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Easy Homemade Bread Recipe – Perfect for Beginners Recipe

Easy Homemade Bread Recipe – Perfect for Beginners Recipe

5.1 from 26 reviews

This Easy Homemade Bread recipe is perfect for beginners looking to bake a delicious and fresh loaf from scratch. With simple ingredients like strong white bread flour, fast-action yeast, and olive oil, this recipe guides you through making a soft, golden crusted bread with a tender crumb. Ideal for sandwiches, toasting, or serving alongside your favorite meals, this homemade bread is a versatile and healthy option that you can customize to your taste.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 500g strong white bread flour
  • 7g sachet of fast-action yeast
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon sugar

Wet Ingredients

  • 300ml lukewarm water
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

  1. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the flour, fast-action yeast, salt, and sugar, ensuring they are well mixed.
  2. Add Wet Ingredients: Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the lukewarm water and olive oil. Stir to combine into a dough.
  3. Knead the Dough: Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead vigorously for about 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic, developing gluten for structure.
  4. First Rise: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and allow it to rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.
  5. Preheat Oven: While the dough is rising, preheat your oven to 220°C (428°F).
  6. Shape and Second Rise: Punch down the risen dough to release air, shape it into a loaf and place on a baking tray. Cover with a cloth and let it rise again for 30 minutes.
  7. Bake: Bake the loaf in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
  8. Cool: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack before slicing to prevent gumminess.

Notes

  • Ensure your yeast is fresh by testing it in warm water with sugar before use.
  • Kneading by hand requires about 10 minutes; using a stand mixer with a dough hook reduces this to 5 minutes.
  • For a softer crust, brush the loaf with melted butter after baking.
  • Experiment with adding herbs, cheese, or nuts to customize flavor.
  • Allow the bread to cool fully before slicing to maintain texture.
  • You can substitute whole wheat flour but adjust water content as whole wheat absorbs more liquid.
  • Freeze cooled bread tightly wrapped for up to three months.

Nutrition

Keywords: homemade bread, easy bread recipe, beginner bread recipe, simple bread, white bread, baking bread at home, olive oil bread