Skip to Content

9 Grain Honey Oat: How to Bake The Best Subway Bread at Home

Learn how to make your very own version of 9-Grain Honey Oat Bread, the best Subway bread ever!

best subway bread

Many people would argue that the best Subway bread was 9-grain honey oat, but when Subway discontinued it, it left sandwich lovers forced to choose from different Subway bread options. 

But now you can make it yourself at home and recreate the delicious whole grain bread without going out for fast food!

After sharing my Subway Italian herb and cheese bread recipe online, I received numerous comments on Tiktok – make the 9-grain honey oat bread!

Be sure and watch the video to see how I recreated this classic Subway bread!

Follow me on social!

Why Choose 9-Grain Honey Whole Wheat Bread?

  • It’s packed with whole grains, offering a hearty and nutritious option for your sandwiches.
  • With its soft texture and slightly sweet taste from the honey, it’s a hit with both kids and adults alike.
  • It’s versatile! You can pair it with a wide variety of sandwich fillings, from fresh vegetables to lean proteins like turkey or chicken.

While Subway offers an extensive selection of sandwiches on various bread options, making your own 9-grain honey whole wheat bread at home can be a fun and healthier alternative. 

How to make the best Subway bread at home

​Here are a few tips to help you make this type of bread at home. 

Use white wheat flour

Use white wheat flour to boost the fiber content of this multigrain bread without making it too dense.

Start the bread the night before

Mix up a simple starter the night before to improve the overall texture. The ingredients and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of the page. 

Soak the grains before adding them to the dough

Before mixing the dough, soak the grains for about 10 minutes. This helps soften them and ensures the grains don’t draw moisture from the bread during baking. 

​Use a silicone bread mold

If you are going for the authentic look made popular by the Subway sandwich chain, use this silicone bread mold. It holds 5 loaves without touching and fits on a half-sheet pan. You can find the link to my favorite one in my Amazon Store. 

Brush the loaves with honey

After shaping your loaves, brush the tops of the bread with a mixture of 1 tbsp honey and 1 tbsp warm water. This helps the oats and grains stick to the top and creates a more flavorful bread. 

Use a stand mixer 

 I recommend using a stand mixer with a dough hook to make this bread. You’ll need to mix this dough for about 8 to 10 minutes. This helps develop the gluten, which gives the bread its structure and texture. 

You can check if the gluten is ready by doing the “window pane test.” Just take a small piece of dough and gently stretch it between your fingers. If it stretches into a thin, translucent membrane without tearing, then the gluten is developed enough.

​Soak the grains

After the dough passes the window pane test, you can add the soaked grains.  If you add the grains too early,  they can break down the gluten in the bread. So, knead the dough until it passes the window pane test, then add the soaked grains and continue with the recipe. 

Making Subway bread at home can be a rewarding and delicious experience. So roll up your sleeves, gather your ingredients, and get ready to enjoy homemade Subway bread that’s fresh, flavorful, and tailored to your liking!

best subway bread

The Best Homemade 9-Grain Honey Oat Bread

This recipe makes 3 hearty multigrain foot-long rolls. You can cut them in half to recreate the 6-inch sandwich on the Subway menu.

The full recipe can be found on the recipe card at the bottom of this post. 

Now, let’s get baking! Here’s what you’ll need:

Starter Ingredients:

Remember to start this the night before by mixing the starter ingredients. This starter provides the foundation for your dough, adding depth of flavor and helping the bread rise.

  • Water: 1/3 cup 
  • Bread flour: 1/2 cup
  • Yeast: 1/8 teaspoon 

Combine the starter ingredients, cover, and store at room temperature overnight.

Bread Dough Ingredients:

This recipe will yield 3 delicious and nutritious Subway-style loaves of bread with a hearty texture and wholesome flavor.

  • Whole wheat flour: This flour gives the bread its hearty texture and nutty flavor. I like to use white wheat flour for a lighter loaf.
  • Bread flour: This recipe uses half white flour and half whole wheat. You can substitute all-purpose flour if bread flour isn’t available. 
  • Honey: Adds a sweet glaze to the top of the loaves.
  • Quick oats: Oats add chewiness to the dough and also get sprinkled on top to give this bread the classic Subway look. 
  • Sugar: Feeds the yeast to make the bread rise and adds flavor and color to the crust.
  • Yeast: Makes the bread fluffy. Use active dry yeast or quick rise if you are in a hurry.
  • Salt: Enhances flavor, and strengthens the dough. I don’t recommend leaving out the salt because it will affect the quality of the bread. If you’re watching your sodium intake, choose sandwich meats with the lowest sodium options instead. 
  • Vegetable oil: Keeps the bread soft and tender, and helps with browning.
  • Water: Binds everything together and activates the yeast.
  • Grain blend: I used Bob’s Red Mill 10 Grain Cereal.  Soaking it first makes the grains softer and chewier.

