Simple Bread Recipe

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. Can you tell by the name of this site?! 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.

Yes, you can make this recipe in a bread machine! Scroll down to see full Homemade Bread recipe and ingredients, with printable instructions for your bread machine.

A decade ago when I was just beginning to bake confidently, I still struggled with making bread. I tried countless recipes and none of them were quite right. I found this one and never looked back. It uses basic ingredients, comes together fast and I love the bread it makes. It’s soft, chewy with fantastic flavor. Feel free to reduce the sugar if you prefer. Enjoy the process and enjoy that bread!

This is a very comprehensive post with tons of information I’ve gleaned over the years making bread. Where would you like to start first?

If you’ve never made bread before, here is the basic formula for making your own at home. My recipe below follows this perfectly. It’s so much easier and trust me, the scent of fresh bread baking will make everyone really, really excited for dinner!

EASY HOMEMADE 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: 20min

Total: 60min

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 131 kcal, Carbohydrate 24 g, Protein 2 g, Fat 2 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Sodium 147 mg, Sugar 4 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 2 cups warm water (110° F/45° C)
• ½ cup white sugar
• 1 ½ TBSP active dry yeast
• 1 ½ tsp salt
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 5-6 cups flour (all-purpose flour OR bread flour)

Instruction:

1. In a large bowl, or a stand mixer, dissolve 2 TBSP of the sugar in the warm water. I just combine the two and whisk slightly to dissolve the sugar. Stir in yeast. Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam, about 5 minutes.
2. Add in remaining sugar, salt and oil. Begin to mix, using a rubber scraper or the dough hook on your stand mixer. 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. The dough should pull away and clean the bowl, sticking on the bottom in a small circle about the size of a quarter. If your dough does this with just 5 cups of flour, do not add more. 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.
3. Now knead dough for 7 minutes. Set a timer as a full knead is important! Place in a well oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise in a warm area until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
4. Punch dough down. Knead for 1 minute and divide dough in half. Shape into loaves and place into two greased 9×5 inch loaf pans. Allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until dough has risen 1 inch above pans.
5. Bake at 350° F (175° C) for 30-40 minutes. Cool, brush with butter and enjoy!

The Easiest Loaf of Bread You’ll Ever Bake

With just five everyday ingredients, simple instructions, and no advanced baking techniques, this recipe for European-style crusty bread is a great introduction to yeast baking. It truly is “the easiest loaf of bread you’ll ever bake” — thanks in large part to the high-protein of King Arthur Unbleached Bread Flour, which guarantees great texture and a high rise no matter how elementary a baker you may be!

Prep: 20min

Total: 2h10min

Yield: 32

Serving Size: 36g

Nutrition Facts: servingSize 36g, calories 80 calories, Carbohydrate 16g, Cholesterol 0mg, Fiber 1g, Protein 3g, Sodium 30mg, Sugar 0g, Fat 0g, Saturated Fat 0g0, Trans Fat 0g

Ingredients:

• 4 1/2 to 5 cups (540g to 600g) King Arthur Unbleached Bread Flour
• 1 tablespoon (11g) granulated sugar
• 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
• 2 1/2 teaspoons (15g) salt
• 1 2/3 cups (379g) water lukewarm (90°F to 110°F)
• yellow cornmeal for coating the pan

Instruction:

Weigh your flour; or measure it by gently spooning it into a cup, then sweeping off any excess., Stir together all of the ingredients (except the cornmeal) in a large bowl, starting with 4 1/2 cups of the flour. Use a sturdy spoon, or your stand mixer equipped with the beater paddle. Mix until everything comes together in a rough, shaggy mass of dough. , If you’re kneading the dough by hand, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, using some of the additional 1/2 cup of flour called for. Fold the far edge of the dough back over on itself towards you, then press it away from you with the heels of your hands. Rotate the dough 90°. Repeat this fold-press-rotate process with a rhythmic, rocking motion for about 6 minutes. When fully kneaded, the dough will be bouncy and smooth. , If you’re using your stand mixer, switch to the dough hook and knead the dough at medium speed for about 7 minutes, until it’s smooth, elastic, and feels a bit bouncy. If the dough doesn’t form a ball that clears the sides of the bowl, sprinkle in just enough of the additional flour to make this happen., Place the dough in a bowl that’s been lightly greased with vegetable oil or cooking spray; the bowl you started with is fine. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or another airtight cover, and let the dough rise at room temperature until it’s doubled in size, about 1 to 2 hours. If your kitchen is particularly cold (below 65°F), place the bowl of dough in your turned-off oven with the oven light on. , Gently deflate the dough and cut it in half. Pat each half into a rough 6” x 8” oval. , Working with one piece of dough at a time, grab a short side and fold the dough like a business letter (one short side into the center, the other short side over it). Use the heel of your hand to press the open edge of the “letter” closed. Gently pat and roll the dough into a log about 10” long. Repeat with the remaining piece of dough. , Place the loaves, seam-side down, on a baking sheet (lined with parchment if desired). Sprinkle the pan (or parchment) generously with cornmeal; this will keep the bread from sticking and give it a crunchy bottom crust., Let the loaves rise, lightly covered with greased plastic wrap, for 45 minutes. They should become nicely puffy. Gently poke your index finger into the side of one of the loaves; if the indentation remains, your bread is ready to bake. , Towards the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 450°F., For extra-crusty crust and a great rise, add steam to your oven as follows: While the oven is preheating, place an empty cast-iron frying pan on the lowest rack. Bring 1 cup of water to a boil in the microwave or on the stovetop., When your bread is risen, use a sieve to dust the loaves with a thin coat of flour. Then make three or four 1/2” deep diagonal slashes in each loaf; these slashes will help the bread rise evenly as it bakes. Place the bread in the oven and pour the boiling water into the frying pan below. Quickly shut the oven door. Wear good oven mitts during this process to shield your hands and arms from the steam. , Bake the bread for 20 to 25 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and a loaf sounds hollow to the touch when you tap it on the bottom. The interior temperature of the bread should register at least 190°F on a digital thermometer. , Turn the oven off, crack the door open, and allow the bread to remain inside for 5 additional minutes; this helps keep the crust crisp. Remove the bread from the oven and cool it on a rack. It’s best not to cut into the bread until it’s cooled down a bit; cutting into hot bread can negatively affect its texture. , Store the bread, well-wrapped, at room temperature for a couple of days. Freeze for longer storage.

