This classic homemade bread recipe is perfect for beginners and seasoned bakers alike. With just a few simple ingredients, you can create a warm, crusty loaf that fills your home with a delightful aroma.
The recipe is straightforward and requires basic baking techniques. You can customize it by adding herbs, seeds, or other flavors to suit your taste.
The Allure of Homemade Bread
There’s something special about the aroma of freshly baked bread wafting through the kitchen.
This classic homemade bread, with its golden brown crust and soft interior, creates a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Whether it’s for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, a homemade loaf can elevate any meal.
Ingredients That Matter
Creating this delightful bread requires just a handful of simple ingredients.
All-purpose flour, salt, sugar, instant yeast, warm water, and optionally, olive oil come together to form the base of this recipe.
Each ingredient plays a vital role in achieving that perfect texture and flavor.
The Baking Process
Baking bread is a rewarding experience that involves a few key steps.
Start by mixing the dry ingredients, then add the warm water and olive oil to create a shaggy dough.
Kneading the dough is essential; it develops gluten, which gives the bread its structure and chewiness.
Rising to the Occasion
Allowing the dough to rise is a crucial part of the process.
The first rise, lasting about 1 to 1.5 hours, lets the dough double in size, creating air pockets that contribute to its fluffy texture.
After shaping the loaf, a second rise of 30-45 minutes ensures that the bread is light and airy.
Baking to Perfection
Once the dough has risen, it’s time to bake.
Preheating the oven to 375°F (190°C) ensures an even bake, resulting in a beautifully golden crust.
The bread typically takes 25-30 minutes to bake, and knowing it’s done is easy; it should sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
Enjoying the Fruits of Your Labor
After baking, let the bread cool on a wire rack before slicing.
This step is crucial for achieving the best texture.
Once cooled, you can enjoy the soft, fluffy interior spread with butter or your favorite toppings, making every bite a comforting experience.
Easy Homemade Bread Recipe
This homemade bread features a soft interior and a crispy crust. The recipe takes about 3 hours from start to finish, including rising time, and yields one large loaf.
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons instant yeast
- 1 and 1/2 cups warm water (about 110°F or 43°C)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (optional)
Instructions
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, sugar, and instant yeast.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Pour in the warm water and olive oil. Mix until a shaggy dough forms.
- Knead the Dough: Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 to 1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.
- Shape the Loaf: Punch down the risen dough, turn it out onto a floured surface, and shape it into a loaf.
- Second Rise: Place the shaped loaf in a greased loaf pan, cover, and let it rise for another 30-45 minutes.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Bake: Bake the bread for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- Cool: Remove the bread from the pan and let it cool on a wire rack before slicing.
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours
- Servings: 12 slices
- Calories: 120kcal
- Fat: 1.5g
- Protein: 4g
- Carbohydrates: 24g