This easy German sunflower seed bread is extremely tasty, simple to prepare, and the perfect bread to begin transitioning into baking homemade healthy bread that the entire family will enjoy.
Sunflower bread is not only more delicious than store-bought bread. It is also far healthier and far less expensive. This multipurpose seed bread is great for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Don´t forget to share the love. Give a friend or neighbor the recipe or a batch of this delightful seed bread. Fresh and fragrant, a loaf of homemade sunflower bread is just irresistible!
This is one of my favorite German bread recipes that I love to enjoy with homemade liver sausage. I hope you will give this recipe a try if you like liver sausage. This recipe is perfect for every home cook as it does not require any fancy equipment, can be made in small batches and pairs wonderfully with this homemade sunflower seed bread.
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How is sunflower bread called in German?
Sunflower bread is called Sonnenblumenbrot (n/singular) and Sonnenblumenbrote (f/plural) in German.
How to pronounce "Sonnenblumenbrot" the correct way in German?
Listen to this audio file to hear how to say "Sonnenblumenbrot" the right way.
Ingredients & Substitutes
The ingredients for this easy sunflower bread are simple, and you might already have them in your pantry.
Flour: in this recipe, I use a blend of bread flour and whole wheat flour. You could also use only bread flour or only whole wheat flour. I also sometimes replace the bread flour with spelt flour.
Sunflower Seeds: make sure that the sunflower seeds that you are using are fresh. Seeds in general tend to get rancid very quickly. To don't have a bad experience, smell the seeds before you add them to the dough.
Yeast: I usually use dry yeast. It does not matter if you use active dry yeast or instant yeast in this recipe. You can also use fresh yeast instead of dry.
Honey: if you don´t have honey on hand or don´t like the taste, you can replace it with brown or white sugar.
Salt: I prefer to use Kosher salt, but use whatever salt you have on hand.
Apple Cider Vinegar: the addition of apple cider vinegar helps to break down the protein in the flour, which will cause the gluten to soften. This is not only good for the flavor but also helps digestion. Don´t worry, you will not taste the apple cider vinegar in this bread.
Water: it is best to use filtered, lukewarm water for the recipe. You can substitute the water for milk if you prefer.
See recipe card for quantities.
Variations
This basic recipe can be made not only with sunflower seeds, but also with a variety of other seeds such as pumpkin seeds, pepitos, sesame seeds, chia seeds, and others.
In the recipe video, I used a mixture of different seeds. You can find the quantities in the recipe notes.
Instructions
This bread comes together in no time. The recipe is suitable for beginners and makes the shift to eating healthier bread easy and enjoyable.
Step 1: In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer bowl, combine whole wheat flour and bread flour and create a well in the center.
To the well, add the yeast, half a cup of lukewarm water, and the honey. Combine the ingredients in the well while including some flour from the well's rim.
Cover the bowl and set it aside for about 10 minutes.
Step 2: Meanwhile, prepare your baking pan. Grease the bottom and sides thoroughly with butter or oil, then add approximately a ⅛ cup of the seeds to the pan and swirl them around to stick on the sides and bottom.
Step 3: Cover the well with flour and add the apple cider vinegar, seeds, salt, and remaining water. Knead the dough until it is fully combined. There is no kneading or folding necessary. The dough will be soft and will not come together smoothly like regular yeast dough.
Step 4: Cover the dough and allow it to sit for 60 minutes (you can let it sit for up to three hours). The dough will not rise like normal dough but will develop flavor during this time. Add the dough to the prepared baking pan and place into the 375 F preheated oven. Bake for about 45 minutes.
Equipment
You only need a few kitchen utensils that you most likely already have.
- large mixing bowl and a large cooking spoon or
- stand mixer bowl with kneading hook or paddle attachment
- cooking spoon
- measuring cups & spoons
- baking pan
- pastry brush or piece of paper towel to grease the pan with butter
Storage
This sunflower bread keeps incredibly well. It will keep fresh and moist for at least one week if stored in a plastic bag. You can also store it in a paper bag or bread box, but make sure the open cut area is well covered so it does not dry out.
You can also freeze the bread to ensure that you always have some homemade bread on hand. Allow it to defrost on the counter overnight before serving. If you are in a time pinch, allow the bread to partially defrost, then cut it into slices and toast them.
My Top Tip
If you have some leftover coffee, you can brush the bread before adding it to the oven. This will result in a nice, crispy brown top on the bread.
How to Serve
The delicious sunflower bread works perfectly for all kinds of sandwiches. It is also a great companion for soups and salads. I love to serve it with my German pumpkin soup and it is my go to choice when we have a German salad platter for dinner.
Recipe
Sunflower Seed Bread
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups whole wheat flour
- 2 cups bread flour
- 1 tbsp. yeast
- 1 tbsp. honey
- 2 ⅛ cups water lukewarm
- 2 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 1 ¼ cups sunflower seeds see notes for alternative
- 2 tsp. fine Kosher salt
- Butter or oil to grease the baking pan
Instructions
- Add whole wheat flour and bread flour to a large bowl or stand mixer bowl and form a well in the middle.
- Add the yeast, about half a cup of the lukewarm water, and the honey to the well.
- Mix the ingredients in the well while incorporating some flour from the rim of the well.
- Cover the bowl and set aside for about 10 minutes.
- In the meantime, grease the baking pan and add about ⅛ cup of the seeds to the pan. Swirl the pan to distribute the seeds on the sides and the bottom of the pan.
- Cover the well with some flour and add the apple cider vinegar, seeds, salt, and the remaining water.
- Knead the dough until everything is well combined. The dough will be relatively soft and will not come together smooth like a regular yeast dough.
- Cover the dough and allow to sit for 60 minutes (you can let it sit for up to three hours). The dough will not rise like a normal dough but will develop flavor during this time.
- Add dough to the prepared baking pan and place into the 375 F preheated oven.
- Bake for about 45 minutes.
Video
Notes
- ¼ cup pepitas
- ¾ cup sunflower seeds
- ¼ cup sesame seeds.
Nutrition
Frequently Asked Questions
Several studies have found that adding sunflower seeds to bread has numerous health benefits. Sunflower seeds aid in the reduction of blood pressure and serum cholesterol levels. They may also help reduce the impact of carbohydrates on your blood sugar. The bread's protein and fat slow the rate at which the stomach empties. This allows for a slower release of sugar from carbohydrates.
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