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4.6 from 147 votes

Sunflower and Flax Seeds Whole Wheat Cast Iron Bread

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By: Joanna Cismaru 261 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Sunflower and Flax Seeds Whole Wheat Cast Iron Bread – no kneading required and only a few ingredients turn into a super crusty delicious bread.

Sunflower and Flax Seeds Whole Wheat Cast Iron Bread in a dutch oven

Ever since I’ve started making this easy no knead bread, I’ve never looked back and this is pretty much the only bread I ever make. It couldn’t get any easier. This is the 3rd variation I try, I’ve made one with only white flour, one with whole wheat flour and now I’m trying one with half white half whole wheat and I threw in some sunflower seeds and flax seeds. I have to say this is my favorite, simply because of the sunflower and flax seeds. I cannot tell you enough how easy this bread is.

We love this bread, whenever we want fresh bread, this is the bread we go to. I love the crust and it never fails to amaze me how great the crust is on this bread, it’s like a miracle, like magic. Nothing tastes and smells better, at least to me, than homemade fresh bread, straight out of the oven. If you’re patient enough you can wait until it’s cool to cut into it, or if you’re more the impatient kind like my husband, then you probably will just break into it and have at it.

Slices of Sunflower and Flax Seeds Whole Wheat Cast Iron Bread

So when I said this bread is easy to make I didn’t lie. The day before you want to eat the bread, all you need to do is mix all the ingredients in a big bowl, and by mixing I mean to roughly just mix them with a wooden spoon until somewhat incorporated. That’s it, you just cover the bowl and leave it until the next day, you need to let it sit for about 12 to 18 hours. Usually I’ll do mine the night before, takes no more than a couple minutes. This is when you also throw in the seeds or whatever else you want to add to the bread, like herbs, cheeses, or dried fruits like cranberries.

Process shot making Sunflower and Flax Seeds Whole Wheat Cast Iron Bread

The next day all you need to do is shape the dough into a ball, but make sure you flour your hands really well. It doesn’t have to be perfect.

Process shot making Sunflower and Flax Seeds Whole Wheat Cast Iron Bread

Before you place it in your dutch oven, you need to heat your dutch oven as you’re warming up your oven, this will prevent your bread from sticking to the bottom. Trust me I know, I forgot once to heat up the dutch oven and I had a hard time taking the bread out.

Process shot making Sunflower and Flax Seeds Whole Wheat Cast Iron Bread

Cover it up with the lid and bake it for 30 minutes, remove the lid and bake for another 15 minutes and you end up with the most gorgeous little bread you’ve ever seen. Even if you’ve never made bread before this is a no fail recipe. Trust me.

Loaf of Sunflower and Flax Seeds Whole Wheat Cast Iron Bread

Watch the video for the original No Knead Crusty bread:

If you guys love this recipe, and most importantly make it yourselves, please let us know. Take a picture and tag it #jocooks on Instagram so we can see it. I always love to see what you guys come up with!

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

a freshly baked loaf of bread in a dutch oven
4.58 from 147 votes

Sunflower and Flax Seeds Whole Wheat Cast Iron Bread

Prep 5 minutes minutes
Cook 45 minutes minutes
Total 50 minutes minutes
10
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Sunflower and Flax Seeds Whole Wheat Cast Iron Bread - no kneading required and only a few ingredients turn into a super crusty delicious bread.
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Ingredients

  • 2 cups whole wheat flour
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon active dry yeast
  • 2 1/4 cup water
  • 1/3 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1/3 cup flax seeds

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions 

  • In a big bowl mix flour, salt and yeast together. At this time you can add the sunflower and flax seeds and stir them around a bit. Pour water into the bowl and using a spatula mix it until it's all incorporated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit on your counter for 12 to 18 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 450 F degrees. Add your ]cast iron pot to the oven and heat it as well until it's at 450 F degrees.
  • Remove pot from oven and remove the lid from it.
  • Flour your work surface really well and make sure you flour your hands really well. With your floured hands gently remove the dough from the bowl and roughly shape it into a ball. Take the ball of dough and drop it into the pot. Cover the pot with the lid and place it back in the oven.
  • Bake for 30 minutes with the lid on, after which remove the lid and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes until golden brown.
  • Remove from the oven and let cool.

Notes

Prep time does not include time to let the dough rise.
 
Always check the expiration date on your yeast and make sure it hasn't expired. All your yeast products whether it’s in a jar or a package should be stamped with a “Best if Used by” date. Always make sure you check this date, even when you purchase the yeast, who knows it could have been on the shelf past its expiry date.
 
To keep your yeast fresh and longer lasting, unopened yeast packages or jars should be stored in a cool or dry place such as your cupboard. However, you can also store your yeast in the fridge or freezer. If you do store it in the freezer and need to use yeast for your baking, make sure you take out the amount you need and let it sit at room temperature for at least half hour before using.
 
Once your yeast package or jar has been opened, you must refrigerate the yeast or freeze it in an airtight container.
 
One thing to remember about your yeast, is that it is a living organism and over time it will lose activity, even if you’ve never opened the jar or package. So if you don’t bake often, buy the smaller yeast packages rather than a big jar of yeast.
 
