Description
Homemade Bread is a simple and delicious recipe for fresh bread made with basic ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups warm water (105–115°F / 474 g)
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup honey or sugar (85 g honey or 50 g sugar)
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons oil (canola or vegetable, 30 ml)
- 4–5 1/2 cups all-purpose or bread flour (500–688 g)
Instructions
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine yeast, warm water, and a pinch of sugar/honey. Let rest 5–10 minutes until foamy.
- Add remaining sugar/honey, salt, oil, and 3 cups of flour. Mix to combine.
- Add another cup of flour and mix. Gradually add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until dough is smooth, elastic, and slightly sticky to touch.
- Mix on medium speed for 4–5 minutes or knead by hand 5–8 minutes on lightly floured surface.
- Grease a large bowl and place dough inside, turning to coat. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 ½ hours.
- Spray two 9×5-inch bread pans with cooking spray. Punch down dough to remove air bubbles. Divide into two portions and shape into long logs. Place in prepared pans.
- Cover pans lightly and allow dough to rise 45–60 minutes, or until dough rises ~1 inch above pans.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake 30–33 minutes, until golden brown. Tap top of loaf; it should sound hollow.
- Invert loaves onto a wire rack. Brush tops with butter. Cool at least 10 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- Flour: Bread flour = chewier loaf. Whole wheat requires a different recipe.
- Yeast: Instant/Rapid Rise yeast can skip proofing; rise times will be faster.
- Quick-rise tip: Use warm (180°F) oven, turned off, with slightly cracked door to speed first rise.
- Make-ahead: Complete steps 1–4, refrigerate dough up to 1 day before first rise.
- Freezing: Dough can be frozen before second rise up to 3 months; thaw, rise, then bake. Baked bread can be frozen up to 3 months. Thaw before slicing.
- Bread machine: Reduce recipe by half for 1 loaf if needed.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 33 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 202
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 196 mg
- Fat: 2 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 41 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
Keywords: Homemade Bread, Bread Recipe, Baking Bread