Easy Bread recipe made with simple ingredients & detailed instructions showing how to make bread! Best homemade bread recipe for both beginners and expert bakers.
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Homemade Bread is one of my favorite foods of all time. Can you tell by the name of this site?! There really is nothing quite like a warm slice of fresh bread served with a thick pat of butter on top. Mmmmm! This recipe is perfect. It’s simple to follow, takes about 2 hours to make and yields 2 loaves of wonderful bread. It’s quite versatile too, so feel free to use part whole wheat flour if you’d like. Brush butter on top when it’s out of the oven and partially cooled and everyone will thank you.
Yes, you can make this recipe in a bread machine! Scroll down to see full Homemade Bread recipe and ingredients, with printable instructions for your bread machine.
I love to cook and I am a pretty confident baker, however, one thing I’ve struggled with is finding a really incredible bread recipe. I know- kind of funny being as there are a zillion out there and bread is one of those ‘basics” that almost anyone can make themselves. Nevertheless, I keep trying new recipes and have finally found one I really like and have gotten good results from! Even better- it’s easy and from start to finish it takes just over 2 hours!
Steps for most Bread Recipes
If you’ve never made bread before, here is the basic formula for making your own at home. My recipe below follows this perfectly. It’s so much easier and trust me, the scent of fresh bread baking will make everyone really, really excited for dinner!
Step 1: Assemble Bread Ingredients
You’ll need warm water, granulated sugar, instant OR active dry yeast, salt, vegetable or canola oil and flour. That’s it!
Step 2: Dissolve the yeast and activate it by Proofing
This is a simple process that takes about 5 minutes. You can see a picture below what yeast looks like when it’s proofed. It’s possible to kill yeast if you use too hot of water, so aim for slightly warmer than luke-warm, or about 105°F. Combine warm water, yeast and 1 TBSP of the granulated sugar in your mixing bowl. Give it a quick stir and then let it sit for 5 minutes. You’ll begin to see the yeast puff up until it covers the entire surface of the water.
Step 3: Add remaining ingredients and mix
Add the rest of the sugar, the oil, salt and flour (You can use all-purpose flour OR bread flour!), then mix using an electric mixer until it’s well combined, about 2 minutes. You can mix by hand but it will take longer.
Step 4: Knead the Bread
You might be thinking, “Wait! It’s already mixed!” Ha! Not so fast! Going through the process of kneading bread dough is crucial for bread with great texture. Kneading dough allows gluten to form which enables dough to rise better, be lighter and fluffier. you can knead by hand or with a mixer. I use the dough hook on my mixer and knead for 7 minutes. If you knead by hand, you’ll want to knead for 10-11 minutes, depending on how consistent you are.
Step 5: First Rise
Place your lovely smooth, elastic bread dough in an oiled bowl and cover it with plastic wrap or a clean towel. I think plastic wrap works better because it traps hot air inside and thus, my dough requires a shorter first rise. Be sure to spray the side of the plastic wrap that will touch the dough with oil!
If your house is cool, your bread will take longer to rise. In the wintertime when my house is cooler than normal, I like to turn the oven on for 2-3 minutes, then turn it off and let the bowl of dough rise in there. The oven traps the heat for a longtime and it’s the perfect atmosphere for rising dough.
Step 6: Punch Dough and Shape it
Punching the dough down quickly releases any air pockets that have developed and helps your bread have a more consistent rise and texture. Shape your dough by rolling it gently into a ball and rolling it 2 or 3 times on the countertop so that the ball is more oblong. I usually punch down and shape the dough quickly, then place in a greased bread pan.
Step 7: Second Rise
I like to do my second rise in a warm oven that’s not turned on. I turn the oven on just before I punch my dough down, then turn it off once I place the dough in the oven for the 2nd rise. It’s really only on for a minute or two, which is fine! The second rise will help shape your loaf of bread and takes about 30 minutes.
