Description
This Simple Homemade Bread recipe yields a soft, flavorful loaf that’s perfect for beginners. Made with basic pantry ingredients like flour, yeast, and olive oil, it features a tender crumb and a golden crust. The process involves mixing, kneading, rising, and baking to create a classic loaf ideal for sandwiches or toast.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups warm water (about 110°F)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (plus extra for greasing)
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a large mixing bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and active dry yeast. Let the mixture sit for 5–10 minutes until it becomes foamy, indicating that the yeast is activated.
- Make Dough: Stir in olive oil into the yeast mixture, then gradually add the salt and flour while mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Knead Dough: Transfer the dough onto a floured surface and knead it for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic, enhancing gluten development for a good texture.
- First Rise: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover it with a towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
- Shape and Second Rise: Punch down the risen dough and shape it into a loaf. Place it into a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan, cover, and let it rise for another 30–40 minutes until it becomes puffy.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) so it’s ready for baking.
- Bake: Bake the loaf for 30–35 minutes until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.
- Cool: Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- For a softer crust, brush the top of the bread with melted butter after baking.
- This dough can be shaped into rolls or a round loaf instead of a loaf pan shape.
- Store the bread in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze it for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus 1 hour 30 minutes rising time)
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
