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Have you ever tried homemade whole wheat flour tortillas before? Let me just say that the taste and texture are far superior to tortillas that come in a plastic bag at the grocery store. Honestly, they don’t even deserve to be called tortillas compared to the real thing!
Luckily, the tastiness of homemade tortillas justifies the effort it takes to make them. Up until now, almost all the recipes I have posted have been easy to make, but I must admit that this one is definitely an exception to the rule.
Featured Comment
My family LOVED it and said to never buy tortillas again. I ordered a tortilla press as not rolling these out on a regular basis! :-)
Are Whole Wheat Tortillas Easy to Make?
I will also say that I actually tried a couple of different methods for making whole wheat tortillas, and this is the easy (easier) version. Please trust me when I tell you…it is worth it!
Once the dough has been made, it takes me about 30 minutes to roll out and cook a dozen of these tortillas. Everyone in my family (including me) practically scarfs them down as soon as I make them, and if used as wraps they can add some variety to your lunch over typical sandwich bread.
Tips for Rolling Out Homemade Tortillas
Let the dough rest. I find the dough is easier to work with if it's been resting for about 30 minutes (covered by a towel or plastic wrap) before I begin working with it.
Use a rolling pin. A rolling pin is the easiest way to spread out the dough properly to the correct thinness and shape.
What Can You Use Whole Grain Tortillas For?
My (now 15) 3-year-old’s favorite combination (which she lovingly called a “roll-up”) was to have hummus and cheese wrapped up in her tortilla. I actually love a “roll-up” myself, although I usually add diced tomatoes, cucumbers, or spinach to mine. My kids also just like to snack on plain tortillas too, and if you have time to make a big batch then you can freeze some for later!
Whole grain tortillas can also be used to replace a variety of breads in sandwiches or other snacks. Here are some fun ideas to try:
Tortilla Pizza
Use a homemade tortilla as pizza crust: Spread homemade pizza sauce (pasta sauce or anything similar you have also works fine) over the tortilla, then top with cheese, veggies, or cooked meat. This is an easy way for your kids to have a real food "pizza" snack with whole grain crust and reasonable portions. See the Tortilla Pizza recipe for more tips and tricks!
Whole Grain Tortilla Pinwheels
Pinwheels are another great snack for kids, especially picky eaters who need some coercing when it comes to vegetables. They’re also fun for parties and potlucks! Spread out your favorite fillings, roll up, and slice.
Quesadilla Style Grilled Cheese
You can also make these homemade veggie quesadillas with these whole wheat tortillas, but sometimes you just want some good ol' cheese. Thinly slice some organic cheese and place it on half of the tortilla. Fold and fry with a pat of butter until cheese melts.
You can also add vegetables like onions, zucchini, peppers, spinach, and tomatoes. Or, slice and serve with tomato soup.
Easy Breakfast Wraps
Breakfast wraps can be made fresh or ahead of time and frozen for an easy, filling breakfast idea. Add scrambled eggs, cheese, and your favorite meat and vegetables.
Can I Use This Recipe to Make Whole Wheat Tortilla Chips?
If you’re looking for a delicious, real food treat, these whole wheat tortillas can be baked into chips! It’s easy; no deep frying required. Enjoy on their own, or serve with fresh salsa.
- Make the whole wheat tortillas following the recipe directions and let them cool.
- Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- While the oven heats, slice your tortillas into chip-sized pieces (about 6) with a sharp knife or pizza cutter.
- Lightly spray or brush them with olive oil and lightly salt.
- Bake for 7 minutes.
- Flip the chips and lightly oil and season the other side.
- Bake again for another 5-7 minutes, until crisp.
You can also make these chips in an air fryer. The method is the same, just adjust the cooking time to 3 minutes per side.
How to Store Whole Wheat Tortillas
Cool tortillas completely before storing them to keep them from getting mushy. Then just place them into an airtight container or bag and store in the fridge or freezer. Homemade tortillas will keep in the fridge for a week and can be frozen for up to 6 months.