Step 8: Bake the Bread
You’re nearly there! Bread bakes for about 30-40 minutes. You know what I do to make sure my bread is perfectly cooked? I use a digital cooking thermometer! Fully cooked bread will be 190-200 degrees F. Bread recipes that include milk will need to cook until 200 degrees, but since this one doesn’t, I take it out once it reaches 190 degrees. The top will be golden brown.
My all-time favorite cooking thermometer is the Thermapen. It’s super fast and incredibly durable. Another great thermometer is the ThermoPop which is a more basic version that works just as well!
Step 9: Cool the Bread
Cool baked bread in the pan for 10-15 minutes, then overturn pan and turn loaf out onto a cooling rack or folded towel to finish cooling. If you leave the bread in the pan for much longer than that, you’ll steam it, which may cause some parts of your loaf to go soggy. No one likes soggy bread!
Instant or Active Dry Yeast for Making Bread
If you use instant yeast, you can add it directly to your other dry ingredients when making bread. If you use active dry yeast, you’ll need to first dissolve it in warm water before using it in a recipe. For the sake of ease, I just always buy instant yeast. BUT, this recipe works for both!
Which bread pan is the best?
I bake a lot of bread and the pans I prefer are either aluminized steel or ceramic. Both types of pans will bake bread more evenly and release the bread more easily after baking. I’ve used glass pans in the past and it seems like my bread sinks too often when using them, so I stopped. I also don’t like using dark or nonstick pans because the bread cooks unevenly. It darkens on the outside before the bread is cooked on the inside, so it’s easier to burn.
How to Make Bread
If you’ve never baked homemade bread before, here are a few tips:
Remember to fully knead
The recipe below kneads for 7 minutes and it’s worth it! Kneading dough helps to develop the flavor and texture of the bread, so don’t skimp on kneading time.
Weather can affect your ingredients
If you live in a moist climate, chances are you’ll need at least the recommended amount of flour, maybe even 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup more. Bread dough should be sticky, but still manageable, especially after the first rise. While you’re kneading, the dough should come together and pull away from the sides of the bowl, leaving the bowl mostly clean. I usually aim to have the very bottom of the dough still attached to the bowl. Try not to add too much flour because your bread will be more dense. When you pick the dough up, some will stick to your fingers. After the first rise, it will be easier to handle!
Temperature affects how long your bread takes to rise
If your house is cool, your bread will take longer to rise. In the wintertime when my house is cooler than normal, I like to turn the oven on for 2-3 minutes, then turn it off and let the bowl of dough rise in there. The oven traps the heat for a longtime and it’s the perfect atmosphere for rising dough.
Don’t overwork the dough
Try not to go crazy kneading your bread after the first rise. I usually knead and shape my dough in about 1 minute, then it’s back in the pan to rest, for the 2nd rise. I like to have the pan rise in the oven for this second rise so that I don’t have to worry about moving risen dough. When it’s fully risen, I just turn the oven on and set the timer to bake!
How can you tell if bread is fully baked?
I like to use a food thermometer. Mine is digital, so it’s very easy to use. Fully cooked bread will be 190-200 degrees F. Bread recipes that include milk will need to cook until 200 degrees, but since this one doesn’t, I take it out once it reaches 190 degrees. The top will be golden brown.
How to Store Homemade Bread
You’ll want to store leftover bread in an airtight container. I bought bread bags off Amazon and LOVE them!
Easy Homemade Bread Recipe
This is the recipe you should follow for making homemade bread in the oven:
- 2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 5-6 cups flour –You can use all-purpose flour OR bread flour!
- In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in warm water and then stir in yeast. Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam, about 5 minutes.
- Mix salt and oil into the yeast. Mix in flour one cup at a time.
- Knead dough for 7 minutes. Place in a well oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
- Punch dough down. Knead for 1 minute and divide in half. Shape into loaves and place into two greased 9×5 inch loaf pans. Allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until dough has risen 1 inch above pans.
- Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30-40 minutes.
- Cool, brush with butter and enjoy!
