Description
A simple and easy homemade bread recipe that yields a soft and tender loaf, perfect for sandwiches or toast. Made with basic pantry ingredients and requires no special equipment, this bread is ideal for beginners and seasoned bakers alike.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 1/4 cups warm water (about 110°F)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (plus more for greasing)
Instructions
- Activate yeast: In a large bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy to activate the yeast.
- Form dough: Add olive oil, salt, and 2 cups of flour to the yeast mixture. Stir until combined, then gradually add the remaining flour until a soft dough forms.
- Knead dough: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- First rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Shape loaf: Punch down the dough to release air, then shape it into a loaf. Place it in a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan.
- Second rise: Cover the loaf and let it rise again for 30–40 minutes until puffy.
- Bake bread: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the bread for 25–30 minutes, or until golden brown and it sounds hollow when tapped.
- Cool: Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool on a wire rack before slicing.
Notes
- For a softer crust, brush the top with melted butter right after baking.
- Feel free to mix in herbs, cheese, or whole grains to customize this basic loaf.