So, what do you think? Ready to give homemade 9-grain honey oat bread a try? Let me know in the comments below, and don’t forget to share your favorite sandwich fillings!

best subway bread

Homemade 9-Grain Honey Oat Bread

This recipe makes 3 hearty multigrain foot-long rolls. You can cut them in half to recreate the 6-inch sandwich on the Subway menu.
No ratings yet
Print Save Pin Rate
Prep Time: 4 hours
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 6

Video

Ingredients

Starter Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup Water 76 grams
  • 1/2 cup Bread flour 60 grams
  • 1/8 tsp Yeast, active dry or instant pinch

Bread Dough Ingredients

  • 1 cup White wheat flour 130 grams
  • 1 cup All-purpose flour 120 grams
  • 3 tbsp Sugar 36 grams
  • 1 1/2 tsp Salt 10 grams
  • 1 cup Water, luke warm 236 grams
  • 2 1/4 tsp Yeast 7 grams
  • 2 tbsp Vegetable oil 18 grams
  • 1/3 cup Cereal grain blend 65 grams, soaked in 3 tbsp water
  • 3 tbsp Water 45 grams (for soaking grains)
  • 2 tbsp Quick cooking rolled oats 15 grams
  • Additional grains and oats for topping 3 Tbsp, 25grams

Topping Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp Honey 20 grams
  • 1 tbsp Warm water 15 grams
  • 1 tbsp Quick cooking oats 7 grams
  • 1 tbsp 9 Grain cereal 11grams

Instructions

The Night Before

  • To make the poolish: mix water, bread flour, and a pinch of yeast to form the starter. Cover and let rest at room temperature overnight.

The Next Day

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the whole wheat flour, bread flour, and salt.
  • In a separate bowl, mix lukewarm water, sugar, and yeast. Let sit for 5 minutes until bubbly.
  • In a small bowl, soak the cereal grains by adding 3 tbsp of hot water to 1/4 cup of multi-grain cereal. Let this sit for 5-10 minutes while you begin mixing the dough.
  • Once the yeast has activated and become bubbly, add the yeast mixture to the dry ingredients, along with the vegetable oil, and starter from the night before.
  • Knead the dough on low speed for about 3-5 minutes, or until all the dry ingredients are absorbed. Increase the speed to medium and mix the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic.
  • You can check to see if the dough is ready by taking a small piece of dough between your fingers and doing the "window pane" test. If it stretches into a thin membrane without tearing, then it's ready!
  • Add the soaked grains and oats and mix for 2-3 minutes to evenly distribute the grains.
  • Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
  • Punch down the dough and shape it into 3 equal-size portions (about 260g each). Let the dough rest for about 10 minutes, then shape into baguettes. Place them in a baguette pan, or on a silicone-lined sheet pan. Brush the tops with a mixture of 1 tbsp honey and 1 tbsp warm water. Sprinkle each loaf with 1 tsp of rolled oats and 1 tsp of grains. Let them rise for another 25-30 minutes.
  • Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the bread for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

Notes

Storage Tips: Store the bread in an airtight container or resealable bag at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. If you want to freeze some of your bread for later, it’s a good idea to slice your bread before freezing.
Substitutions: Craving the original 9-grain wheat bread? Just omit the honey glaze and oat and grain topping for a copycat version of this popular choice.

​Sandwich Tips

Recreating a Subway sandwich at home can be a delicious and customizable experience, allowing you to tailor your sandwich to your preferences and dietary needs. Here’s a closer look at how to craft your own Subway-style sandwich at home:

  • Bread Options: Use your freshly 9-grain wheat bread, or my Italian Herb and Cheese bread, to create the perfect base for your sandwich.
  • Protein Choices: Select your preferred protein, whether it’s thinly sliced turkey breast, Black Forest ham, teriyaki chicken, or egg white, to add a satisfying protein boost to your sandwich.
  • Cheese Selection: Don’t forget the addition of cheese! A layer of melted Monterey cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese adds the perfect touch.
  • Fresh Vegetables: Load up your sandwich with fresh vegetables like green peppers, lettuce, and tomatoes for a crunchy and nutritious kick.
  • Sauces and Spreads: Enhance the flavor of your sandwich with Subway-style sauces and spreads, such as buffalo sauce or roasted garlic aioli.
  • Additional Toppings: Customize your sandwich with toppings like folic acid-rich spinach, tangy pickles, or sliced olives for added texture and flavor.

By recreating a Subway sandwich at home with these suggested ingredients, you can enjoy a delicious and nutritious meal that rivals your favorite fast-food chain’s offerings.

best subway bread

Related Post: Subway Italian Herb and Cheese Bread Recipe

Want to expand your Subway bread recipe collection by learning how to make their Italian bread? Check out my recipe for Subway Italian herb and cheese bread. It’s flavorful, and chewy, and pairs perfectly with your favorite sandwich fillings. 

 

Recipe Rating




Stef

Thursday 12th of December 2024

hi! i noticed the sugar is nowhere written in the steps, i added it in step 2 with the water and yeast mix. but just wanted to give a heads up about it! however i made this and it was sooo good. the family’s favorite is this bread from subway so they absolutely loved it too and i will be making more of it in the near future :)

Better Baker

Thursday 16th of January 2025

Hi! Thank you for catching that—I'll update the recipe to make it clearer. Adding the sugar in step 2 with the water and yeast was the perfect choice! I'm so happy your family loved it, especially since it’s their favorite. 😊 Happy baking!

Mary Ann Drake

Thursday 1st of August 2024

I like to cook in grams, it seems your gram measurements are greater than the rerquired cup measurement. can you help me understand this? i understand that different flour densitys create different grams per cup.

Better Baker

Friday 9th of August 2024

Hi Mary Ann, thanks for catching that. I've double checked the weights and adjusted them accordingle. Happy baking!

Better Baker

Wednesday 10th of April 2024

Thank you for catching that! The recipe has been adjusted to include 1 cup of luke warm water for dissolving the yeast.