Flour – for the lightest loaf, use all purpose flour. I prefer unbleached all purpose flour. You can also use bread flour, though you may need a little less than specified. If you want to add some whole wheat flour to the loaf, you can replace up to 1 cup of the all purpose flour with whole wheat flour, though your loaf will not be as light as fluffy as the original with this change.

Vegetable Oil – Using oil in yeast breads helps create the soft and light texture. It is also good for anyone wanting a vegan yeast bread. That said, you can certainly replace the oil with an equal amount of melted and cooled butter.

Homemade multigrain cereal mix

If you can’t find a pre-mixed multi grain cereal mix, you can mix up your own with a combination of any of the following whole grains: Rolled oats, quick oats, steel cut oats, quinoa, flaxseed meal, flaxseed, sesame seeds, oat flakes, rye flakes, barley flakes, cracked wheat, wheat bran, oat bran, millet, buckwheat.

How to make multigrain bread

This is a summary of the steps to make this bread. Always refer to the complete ingredients list and instructions in the Recipe Card below.

Soaking the cereal and adding the yeast and oil to the dough.

Step 1: Start by soaking the multi-grain cereal mix in boiling water for about 20 minutes, or until it cools to just lukewarm. Since this dough can start with any number of multigrain cereal mixes, it may absorb the water differently. You may find you have less water in the bowl than shown here after it sits for 20 minutes. That’s ok :)

Be sure your cereal mix has cooled to just lukewarm before adding the yeast, or you could kill the yeast before you get started. Test with an instant-read thermometer if you have one and make sure it’s about 105F. Otherwise, test with your finger. It should be lukewarm and not feel hot at all. Add the yeast and stir to combine. If using Active Dry Yeast, let stand 5-10 minutes before proceeding.

Adding the salt, honey and seeds to the dough.

Step 2:  Add the oil, honey and salt. If you’d like to add-in some extra seeds at this point, go ahead. I added sesame seeds, poppy seeds and ground flax seed here. This is optional.

Dough after mixing and resting in the mixer bowl.

Step 3: Begin adding the flour to the bowl, kneading in as you go. Thee secret to a light and fluffy loaf is to not add too much flour! In the photo above, you’ll see that the dough with the 4 cups of flour added is loose and wet. Yours may be a little less loose, depending on the cereal mix that you used, but it should be very moist at this point. That’s what we want. You may be tempted to add more flour, but resist the urge to add it at this stage.

Dough on work surface after resting.

Step 4: Remove the dough to a floured work surface and add a bit more flour, as needed, only if the dough is sticking to your hands or the work surface. Form the dough into a ball.

Setting dough to rise in mixing bowl and rolling out after rising.

Step 5: Set the dough into a greased bowl or large measuring cup. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and set to rise until doubled in size. This bread is a FAST RISER! Don’t wander far and keep a good eye on it. This 1st rise shown here was only about 40 minutes. Be sure you just allow the dough to rise until doubled and no more.

Rolling dough into a rectangle, then rolling up and preparing the loaf pan.

Step 6: Remove the dough to a lightly floured work surface and roll the dough out into a rectangle, then roll up jelly-roll style. Pinch the season together. Grease a loaf pan (or pans, depending on what size loaves you are making). Sprinkle some seeds into the pan, if you like.

Formed loaf in loaf pan before and after rising.

Step 7: Set the rolled dough into the prepared baking pan. Spray some plastic wrap with cooking spray and cover the pan (greased side down). Allow to rise until doubled in size, about 25-30 minutes, but may be less! In a 9×5-inch pan, it should crest the pan by about 1 1/2-inches in the centre.

Brushing egg wash on dough and topping with seed mix.

Step 8: When the loaf has risen, brush the top of the load with the egg wash and sprinkle with seed mix. This bread tends to brown quickly, so have a sheet of aluminum foil handy and be sure to cover the top loosely with a sheet of aluminum foil after about 18-20 minutes of baking to keep the top from over-browning. Baking the loaf in the lower third of the oven (one rack position down from the centre) helps to slow the browning a bit.

The early browning can also make the loaf look done before it is. A large 9×5-inch loaf like this will need a total of 40-45 minutes in the oven to bake through. An instant read thermometer is invaluable here to test the loaf for doneness. Bake until the internal temperature is 195-205F (I aim for about 200F).

Recipe video

Recipe tips!