Basic Homemade Bread

If you’d like to learn how to bake bread, here’s a wonderful place to start. This easy white bread bakes up deliciously golden brown. There’s nothing like the homemade aroma wafting through my kitchen as it bakes. —Sandra Anderson, New York, New York

Prep: 20min

Total: 50min

Yield: 2 loaves (16 pieces each).

Nutrition Facts: calories 102 calories, Fat 1g fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 222mg sodium, Carbohydrate 20g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 3g protein.

Ingredients:

• 1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
• 3 tablespoons plus 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 2-1/4 cups warm water (110° to 115°)
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 6-1/4 to 6-3/4 cups bread flour
• 2 tablespoons canola oil

Instruction:

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and 1/2 teaspoon sugar in warm water; let stand until bubbles form on surface. Whisk together remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, salt and 3 cups flour. Stir oil into yeast mixture; pour into flour mixture and beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 8-10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, 1-1/2 to 2 hours., Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide dough in half. Shape each into a loaf. Place in 2 greased 9×5-in. loaf pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, 1 to 1-1/2 hours., Bake at 375° until loaf is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped or has reached an internal temperature of 200°, 30-35 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

World’s Easiest Yeast Bread recipe – Artisan, NO KNEAD

Recipe video above. This super crusty homemade bread recipe is going to blow your mind! The world’s easiest yeast bread that’s just like the very best artisan bread you pay top dollar for, with an incredible crispy, chewy crust, and big fat holes like sourdough. Recipe is forgiving so don’t fret if things don’t go perfectly, it will be salvageable. SEE NOTES for options like no dutch oven, different yeast, MAKE AHEAD up to 3 days!

Prep: 5min

Yield: 10

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 155 kcal, Carbohydrate 32 g, Protein 5 g, Fat 1 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Sodium 469 mg, Fiber 2 g, Sugar 1 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 3 cups (450g) flour (, bread or plain/all purpose (Note 1))
• 2 tsp instant or rapid rise yeast ((Note 2 for normal / active dry yeast))
• 2 tsp cooking / kosher salt (, NOT table salt (Note 3))
• 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) very warm tap water (, NOT boiling or super hot (ie up to 55°C/130°F) (Note 4))
• 1 1/2 tbsp flour (, for dusting)

Instruction:

1. Mix Dough: Mix flour, yeast and salt in a large bowl. Add water, then use the handle of a wooden spoon to mix until all the flour is incorporated. Dough will be wet and sloppy – not kneadable, but not runny like cake batter. Adjust with more water or flour if needed for right consistency (see video at 17 sec, Note 5).
2. Rise: Cover with cling wrap or plate, leave on counter for 2 – 3 hours until it doubles in volume, it’s wobbly like jelly and the top is bubbly (see video at 24 seconds). If after 1 hour it doesn’t seem to be rising, move it somewhere warmer (Note 6).
3. Optional – refrigerate for flavour development (Note 9): At this stage, you can either bake immediately (move onto Step 5) or refrigerate for up to 3 days.
4. Take chill out of refrigerated dough – if you refrigerated dough per above, leave the bowl on the counter for 45 – 60 minutes while the oven is preheating. Cold dough does not rise as well.
5. Preheat oven (Note 7) – Put dutch oven in oven with lid on (26cm/10″ or larger). Preheat to 230°C/450°F (220° fan) 30 minutes prior to baking. (Note 8 for no dutch oven)
6. Shape dough: Sprinkle work surface with 1 tbsp flour, scrape dough out of bowl. Sprinkle top with 1/2 tbsp flour.
7. Using a dough scraper or anything of similar shape (cake server, large knife, spatula), fold the sides inwards (about 6 folds) to roughly form a roundish shape. Don’t be too meticulous here – you’re about to deform it, it’s more about deflating the bubbles in the dough and forming a shape you can move.
8. Transfer to paper: Slide a large piece of parchment/baking paper (not wax paper) next to the dough, then flip the dough upside down onto the paper (ie seam side down, smooth side up). Slide/push it towards the middle, then reshape it into a round(ish) shape. Don’t get too hung up about shape. In fact, lopsided = more ridges = more crunchy bits!
9. Dough in pot: Remove piping hot dutch oven from oven. Use paper to place dough into pot, place lid on.
10. Bake 30 minutes covered, then 12 minutes uncovered or until deep golden and crispy.
11. Cool on rack for 10 minutes before slicing.

The EASIEST Bread You’ll Ever Make (Beginner Bread Recipe)

FAQ

What are the 4 main ingredients in bread?

• Flour.
• Yeast.
• Salt.
• Water.

What are the 3 main ingredients of quick breads?

What are 3 examples of quick breads?

What are the 5 main ingredients in bread?

• flour.
• yeast.
• sugar.
• salt.
• oil.