Whole-Wheat Tortillas
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups whole-wheat flour (I used King Arthur’s white whole-wheat flour)
- ½ cup avocado oil (or other oil)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup water (heated in the microwave for 1 min)
Instructions
- In the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer set with a dough hook, pour in the flour, oil and salt. Beat with the paddle until crumbly, about 3 to 5 minutes. Scrape the sides as needed. If your hand-held mixer comes with dough hooks those can be used as well.
- With the mixer running, gradually add the warm water and continue mixing until the dough is smooth, about 3 minutes.
- Take out the dough and divide it into 12 equal sized pieces. I do this by making the dough into a big log shape that is about 8 – 10 inches long. Then I cut it in the middle. Then I cut each of those pieces in the middle and so on until you have 12 pieces.
- Using the palms of your hand roll each piece into a round ball and flatten it out on a baking tray or board. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest at room temperature for at least 15 minutes or up to one hour.
- Heat a cast iron skillet, griddle or 12-inch skillet over med-high heat. The pan should be fairly hot before you begin cooking the tortillas.
- On a lightly floured board or counter top, use a rolling pin to turn each ball into a 8 to 10 inch flat circle (measure against your recipe if printed on a 8.5X11 sheet of paper). Be careful not to use more than a teaspoon or two of flour when rolling out each ball into a tortilla because too much excess flour will burn in the pan.
- Grease the pan with a touch of oil (or ghee) and then carefully transfer each tortilla, one at a time, to the pan and cook until puffy and slightly brown, about 30 to 45 seconds per side. Set aside on a plate to cool slightly. Eat within an hour, refrigerate or freeze.
Carla says
I made these for the first time last night and wondered what I may have done wrong. They turned out sorta rubbery??? When I rolled them out inside a cut plastic bag (as suggested by someone here) if they were too thin I couldn't keep them in any sort of shape to the iron skillet without messing all up. I used melted coconut oil, I had to mix with a wooden spoon since I do not have a dough hook, and I used 1 cup white whole wheat and 1.5 cups whole wheat flour. I let them rise for 30+ min after putting them into circles. I let the iron skillet get hot first and rubbed it good with olive oil before heating. Had the temperature on 5 then bumped it up to 7. When it was on 7 they tended to burn quick so I had to kick heat back down but then they weren't really cooking good.
Suggestions?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Carla. It sounds like you did everything right. Maybe try again with these things in mind: The texture is a little different than what you might purchase in the store but should not be "rubbery". Using regular whole wheat flour can make them a bit more "stiff". Also, mixing by hand can make it more difficult to get the dough consistency just right. Don't give up on them because they are really a nice addition to menu planning. :) ~Amy
Amanda Melroy says
I have made this recipe about a dozen times now. The last time i made it I used olive oil. Really great flavor. This is by far my favorite recipe.My husband will no longer eat store bought tortillas. Success!!!!
Sarah B. says
I have made these a couple of times and they turned out great! I have a "roll-up" for lunch almost every day with humus, spinach, peppers, cucumbers, tomato and some sunflower seeds sprinkled on top. YUM! However, I just made another batch tonight for dinner and they turned really dry and stiff by the time I got them to the table. Any ideas? Did I cook them too long?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Sarah. Sorry they didn't turn out this time. Try again because it was likely just a simple recipe error. Also, make sure you keep them covered if they have to sit between cooking and eating. Good luck. ~Amy
Rebecca Graham says
This is my first time making them. I did not have avocado oil so I used coconut oil successfully. No coconut oil. Thank you for the recipe. Thank you for this site and recipes you share. We are two weeks into whole foods eating. I have to say we love it. I'm proud of what I am feeding my family. Thank you!
Rebecca Graham says
I meant to say No coconut flavor. :)
DEnise D says
whoops clicked too soon. Forgot to rate the recipe.
Super easy and soooo yummy!!!
DEnise D says
We have recently started on this adventure. So far, I LOVE IT!!!!!! This tortilla recipe was all the rave of my family tonight. So excited to feed my kiddos these meals and even more excited to eat them! :)
Thanks for the site and recipes. Just found it today but plan to visit more often.
