Easy Homemade Bread

There’s nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked bread filling your kitchen. Making easy homemade bread at home might seem intimidating, but this recipe breaks it down into simple, easy-to-follow steps. With just a few pantry staples, you can bake a soft, fluffy loaf that’s perfect for sandwiches, toast, or enjoying warm with butter.

Easy Homemade Bread

To begin, combine the warm water, sugar, and yeast in a large bowl. Let the mixture sit for 5–10 minutes until it becomes foamy—this tells you your yeast is active. Next, add the oil, salt, and about two cups of flour. Stir until well combined, and then gradually add the remaining flour until a soft dough forms.

Once the dough comes together, transfer it to a floured surface and knead for 8–10 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. After that, place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a towel, and allow it to rise in a warm place for about an hour or until doubled in size. Then, punch down the dough, shape it into a loaf, and place it into a greased 9×5-inch pan. At this point, let it rise again for 30–45 minutes, until the dough has slightly risen above the pan. Finally, bake your bread in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 25–30 minutes, or until golden brown. Once finished, remove the loaf from the pan and let it cool on a wire rack before slicing.

What Does Lactose Free Mean?

First and foremost, I try my best to incorporate lactose free ingredients in all my recipes. These ingredients can include, butter, milk, cream cheese etc. With that being said, sometimes it is hard to make an entire recipe using ALL lactose free ingredients. For example, my ice cream recipes include, condensed milk- NOT LACTOSE FREE.

Contrary to what some may believe, lactose – free is not the same as dairy free. Lactose – free still contains milk, however, there is a certain component, I believe a type of sugar (I may be wrong) where the lactose is removed from dairy, making it lactose – free. Dairy free on the other hand, contains ZERO milk. Alternatives for dairy free are almond milk, oat milk, soy milk etc. You can learn more about the differences here.

Why You Will Love This Recipe:

• This homemade bread recipe only includes six simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry.
• This homemade bread recipe is easy to put together.
• This homemade bread recipe will have your home smelling like a bakery.
• This homemade bread recipe is better and cheaper than store-bought bread.

Equipment Needed:

Stand Mixer: With a dough hook to make mixing the dough easy.

Loaf Pan: To bake your bread in.

Large Bowl: For your dough to rise in.

Measuring Spoons and Cup: To measure your ingredients.

Saran Wrap or Parchment Paper: For covering the dough.

Kitchen Towel: To cover the dough while rising.

Recipe At A Glance:

Flour: You will need three and a half cups of all purpose flour.

Salt: You will need two tsp of salt for taste.

Sugar: You will need two tbsp of sugar. This will help to activate the yeast.

Yeast: You will need 2 and 1/4 teaspoon of active dry yeast to allow the bread to rise.

Oil: You will need two tbsp of vegetable oil.

Water: You will need one and 1/4 cups of warm water for the yeast.

Step By Step Instructions:

Step One: Activate the Yeast

Using the stand mixer bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for about 5–10 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy. This step ensures your yeast is alive and ready to work.

If after ten minutes the yeast does not foam,  you will need to buy new yeast and start over.

Step Two: Make the Dough

Add oil, salt, and 2 cups of flour to the yeast mixture. Stir until combined, then gradually add the remaining flour until soft dough forms.

You want the dough to be slightly sticky but also smooth.

Step Three: Knead the Dough

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 8–10 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. (You can also use a stand mixer with a dough hook which is what I did)

Allow the dough to rise for two hours.

Step Four: Shape the Loaf

After two hours, punch down the dough to release air bubbles. Shape it into a loaf and place it in a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan.

Step Five: Second Rise

Cover and let rise again for 30–45 minutes, until the dough has risen slightly above the pan

Step Six: Bake

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the bread for 25–30 minutes, or until golden brown on top and it sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

Step Seven: Cool and Slice

Remove the bread from the pan and let it cool on a wire rack before slicing.

Tips For Homemade Bread:

1. PATIENTS is what will help you bake the best homemade bread.
2. Allow the yeast to sit and foam for at least 5-10 minutes before you add flour.
3. Allow the dough to rise for a total of three hours before baking.
4. Melt a small amount of butter and spread a small layer over top the dough before adding to the oven. This will help brown the top of your homemade bread.
5. Cut the baked bread from the center rather than from the outside to avoid dryness.
6. Don’t use scalding hot water for the yeast. You want to aim for warm water.
7. Brush the top with melted butter for a softer crust.

Storing Homemade Bread:

There are a few ways to store homemade baked bread. I store my homemade bread in an airtight container with plastic saran wrap. You can also use a bread box, brown bag or cloth bag.

Homemade baked bread can last up to three days.

If you’re interested in baking more than one loaf of this homemade bread and freezing it, I have news for you, YOU CAN!

Just tightly wrap the entire loaf in saran wrap and freeze for up to six months.

I do recommend slicing the bread before freezing that way you just thaw what you need when needed.

Enjoy!

Thank you!

If you enjoyed my Easy Homemade Bread recipe have a look at my Blueberry Banana Bread recipe or my Cream Cheese Banana Bread.

Thank you for reading my post today! Comment below if you have any questions or if you’ve tried my Easy Homemade Bread recipe

Hopefully baking brings you joy and happiness as it does for me and my family!

Keep Baking on Thyme,

Jas.

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