Homemade Bread
This homemade bread recipe yields a soft, golden loaf with a crisp crust, perfect for sandwiches or enjoying fresh with butter.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (8 servings)
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast
- 1 1/4 cups warm water (110°F/45°C)
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- In a small bowl, dissolve sugar in warm water and sprinkle yeast over. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and salt. Make a well in the center.
- Pour yeast mixture and olive oil into the well. Stir until a dough forms.
- Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes until elastic and smooth.
- Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp cloth, and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
- Punch down dough, shape into a loaf, and place in a greased loaf pan.
- Cover and let rise another 30-45 minutes until doubled.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake bread for 30-35 minutes until golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.
- Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack before slicing.
Notes
For extra flavor, try adding 1 tbsp of dried herbs like rosemary or thyme to the dough before kneading.