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Freshly baked homemade bread on a wooden table.

Homemade Bread

A simple and quick recipe for homemade bread that requires minimal ingredients and effort, perfect for busy lives.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 120

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour Plus a little extra for dusting
  • 1 packet instant yeast 2 ¼ tsp
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 ½ cups warm water About 110°F
  • 1 tbsp sugar Helps the bread rise

Method
 

Preparation
  1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, yeast, salt, and sugar. Stir them together until well mixed.
  2. Gradually pour in the warm water, stirring with a wooden spoon until a shaggy dough forms. It should be sticky but manageable.
  3. Flour a clean surface and turn the dough out. Knead it for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
  4. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm spot for about 1-2 hours or until doubled in size.
  5. Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a floured surface. Shape it into a loaf and place in a greased loaf pan. Cover and let rise for another 30-45 minutes.
Baking
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F. Bake the loaf for 30-35 minutes until golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.
  2. Let it cool in the pan for a few minutes, then turn it out onto a wire rack and allow to cool before slicing.

Notes

Use warm water to activate the yeast, cover the dough with a towel to keep it warm, and feel free to experiment with add-ins like herbs, cheese, or nuts.