Rebecca Hewett says
Reduce the oil to 1 - 2 TBSP and cook on a non stick skillet with no butter/ghee/etc and you have the basic Indian roti recipe. (I found this when finding sites to show a friend that India does not "own" this type of bread.)
If you make your own paneer, yogurt cheese (labneh), cottage cheese, etc use the leftover whey instead of water to add some protien.
Aimee O. says
Omg!! Amazing! I let the dough rest 30 minutes before rolling out. I recruited my husband to cook while I rolled them out. Great flavor is all I can say. Not overwhelming wheat forgot flavor like the store bought ones. This recipe definitely a keeper!!!
Michelle Sauer says
I just made these, I used grapeseed oil and I am in love. I actually thought they were super easy to make, my kids helped form the balls and I cooked 2 at a time on the large griddle on my stovetop. Went quick and now I'm kind of wishing I would have doubled the batch! These are gonna go fast! Thanks so much for sharing.
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Heather. Coconut oil should work fine though it might change the flavor a bit. Also, be sure to melt the coconut oil before mixing it in. Good luck. ~Amy
Heather says
Do you think these would work well with Coconut oil, instead of the avocado oil?
lisa says
Got tickled at my 18 yr. old DS, As I was cooking these he said "What are you making with Whole Wheat?, You know it never turns out!!"LOL YUMMO is all I can say!! First time and a must have for me from now on!! So Easy!! Trying to convert the fam a little at a time!! Thanks for the great recipe!!
Sisy says
This is actually exactly how Indian chappathis (rotis) are made. And you can make them without oil, but it will definitely lose some of its softness. To compensate for that, you can place them directly in something airtight (a Ziploc bag, for example), as they're coming off the pan. The steam will trap in some moisture lost from not using oil. Also, typically we use a lot less oil. Just a couple of teaspoons. And a food processor with a dough blade will also work. But good old hand mixing is great! Hope that helps. Thanks for creating such an inspiring site!
Erin Nelson says
Can you forego the oil? I am plant-based and try not to eat oil. Have you experimented with these without the oil? Is the oil crucial?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Erin. We have not experimented with that and a quick internet search didn't yield any alternatives. Let us know if you come up with one. Good luck. ~Amy
Tim says
I made these yesterday, and they are great. Although, you can't divide things in half and get 12, I found that making 8 larger ones worked well in my heavy 12" griddle pan. This pan has very low sides and so you can get to the edges of the tortilla easily. I used Bobs Red Mill Stone Ground Wheat and olive oil. As I usually make a week's worth of Hummus on Sundays, I will be adding this to my routine and we will have lunches all week. Total time to make these including resting the dough was under an hour.
Anna says
I made these a couple times and just could not get them right. The first time I made them, they were way too small and I ended up a lot more than the recipe. The other time I made them they came out too think and didn't roll right when I went to eat them. The flavor of them was really good, but I have recently begun buying the Ezekiel tortilla shells in the freezer section.
Ann says
I make these at least twice a week. I roll in seasonings and bake them to make tortilla chips! 10-15 minutes at 350°. Yum!
Also I only make 3 at a time. 1/2 c. Flour, 3 tbsp water, dash of oil and salt. Thanks for the recipe!!!
Jen Roy says
I made these last week, my husband loves them, I think it was super easy! However, I am wondering why so much oil? I have googled and found some with little or no oil.....have you tried these recipes already? Mine seemed a bit oily, used olive oil. I think the time (and it isn't much) is well worth it, I just glance at the super one ingredient list on store bought, and think my health and my families is well worth it! And I am a mother of 2 who works full time.
Kris Shoaf says
I made these yesterday and I didn't think they were really that hard to make. I have never used my dough hook for my Kitchenaid, which I have owned for nearly 15 years, and making the dough was super easy! I used Olive Oil, as it was the only oil I had in the house, I will experiment with other types of oil in the future. We think they turned out very tasty and are great warmed up with a little bit of peanut butter and honey. Thank you for the recipe!
Rebecca says
I agree on the time! It was really not a big deal at all. My biggest problem was that I do not have a mixer, so the beginning part was taxing.