AVOID SUNKEN BREAD
The easiest and best way to avoid sunken bread is to use a cooking thermometer to check the inside of the loaf. Fully cooked bread will register 200°F on a thermometer. My all-time favorite thermometer is the Thermapen. It’s super fast and incredibly durable. Another great cooking thermometer is the ThermoPop which is a more basic version that works just as well!
EASY HOMEMADE BREAD RECIPE
Ingredients
- 2 cups warm water 110 degrees F/45 degrees C
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 5-6 cups flour You can use all-purpose flour OR bread flour!
Instructions
- In a large bowl, dissolve the 1 TBSP of the sugar in warm water and then stir in yeast. Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam, about 5 minutes.
- Mix remaining sugar, salt and oil into the yeast. Mix in flour one cup at a time. Dough should be tacky and clean the sides of the bowl save for a small part at the bottom. Too much flour added in yields a dry loaf of bread, so if you're worried you added too much, add a bit more hot water, until you get the correct consistency.
- Knead dough for 7 minutes. Place in a well oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
- Punch dough down. Knead for 1 minute and divide in half. Shape into loaves and place into two greased 9x5 inch loaf pans. Allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until dough has risen 1 inch above pans.
- Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30-40 minutes. Cool, brush with butter and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
I’ve found this recipe works really well in a bread machine! I just had the halve the ingredients so it would fit. You can see and print out the recipe below.
Loaf of Bread in a Bread Machine
- 1 cup warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 2 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
- 3/4 teaspoons salt
- 2 TBSP vegetable oil
- 3 cups flour –You can use all-purpose flour OR bread flour!
- Add the ingredients to the bread pan of your machine in the following order: water, oil, flour, sugar and salt. Make a small well in the dry ingredients and add yeast.
- Place bread pan in machine. Close lid and set bread machine to bake a loaf of basic white bread.
- Let bread cool when bread machine has completed the full cycle. (Mine takes 3.5 hours.) Remove from machine & pan. Brush with butter and enjoy!
Easy Bread Recipe for a Bread Machine
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water 110 degrees F/45 degrees C
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 2 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
- 3/4 teaspoons salt
- 2 TBSP vegetable oil
- 3 cups flour all purpose OR bread flour!
Instructions
- Add the ingredients to the bread pan of your machine in the following order: water, oil, flour, sugar and salt. Make a small well in the dry ingredients and add yeast.
- Place bread pan in machine. Close lid and set bread machine to bake a loaf of basic white bread.
- Let bread cool when bread machine has completed the full cycle. (Mine takes 3.5 hours.) Remove from machine & pan. Brush with butter and enjoy!
Nutrition
**Note: In the pics above, I was only making 1 loaf in the oven. The full recipe yields 2 loaves, so plan accordingly!
Enjoy this bread recipe? Here are even more recipes for homemade bread to try:
Yeast Bread Recipes:
- Homemade Buttermilk Bread recipe
- Homemade Hawaiian Bread
- Honey Oat Bread recipe
- Cinnamon Raisin Bread
- Parmesan Garlic Dinner Rolls
- Fabulous French Bread
- Sweet Orange Dinner Rolls
- Homemade Hawaiian Bread
- Easy Homemade Cheesy Breadsticks
- Tomato Parmesan Flatbread
- Potato Bread Recipe
- Soft Cornmeal Dinner Rolls
- Honey Wheat Bread
- Soft White Sandwich Bread
Quick Bread Recipes:
- Best Zucchini Bread
- Pineapple Bread
- Sweet Coconut Bread
- Easy Banana Bread
- Caramel Banana Nut Bread
- Best Pumpkin Bread
Easy Bread recipe made with simple ingredients & detailed instructions showing how to make bread! Best homemade bread recipe for both beginners and expert bakers.
Rick says
I made the recipe (just 1 loaf) early last evening and realized that I didn’t have enough time to bake it. After some quick research, I put the dough in an airtight container and set it in the refrigerator. It still rose overnight. This morning I set the bowl inside my warm oven and brought the dough to room temperature. I quickly punched down the dough, shaped it into loaf size, and allowed it to rise a second time. I baked it according to the recipe directions. After baking the bread,, I brushed
it with butter. The bread is so good! Thanks for a great recipe!