Why is my bread chewy: Usually your bread will be chewy when there isn't enough gluten formation or you're using a low-protein flour. Make sure you let your bread dough rest for at least 12 hours to give it enough time for gluten formation.
 
Why is my bread dense: Usually bread will be too dense when there is too much flour. Keep in mind this dough will be pretty sticky, do not add more flour than specified. Other factors that come into play are humidity and age of flour. Little yeast, long rise, sticky dough are keys to a good, light loaf.
 
I don't have a Dutch oven, what can I use instead: If you don't have a Dutch Oven, a covered metal pot would work as well, just make sure it can stand up to 450 F heat. A 4 quart Calphalon soup pot with lid would work as well. If your pot doesn't have a lid, you can cover the pot with heavy-duty aluminum foil, just make sure you seal the pot well.
 
How do I know when my bread is done baking: Tap the bottom! Take the bread out of the Dutch oven, turn it upside down and give the bottom a firm thump with your thumb, or a knock and if it sounds hollow it's done.
 
Nutrition: Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 112gCalories: 213kcal (11%)Carbohydrates: 39.21g (13%)Protein: 7.57g (15%)Fat: 3.77g (6%)Saturated Fat: 0.374g (2%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 1.568gMonounsaturated Fat: 1.215gTrans Fat: 0.001gSodium: 468mg (20%)Potassium: 195mg (6%)Fiber: 5.1g (21%)Sugar: 0.31gVitamin A: 50IU (1%)Vitamin C: 0.8mg (1%)Calcium: 50mg (5%)Iron: 2.9mg (16%)
© Author Joanna Cismaru

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

a freshly baked loaf of bread in a dutch oven

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Nutrition Facts
Sunflower and Flax Seeds Whole Wheat Cast Iron Bread
Amount Per Serving (112 g)
Calories 213 Calories from Fat 34
% Daily Value*
Fat 3.77g6%
Saturated Fat 0.374g2%
Trans Fat 0.001g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.568g
Monounsaturated Fat 1.215g
Sodium 468mg20%
Potassium 195mg6%
Carbohydrates 39.21g13%
Fiber 5.1g21%
Sugar 0.31g0%
Protein 7.57g15%
Vitamin A 50IU1%
Vitamin C 0.8mg1%
Calcium 50mg5%
Iron 2.9mg16%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

What you’ll need:

If you love this bread, try these other no knead cast iron breads:

No Knead Dutch Oven Crusty Bread

No Knead Dutch Oven Whole Wheat Bread

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Joanna Cismaru

Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Through Jo Cooks, I invite you to join me in my kitchen as we explore delicious recipes from around the globe, celebrate the joy of cooking, and make every meal a memorable one. Happy cooking!

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261 Comments
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Tricia
Tricia
Posted: 27 days ago

4 stars
I’ve been making this bread for a number of years now and it’s so easy and delicious. My modifications are this:

-2.5 cups AP flour
-1.5 cups WW flour
-2 tbsp sugar (but after recently rereading comments, I’ll try honey next time!)
-2/3 cup ancient grain blend (oat flakes, barley flakes, rye flakes, spelt flakes, oat bran, kamut flakes, millet, flaxseed, quinoa flakes)
-2 cups water (the 2 1/4 cups called for made my dough WAY too wet!)

I love this bread and so does everyone I give it to. I don’t bake anything else anymore, and make two at a time to make more efficient use of the oven. I wait a day before slicing to get more even slices, as the bread is less squishy. It freezes beautifully!

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Tricia
Posted: 27 days ago

Wow, it sounds like you’ve really made this bread recipe your own! I love the modifications you’ve made, especially the ancient grain blend—what a wholesome touch! It’s always fantastic when a recipe can serve as a versatile base for personalization. I’m also glad to hear that you’ve had success with freezing it; that’s a great tip for others looking to make the most of their time and oven space. Thank you so much for sharing your experience and variations, and for making this recipe a regular part of your kitchen repertoire!

0
Reply
Suzanne
Suzanne
Posted: 4 months ago

5 stars
I used ground flax meal instead of flax seeds, and added 2tbsp more water as it seemed dry. I let it rise in the fridge for 18 hours, followed by an hour on the countertop and it came out great! Really delicious. I like it better than your plain half whole wheat bread which I usually make.

0
Reply
Renee
Renee
Posted: 5 months ago

Jo, do you think it would come out ok if I subbed dark rye flour for the wheat?

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Renee
Posted: 5 months ago

I’ve never tried myself, but you should be able to. The only thing to keep in mind is that rye flour behaves differently than wheat flour. It has less gluten, the protein that gives wheat bread its structure and elasticity. This means that a bread made entirely from rye flour will be denser and won’t rise as much as a bread made with wheat flour. If you want to use rye flour in your no-knead bread, I’d suggest using a mix of rye and wheat flour. Try substituting about 1/3 of the total flour with rye flour and see how that works. You can adjust the proportion based on your preference for the flavor and texture of rye. Also, rye flour absorbs more water than wheat flour, so you may need to add a bit more water to the dough. Start with the usual amount, and then add more as needed to achieve the right consistency. It should be sticky and shaggy, but not too wet or dry.