Kate Willis says
We made these yesterday and they are great. They took a long time, since we were rolling them from hand, and we had a lot of problems with them sticking. When you use a tortilla press, did you have trouble with them sticking when you tried to peel them off to cook them? We looked up several options for tortilla makers, some of which cook the tortillas after pressing them. However, most of the reviews recommended cooking them on a griddle after cooking in them in the tortilla maker to "finish" them.
What do you recommend to help make these easier/faster to make?
Thanks!
Ann says
I add less oil and keep adding flour until it holds. I also mix all ingredients at once and knead it by hand for a minute. Let it set for 15 in individual balls and then roll them out. Turns out the same as the lengthy process described.
Megan says
A tip that I actually just learned is to cut the sides of a plastic freezer bag and put the ball inside, then press down flat. A homemade tortilla press and no sticking! I just wash the bag to re-use later. :)
Jen says
The plastic bag idea worked fabulously!!!
Megan says
Just made a batch of these for the week to use for wraps and quesadillas. I used coconut oil and 365 Organics 100% Whole Wheat from Whole Foods. The directions were spot on and they turned out great. I'm just not sure if they are worth so much effort. Maybe it will get easier after a few tries. I will give it a couple more chances. Are there any good packaged options without preservatives?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Megan. We've really gotten the hang of making these by hand. What is working for me is doubling recipes in order to freeze and pull them out as needed. If I buy tortillas, I look for a sprouted 100% whole grain version with 5 or less ingredients. Ezekiel makes one that can be found in the frozen section of most large grocery stores. Hope that helps. ~Amy
Megan says
Thanks for your reply. I do feel like I have gotten the hang of it and decided that they taste so good that I will continue to make them. :)
Dana says
These sound good - I'll have to give them a try. About how many calories would be in one of these tortillas?
Cecille says
I used the nutrition calculator on myfitnesspal.com, and per serving, they came up with 172 calories, 18 g carbs, 10 g fat, 3 g protein. I used King Arthur Premium 100% Whole Wheat and Crisco Canola.
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Dana. Sorry, we don't track nutrition or calorie information. This helps explain why: https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2013/01/04/healthy-eating-defined/. ~Amy
Dawn says
To be very honest, this may be more work than I have time for. Have you found any acceptable store bought wraps at trader joes etc?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Dawn. Try these... because they are totally worth it. You can freeze them and pull them out as needed. However, in a pinch Ezekiel sprouted wheat would be a good store bought option: http://www.foodforlife.com/product/tortillas/ezekiel-49-sprouted-whole-grain-tortillas. They are in the frozen section at most large groceries and in all "whole food-like" stores. Hope that helps. ~Amy
Yadida says
What else can be used if I dont have a dough hook? Can I do it all by hand?
Monica says
I made them by hand the first time and they turned out great! I used my regular electric mixer for the flour and oil, then just used a spoon then my hands for the water. (although I'm sure you could stir the oil in by hand as well) They turned out great with my stand mixer too. :)
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hello Yadida. You can absolutely do this by hand! Good luck. ~Amy
Nicole says
Any chance I could use almond oil??? Just ran out of my coconut oil last night and this could save me a quick trip...?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Nicole. Did you use the almond oil? How did it turn out? ~Amy
Nicole says
It was perfect! My first time making tortillas and it is a must now. The whole family enjoyed them. Since I'd never made them with recommended avocado oil I'm not sure how to compare it but they tasted wonderful, consistency and texture was great too.
Nicole says
Oh and I should mention I used organic spelt four instead, same measurements, and no problems!
Lysep says
We tried them tonight and like the last few comments, the first few were too stiff to roll (I assumed they could be used as wraps, am I right?) but after the 1st two, they were ok. Am I right in thinking my pan probably wasn't hot enough the first time round? They were lovely! Thank you for the recipe!
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Lysep. That could have been it. The difference also might have been that the later ones you rolled had time to "rest". Next time, maybe give it a bit of time before you start to roll. Glad you like them. ~Amy
Angie says
I made these for the first time. They were a huge hit at our house. I followed the recipe exactly, and they were delicious!
