There are so many different types of seeds that are commonly used in bread, but what are the best seeds for baking at home? Seeds not only add to the flavor and texture of the bread, they also have several nutritional benefits.
The best seeds for baking bread are flax, sunflower, sesame, poppy and pumpkin seeds. These seeds can be either baked directly into bread dough or sprinkled over the top of a bread loaf as a topping.
Seeds can improve the nutritional benefits of bread, but you need to know how to include them correctly to get the most out of them when baking. In this article, I’ll walk you through the best types of seed for bread and how to bake with them. While you can add almost any edible seed to bread, there are specific types of seed that are traditionally included in bread loaves. Here’s a list of some of the best types of seed added to bread and what they have to offer.
1. Flax Seed (Linseed)
Flax seeds are also known as linseed. These seeds are most commonly ground up and added to bread flour to make it more healthy since they contain valuable nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids and fiber. Flaxseed comes from a flowering plant called flax or linseed. This plant is mostly grown for its seeds which are used in baking, ground into a meal, or to produce linseed oil. Apart from food, flax fibers are also useful to make fabrics.
You can either grind flaxseed, or add the seeds whole. Ground flaxseed is the healthiest option because it makes them easier to digest and you get all the health benefits. However, ground flaxseeds won’t give you the nice texture and crunch to the bread. According the Mayo Clinic, flaxseeds are high in fiber which is why they have long been recommended to maintain good digestive health, and even used to treat constipation.
Flaxseeds may also lower cholesterol which leads to improved heart health. You can buy flaxseeds from most grocery stores, health food stores or Amazon. You can buy either ground flaxseed or whole flaxseed. It’s easy to grind yourself using a motor and postal, coffee grinder or food processor.
2. Sunflower Seeds
Along with adding a pleasant nutty flavor to baked goods, baking sunflower seeds has a number of health benefits. Sunflower seeds are a popular seed, commonly used in cooking, baking or eaten as a snack. Taken from the flower of a sunflower plant, sunflower seeds are highly nutritious and will give the bread a nutty flavor. As for the nutritional value, sunflower seeds are high in protein, and full of the “good fats”. They also help boost your immune system, reduce inflammation, increase your energy, and decrease your risk of developing high blood pressure and heart disease.
You can buy sunflower seeds are sold in most grocery stores, health food stores, and on Amazon here. If you bake a lot of bread, it’s best to buy sunflower seeds in-bulk.
3. Sesame Seeds
Sesame seeds are a type of seed that are usually used as a topping on top of baked goods like dinner rolls and hamburger buns. Sesame seeds add a toasty flavor and a crunchy texture to bread. Sesame seed oil can also be used to replace other types of fats as a binder in baked goods. Sesame seeds are also highly nutritious and are a great source of protein and antioxidants which help boost immunity. They also contain as calcium and manganese—vitamins that help build strong bones. Sesame seeds are also a rich source of many other vitamins and minerals, such as iron, zinc, vitamin B1, to name a few.
4. Poppy Seeds
The poppy plant produces poppy seeds. As with most seeds on this list, poppy seeds are rich in vitamins and minerals. Poppy seeds are often found in baked goods like muffins, but they’re also popular in bread loaves too. Poppy seeds are a good source of protein as well as vitamins and minerals, which include calcium, magnesium, iron, thiamin, folate, zinc, manganese and phosphorus.
5. Pumpkin Seeds
Pumpkin seeds are one of the larger seeds that are used in baking, and they have to be cleaned and roasted before including them. Pumpkin seeds are a nice decorative topping for pumpkin-flavored breads, and they also add essential vitamins like manganese and vitamin K. If you’re baking bread, you aren’t restricted to just one type of seed either. Mix and match your favorite kinds for a customized loaf that is as delicious as it is good for you.
Why Add Seeds to Bread?
The reasons for adding seeds to bread are twofold. One, adding seeds to bread greatly improves the texture and flavor of the loaf. Secondly, seeds are a simple and effective way to increase your bread’s nutrition.
No matter which type of seed you decide to include in your bread, it’ll add protein, fiber, and vitamins to your final result. One of the biggest advantages of baking bread at home is that you can make it more healthy than processed baked goods you get at the store, so seeds are a practical way to get the most nutritional bang for your buck.
If you’re baking with seeds, the seeds can either be added directly into the bread dough or pressed into the top of the bread as an edible decoration, or both.
Certain small seeds like flax seed and poppy seed are more often combined with the dough, while larger seeds like pumpkin seeds and sliced almonds are included as toppings.
How to Bake Seeds Into Bread
When adding seeds to your baked goods like bread, there are a few steps you need to take to make the seeds more palatable and easier to include in the recipe.
Here are some of the things you should consider when it comes to preparing seeds for baking:
- Soaking: Many seeds benefit from being soaked before including them in bread dough since this makes them softer and gives them a more chewy, tasty texture than including them raw. Soaking the seeds can also keep them from burning if they’re being added as a topping.
- Toasting: Some seeds, such as sesame seeds, have a much more developed flavor if they’re lightly toasted before including them in a bread recipe. This helps increase the nuttiness of the seeds and can also give them a pleasing golden color.
- Binding: If you’re including seeds on the top of your baked bread, you’ll need something to help them stick to the surface of the dough so they don’t all roll off during the baking process. Making an egg wash and brushing it over the bread before sprinkling the seeds on top can help them stick to the bread’s surface.
Knowing how to add seeds correctly can help your bread turn out picture-perfect like all the seed-studded loaves you see on recipe blogs. But if you’re planning on adding them, you’ll need to keep a few things in mind.
Soaking Seeds Before Baking
Seeds like flax seed and chia seed should be soaked for one hour prior to using them in a bread dough. This soaking time helps them integrate into the dough more easily and keeps them from getting too crunchy during the baking process.
Toasting Seeds Before Baking
Seeds that need toasting before baking, such as sesame seeds and pumpkin seeds, should be toasted for five to ten minutes on low in a pan with a little drizzle of oil to coat them. Once you smell a nutty scent, this is an indication that the seeds are toasted and should be removed from the heat.
Seeds Are A Smart Flavor Match For Bread
Some seeds are better for baking than others. However, there’s no doubt that adding seeds to your homemade bread loaves can help you end up with bread that tastes better, has a better texture, and is healthier for you than any processed baked goods you could purchase from a store.