  • As noted above, after you have added the 4 cups of flour, your dough may be quite loose and wet. The grains in the bread will hold a lot of moisture, so this isn’t a dough that will come together like a normal dough. Loose and wet is ok at this point. Once it rests for 15-minutes, it will become less loose and less wet. If needed, we can add a bit more flour on the bench, as needed. That said, depending on your grain mix, you dough may be less wet and loose and that’s ok, too. That just means you’ll need little more flour on the bench.
  • While I love the seed topping on this bread, you can easily skip it if you prefer. Leave it plain or do the egg wash and use some rolled oats on top instead.
  • This bread would be vegan, if made with brown sugar (instead of honey) and using water on top instead of the egg wash.
  • You can make this bread as one large 9×5 loaf or as two shorter, smaller 8×4 loaves. Note that baking time will be less for the 8×4 loaves. Refer to the Recipe Card below for some guidance.
  • If you go the big 9×5 loaf route, be warned that it does take time to bake through but will look quite done before it actually is. I covered mine with foil after about 20 minutes and then baked pretty much a full 45 minutes. If you have an instant-read thermometer, you can take out the guesswork. You’ll want your loaf to be at least 195F before you take it out. I aim for about 200F.
  • Be careful with doubling this recipe. While it can be done, the dough is bulky and doubling may put too big a strain on a stand mixer.

Variations

  • If you like, you can use this dough to make multigrain rolls. Simply divide the dough into 8-16 even sized pieces, depending on the size of rolls or buns you want. Form the dough pieces into balls, rise and bake on a baking sheet. The baking time will be greatly reduced. Watch carefully and check often, as they will likely be ready in as little as 15 minutes, depending on the size.
  • You can make a free-form loaf from this dough. Simply shape into a boule (round) or oval and bake on a baking sheet or in something like a cast-iron skillet.
  • If you’d like to change up your multi grain loaf, here are some suggestions for some things you can add into your loaf without making any other adjustments to the recipe. Simply knead them into the loaf. Pepitas (pumpkin seeds), sunflower seeds, raisins, nuts, dried cranberries or other dried fruit. Be sure not to exceed the recommended amount for best results. You may also wish to plump any dried fruit (soak in boiling water then drain) before using it in the bread.

Overnight refrigerator rise option

You can prepare the bread through to shaping and placing in the loaf pan, then immediately cover and refrigerate overnight or up to 12 hours. In the morning, simply remove from the fridge and allow to rise on the counter for about 1 hour before baking or until it has risen sufficiently as shown above.

seeded multigrain bread sliced on cooling rack

Storing and freezing

You can store this bread for several days at room temperature, stored in an airtight container.

This bread will also freeze well, tightly wrapped, for up to 3 months.

You can also freeze the shaped loaf right after placing it in the loaf pan (before the 2nd rise). I like to freeze in the loaf pan, then once solid, wrap the frozen dough log tightly and store only the dough in the freezer up to 3 months. When ready to bake, remove the frozen dough log, unwrap, place in a greased loaf pan, cover with plastic wrap and thaw at room temperature for 4-5 hours, or until thawed and risen. Bake as usual.

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seeded multigrain bread sliced on cooling rack

Get the Recipe: Light and Fluffy Multigrain Bread

This incredibly light and fluffy multigrain bread is the best of both worlds – light and fluffy bread that is perfect for sandwiches or toast, together with the added goodness of whole grains and a crunchy, seedy topping.
4.98 stars from 140 ratings
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Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Rising Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Yield: 14 servings

Ingredients

Basic Multigrain Bread Dough:

  • 1/2 cup (113 ml) multi-grain cereal, such as 7, 10 or 12-grain cereal *see Note 1 below
  • 2 cups (454 ml) boiling water
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons (7 g) active dry or instant yeast, (not rapid or quick rise yeast)
  • 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) vegetable oil, or other neutral tasting cooking oil, or melted and cooled butter
  • 1 Tablespoon (15 g) honey, or light or dark brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons (9 g) fine sea salt
  • 4 cups (480 g) unbleached all-purpose flour , spooned and levelled *see Note 2 below

OPTIONAL Add-ins *See Note 3 below

  • 1/3 cup raisins or dried cranberries
  • 1/4 cup raw pumpkin or sunflower seeds, chopped
  • 1/4 cup nuts (pecans, walnuts etc), chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons mixed small seeds, poppy, sesame and/or flax seeds

Egg Wash:

  • 1 large egg, mixed with 1 Tbsp water (or alternately, just water, for a vegan loaf, though seeds may not stick as well).