Lysep says
Question about the tortilla press: does it only press the dough flat or does it cook it as well?
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi again Lysep. The tortilla press just flattens. ~Amy
Jenny P says
Mmm! I'm making my 4th batch right now because the last one - which was supposed to last a week - only made it 2 days.
I did have to add a bunch of extra flour - maybe 3/4c? I'm using the Meijer Naturals w.w. white. They seemed stiff right away, but after a day in the fridge and 10sec in the microwave they were absolutely perfect.
Danielle says
I've made these twice now and both times they turned out really stiff. I couldn't roll them up at all. I did have to use olive oil as we don't have anything else right now. What could I be doing wrong? I use a tortilla press.
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Danielle. Did you make sure not to use too much flour when you were rolling them out? You might also need to adjust your cooking time. ~Amy
Kimberly says
I've made my own sandwich bread and baguettes for a couple of years and finally decided to start making tortillas and other bread products after I went to the grocery store recently and couldn't find ONE package of tortillas without hydrogenated oils. I don't live near a Trader Joe's or Whole Foods (out in the boonies), but this time I'm actually glad. I made the tortillas and they were seriously more delicious than I've ever had....and I've traveled in Mexico fairly extensively. My daughter ate two without anything on them before she could stop herself! I already always have at least 5 kinds of flour on hand and my dad just got a VitaMix, so I can grind my own wheat now too. I think everyone should give making their own breads a try...it's not as hard as it seems!
Candice says
Lisa,
These are so amazing! They are definitely a staple in our house since the first time I made them! Thanks so much.
Candice G
Meg wiekamp says
Mine came out really crunchy and broke when I tried to 'roll' them for a taco...advice please!!!
Assistant to 100 Days (Amy) says
Hi Meg. Are you following the recipe exactly? I also feel that tortillas come out best when cooked in a cast iron pan. Give it another try. ~Amy
Evalis says
I made this last night for dinner. I have always been under the impression that making your own tortillas was as laboring as making pasta. Boy was I wrong!
I did them in different sizes, mainly because of my four year old. I ended up with about 15 tortillas. They were not perfectly round so it was funny to see my hubby getting the maple syrup ready. He was confused as to why were we having pancakes with lettuce and tomatoes.
Bottomline, they were amazing! May try a tortilla press next time. Any recommendations from you or any readers as to what brand to purchase?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Evalis. Here is the link to the tortilla press we use...https://www.100daysofrealfood.com/my-kitchen-essentials/#tools. Jill
Toni says
HI Evalis - I don't know if you've ever made your own pasta before, but if not, you should not be disillusioned that it is laboring. I actually just made a batch last night and start to finish it took me 30 minutes. (And that was actually making 2 batches. 1 lb cooked up last night and the other lb frozen.) If you have the right equipment, it's super easy and SO worth it. (We have the attachments for our kitchenaid stand mixer.)
Bailey says
These are delicious and absolutely worth the effort! We made a batch today to eat with dinner tomorrow, but at the rate we're devouring them, we might have to whip up some more!
Christa says
I do not have a dough hook on my hand mixer. Can I still make these just using a regular hand mixer with the regular attachments? Thank you!!!
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Christa. Yes, I don't see why not. I would say you could even mix them by hand. Jill
Ella says
Super yummmy! They disappeared as soon as I put them on the plate. The kids loved them plain. It is an easy recipe too. Thanks a bunch!!
Cait says
Is the mixer with the dough hook necessary? Can I just put in the extra effort to mix it myself?
Assistant to 100 Days (Jill) says
Hi Cait. You could certainly go ahead and mix these yourself. Jill
Evalis says
Making these on Sunday! My tortilla lovers (husband and child) have been craving some. Living in West Texas (El Paso) we have gotten used to the local food (Mexican) and tortillas are, of course, a staple.
Amy says
Have made these so many times love them! Tonight we got creative. We had left over sloppy joes from yesterday. So I made the tortillas small then filled them and folded them over. Put them on a baking sheet and baked them for like 20mins. Super yum! Kids loved them.