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Deborah
Deborah
Posted: 5 months ago

5 stars
It turned out great!! But how do you not get the bottom not to burn, mine did a bit. But otherwise it was delicious 😋

0
Reply
Marian
Marian
Reply to  Deborah
Posted: 3 months ago

I’ve learned two things – try raising your oven rack higher or put a cookie sheet on the rack beneath the cast iron pan. Your lower heat is probably the culprit. But I haven’t made this yet.

0
Reply
Melba
Melba
Posted: 8 months ago

5 stars
This bread is so easy and so good! I replaced one cup of whole wheat flour with one cup of rolled oats. I didn’t change anything else, and it came out perfectly. Next time I’ll try replacing one of the cups of regular flour with rolled oats and see what happens.

0
Reply
Marnie Brown
Marnie Brown
Posted: 9 months ago

5 stars
Joanna, this bread has elevated you to goddess status. I added some honey and a few more seeds, these things making it my go-to bread. So YUMMY!

0
Reply
Elaine Goldenberg
Elaine Goldenberg
Posted: 10 months ago

Finally tried this recipe. I added 1 Tbsp honey ( which I dissolved in the water. Delicious. So easy and great results. A definite keeper!

0
Reply
Elaine Goldenberg
Elaine Goldenberg
Posted: 1 year ago

What size Dutch Oven do you use? I have a 5qt Dutch oven and was wondering if I need to adjust this recipe for this large size pot?

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Elaine Goldenberg
Posted: 1 year ago

5qt should be perfect for this bread.

0
Reply
Lesley
Lesley
Posted: 1 year ago

Can the dough be left to rise past 18 hours (up to 24 hours)? My timing calculation was off and I prepped the dough earlier than I should have to bake my loaf morning it will be served.

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Lesley
Posted: 1 year ago

Yep, it should be fine, I’ve left mine out for 24 hours before and it still turned out great.

0
Reply
Ren
Ren
Posted: 1 year ago

5 stars
I’ve had this recipe in my to-cook list for months (years?) and finally, on a whim, decided late on a Saturday night to prep it ready for baking the next day. It came out perfectly, filling but not too dense, and a good amount of seeds which made me feel virtuous.This will be a solid staple from now on.

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Ren
Posted: 1 year ago

So glad you like it! 🙂

0
Reply
Claudette
Claudette
Posted: 1 year ago

5 stars
I had to borrow a Dutch oven to try this recipe. We loved this bread. Guess I’m going to have to go buy my own Dutch oven. Who know good bread could be this easy and healthy.

0
Reply
Mona Kohler
Mona Kohler
Posted: 2 years ago

I use the original recipe often. But I want to add GROUND flaxseed to my bread. (by adding whole flaxseed you are getting non of the nutrients of the flaxseed). But since ground flaxseed has musilidge and oils I’m sure it would impact the dought recipe. Have you made with ground flaxseed, if so could you post that recipe.

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Mona Kohler
Posted: 2 years ago

Hi Mona! I have not tried ground flaxseed.

0
Reply
Kate Shults
Kate Shults
Reply to  Joanna Cismaru
Posted: 1 year ago

I have only used ground flaxseed and it was perfect

0
Reply
Dea
Dea
Posted: 2 years ago

Does it make a difference if you use the typical warm water or cold in the recipe?

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Dea
Posted: 2 years ago

I just use water at room temperature.

0
Reply
Paul
Paul
Posted: 2 years ago

Newbie here. I have baked with this recipe successfully over the past year and love it and then I decided to just use 4 cups all purpose flour instead of the 2:2 split between whole wheat flour and all purpose. I guess that doesn’t work. Smh. After the rising period it looks like a very thick soup vs sticky dough. It’s now in the Dutch oven but I fear a messy disaster. It seems I should have cut back on either water or added more flour?
Thx

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Paul
Posted: 2 years ago

Hi Paul,
It should technically work, but it could also depend on your environment. I have the recipe for the no knead bread with just ap flour, you can find it here for more information:
https://www.jocooks.com/recipes/no-knead-bread/

0
Reply
Paul
Paul
Reply to  Joanna Cismaru
Posted: 2 years ago

Thx Jo. I made a batch of dough per recipe and one with all AP flour – all else the same so the environmental factor should be the same. It’s in the cover “off” baking phase so I will let you know how it goes.
I have used the other recipe before but I like this one for the larger loaf in my 5 qt Dutch oven and the addition of sunflower seeds and flax.
Love all your recipes!

0
Reply
Paul
Paul
Reply to  Joanna Cismaru
Posted: 2 years ago

Tastes great— the most important criteria!
It looks good but just didn’t rise as tall as it normally does. 18+ hour rise time

0
Reply
Alexandra Hullquist
Alexandra Hullquist
Posted: 2 years ago

5 stars
This bread is absolutely superb in texture, taste, technique and directions. It is a keeper in our home.

0
Reply

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I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is the place where I share my passion for easy and delicious recipes. From comforting classics to global flavors, I believe that cooking should be fun, approachable, and most importantly, rewarding. Join me on this culinary journey and let’s get cooking!

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