Easy 5 Star Homemade Bread recipe made with simple ingredients & detailed instructions showing how to make bread! Thousands of comments & reviewers agree this is the BEST homemade loaf for both beginners and expert bakers.
Homemade Bread is one of my favorite foods of all time. There really is nothing quite like a warm slice of fresh bread served with a thick pat of butter on top. Mmmmm! This recipe is perfect. It’s simple to follow, takes about 2 hours to make and yields 2 loaves of wonderful bread. It’s quite versatile too, so feel free to use part whole wheat flour if you’d like. Brush butter on top when it’s out of the oven and partially cooled and everyone will thank you.
HELPFUL TIPS WHEN MAKING YOUR FIRST LOAF OF HOMEMADE BREAD:
If you’ve never baked homemade bread before, here are a few tips:
1. REMEMBER TO FULLY KNEAD
The recipe below kneads for 7 minutes and it’s worth it! Kneading dough helps to develop the flavor and texture of the bread, so don’t skimp on kneading time.
2. WEATHER CAN AFFECT YOUR INGREDIENTS
If you live in a moist climate, chances are you’ll need at least the recommended amount of flour, maybe even 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup more. Bread dough should be sticky, but still manageable, especially after the first rise. While you’re kneading, the dough should come together and pull away from the sides of the bowl, leaving the bowl mostly clean. I usually aim to have the very bottom of the dough still attached to the bowl. Try not to add too much flour because your bread will be more dense. When you pick the dough up, some will stick to your fingers. After the first rise, it will be easier to handle!
3. TEMPERATURE AFFECTS HOW LONG YOUR BREAD TAKES TO RISE
If your house is cool, your bread will take longer to rise. In the wintertime when my house is cooler than normal, I like to turn the oven on for 2-3 minutes, then turn it off and let the bowl of dough rise in there. The oven traps the heat for a longtime and it’s the perfect atmosphere for rising dough.
4. DON’T OVERWORK THE DOUGH
Try not to go crazy kneading your bread after the first rise. I usually knead and shape my dough in about 1 minute, then it’s back in the pan to rest, for the 2nd rise. I like to have the pan rise in the oven for this second rise so that I don’t have to worry about moving risen dough. When it’s fully risen, I just turn the oven on and set the timer to bake!
EASY HOME-MADE BREAD RECIPE
Easy Bread recipe made with simple ingredients & detailed instructions showing how to make bread! Best homemade bread recipe for both beginners and expert bakers.
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 40 mins
Rise time: 1 hr 30 mins
Total Time: 1 hr
Ingredients:
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2 cups warm water 110° F/45° C
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½ cup white sugar
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1 ½ TBSP active dry yeast
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1 ½ tsp salt
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¼ cup vegetable oil
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5-6 cups flour all-purpose flour OR bread flour
Instructions:
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In a large bowl, or a stand mixer, dissolve 2 TBSP of the sugar in the warm water.
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I just combine the two and whisk slightly to dissolve the sugar. Stir in yeast.
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Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam, about 5 minutes.
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Add in remaining sugar, salt and oil. Begin to mix, using a rubber scraper or the dough hook on your stand mixer.
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Add the flour one cup at a time, reserving the last cup of flour to see if you need it. You might not use all of the flour.
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The dough should pull away and clean the bowl, sticking on the bottom in a small circle about the size of a quarter.
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If your dough does this with just 5 cups of flour, do not add more.
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However, if your dough still sticks to the bowl, add more a couple tablespoons at a time until it cleans the bowl, sticking in just a small circle on the bottom.
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Now knead dough for 7 minutes. Set a timer as a full knead is important!
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Place in a well oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth.
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Allow to rise in a warm area until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
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Punch dough down. Knead for 1 minute and divide dough in half.
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Shape into loaves and place into two greased 9×5 inch loaf pans.
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Allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until dough has risen 1 inch above pans.
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Bake at 350° F (175° C) for 30-40 minutes. Cool, brush with butter and enjoy!
Nutritional Info:
Calories: 131kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 147mg | Potassium: 30mg | Sugar: 4g | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1.2mg