Topping Seed Mixture:

  • 2 teaspoons (10 ml) sesame seeds
  • 2 teaspoons (10 ml) flax seeds
  • 2 teaspoons (10 ml) poppy seeds
  • Raw pumpkin and or sunflower seeds, optional

Instructions
 

  • Place multigrain cereal in a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a kneading hook. Pour boiling water over, then let stand until mixture cools to between 105°F. and 115°F. for active dry yeast or to about 120F for Instant yeast, about 20 minutes. *Don't rush it. If your mixture is too hot, it may kill your yeast. A thermometer is handy here to make sure of the temperature before adding the yeast.
  • Sprinkle yeast over cereal mixture. If using Active Dry Yeast, allow to stand for 5-10 minutes before proceeding. Add 1 cup of the flour, the oil, honey (or brown sugar) and salt and stir until smooth. Gradually mix in the remaining flour, incorporating any of the optional add-ins during the mixing. Once all the flour is added, you'll have a moist dough that may also seem a bit loose. Resist the urge to add more flour at this point. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rest 15 minutes. The grains will absorb more of the moisture during the rest period.
  • Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Knead a few minutes until smooth and elastic, adding more flour, as needed, if it's sticking to your hands or the work surface.
  • Oil a large bowl or measuring cup. Add the dough to the bowl, then flip over the ball of dough so the oiled side is up. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in warm spot until doubled in size. **Don't wander far. This bread is a quick riser and may double in as little as 35-40 minutes. It may take longer. The important thing is to make sure it rises only until doubled, no matter how long that is.
  • Prepare the Seed Mixture by stirring together all the seeds in a small bowl. Set aside.
  • When dough has doubled in size, remove to a work surface and gently deflate dough by pressing down the dough.
  • Grease one 9×5-inch loaf pan or two 8×4-inch loaf pans. Sprinkle a bit of the seed mixture into the pan (or divide between two pans), if you like. For 8×4-inch loaves, divide the dough into two equal-sized pieces. For a 9×5-inch loaf, leave as one piece. Roll the dough out into a rectangle about 10 inches wide and 18 inches long for a 9×5 loaf, or 9×16-inch rectangles each of the two 8×4 loaves. Roll up jelly rolls style, starting with the short side, then pinch seams together. Place rolls seam side down into prepared loaf pan(s).
  • Cover the loaves with a clean kitchen towel or greased/sprayed plastic wrap and let rise until doubled in size, about 25- 30 minutes.
  • When the dough is nearing risen, preheat oven to 425F. (regular bake/non-convection), with rack positioned just below centre (a little lower rack position, one down from centre, will help to keep the top of the bread from browning as quickly).
  • Before baking, brush the top of the loaf with the egg wash and sprinkle the top with the remaining seed mixture. Use the palm of your hand to press the seeds into the top of the loaf slightly to help them stick.
  • Bake in preheated 425F oven for 18-20 minutes, then cover the top loosely with a sheet of aluminum foil to prevent over-browning. Bake a further 20-25 minutes for a 9×5 loaf or 10-15 minutes for 8×4 loaves, or until golden and crusty and have an internal temperature of 195-205F when tested with an instant-read thermometer. *Bread will look done, even when it isn't cooked through. The large 9×5 loaf will need the full 40-45 minutes in the oven to be cooked through.
  • Remove from oven. Run a knife around the edges of the pan and immediately remove to a cooling rack to cool. Allow to cool completely (or almost completely) before slicing to avoid a gummy bread.
  • Store bread well wrapped at room temperature for a couple of days, or freeze for longer storage. This bread will freeze well for up to 2-3 months or more.

Notes

Note 1: Look for grain cereal at Bulk Barn in Canada, where they have both a 7-grain and a 12-grain cereal mix. Bob’s Red Mill also sells 7, 8, 10 or 12-grain cereal mix. You can also make your own multigrain mix. See Note 5 below.
Note 2: You can replace up to 1 cup of the unbleached all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour if you like, though the resulting bread will not be as light as it would be with all-purpose flour. I don’t recommend adding more than 1 cup of whole wheat flour, as it will alter the hydration of the dough significantly.
Note 3: The optional add-ins are things you can add to the dough. You can add one, all or none of them, as you like, to change up the bread a bit. That said, don’t exceed about 1/2 cup of total add-ins. 
Note 4: If you find the bread gets too dark for your liking, even after tenting it with foil for the last part of baking, try baking it at 400F instead and baking it a little longer.
Note 5: Homemade multigrain cereal mix: If you can’t find a pre-mixed multi-grain cereal mix, you can mix up your own with a combination of any of the following whole grains: Rolled oats, quick oats, steel cut oats, quinoa, flaxseed meal, flaxseed, sesame seeds, oat flakes, rye flakes, barley flakes, cracked wheat, wheat bran, oat bran, millet, buckwheat.
Overnight Rise Option: You can prepare the bread through to shaping and placing in the loaf pan, then immediately cover and refrigerate overnight or up to 12 hours. In the morning, simply remove from the fridge and allow to rise on the counter for about 1 hour before baking or until it has risen sufficiently as shown above.
Be sure to read the notes above the Recipe Card for more tips on making this bread. You will also find step-by-step photos and a recipe video of making the dough that you might find helpful.
Cuisine: American, Canadian
Course: Bread
Author: Jennifer Maloney
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 143kcal, Carbohydrates: 29g, Protein: 4g, Sodium: 258mg, Potassium: 52mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 35IU, Calcium: 16mg, Iron: 2.1mg
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