Nicole says
Yay! So glad you liked it!
Brandie says
Just discovered your recipe and plan to make it today. Had a quick question…have you froze raw dough loafs after the first rise? I would like to make several dough loafs to keep in the freezer and pull out when needed. Not sure what the best method would be to thaw them first before letting them 2nd rise in the loaf pan before baking. Also, would this dough work well for rolls as too?
Nicole says
Yes you can freeze the dough after the first rise, I recommend doing it in the baking pans, at least until the dough is solid then you can transfer it to an airtight container. Later when you want to pull it out and thaw the dough, it will already fit nicely in the baking pan. This dough can be divided into rolls if desired, just bake them in an 8×8 or similar sized pan.
Pam says
I was all prepared to bake this today but as I got to the bottom of the actual recipe it says “yields 2 loaves of bread”. Is this correct?? I only have one bread pan!
Nicole says
2 loaves of bread, yes, but you can turn one loaf into dinner rolls or even cinnamon rolls by just rolling it out and spreading the filling on top. Or right before the second rise, divide the dough in half and place it in the fridge in a covered bowl and after your current loaf bakes you can swap out the pan and bake the other one or continue to let it slow rise overnight in the loaf pan.
Simon says
As I was making it I thought 1/2 a cup of sugar seemed like a ton, and it is. Bread out wayyyy too sweet.
Samantha says
Best bread recipe ever! Its really tasty and warm!
Nicole says
Thanks!
Pat says
I don’t have sugar in my house. Can I substitute it with honey?
My daughter swears she needs to use butter vs oil? I used to make bread decades ago and don’t remember using butter
Nicole says
If you use honey you shouldnt need too much but be warned it will change the flavor a bit depending on which honeys you use (raw and unfiltered/ vs processed). oil can be used in place of butter but butter adds a little extra richness to the dough that really tastes incredible
Jasmine Roberts says
So I have never made bread before, so I was super nervous about making my first loaf! But this recipe was so easy to follow! I just did exactly what it said to do and it turned out amazing, the bread was so soft on the inside with a little crispness on the outside. I don’t have a kitchen aid but I just used my hand mixer. It was kinda hard to do so I might invest in a stand mixer since I know I’ll be making this again!
Nicole says
Yay that’s so awesome to hear!
Tim says
I’ve tried other online bread recipes with very limited success and this one came out perfect. Simple with just a few ingredients. I made dinner rolls and hamburger buns from the recipe and they were a big hit. Will be a regular thing in the winter when I do most of my baking. Thanks.
Nicole says
that sounds great!
Stacey says
Bread is tasty, but it won’t rise even when I leave it out way longer than the recipe says to. Feels very compacted when cooked lol.
Nicole says
This could be a result of under-kneaded dough or dead yeast. Next time make sure your water is 110F and that the dough is kneaded until elastic meaning that you can poke it with your finger and it springs back almost instantly
Rob says
Way too sweet. Maybe warn people outside the US to use only 1/4 of the amount of sugar. Otherwise great load!
Nicole says
The sugar content is adjustable 🙂
Uchenna says
I just found your recipe today and tried it out. Mixed for and baked one loaf…it’s already half way gone!
Thank you for such delicious and easy recipe 🙏🏽
Nicole says
Wahoo! That sounds awesome!
Barbara Hamilton says
Hello
Like Jasmine I have NEVERR mad bread , even though I grew up eating every home made stuff, carribean
This bread is awesome, I love it so much I make bake more often
I don’t have to work those arms like mom did
Thanks
Barbara
Nicole says
🙂 We’re glad you enjoyed this recipe
Kevin Kelley says
Quick question regarding instant vs active yeast. If using instant, do I still need the warm water for the recipe? Also I read that you should decrease the amount of instant yeast. Is that the case for your recipe or does it work with the same amount with either type?
Nicole says
You should use warm water as directed (110degrees F) because it adds moisture to the bread and helps the yeast to grow and develop. The type of yeast doesn’t matter as much as making sure that you do everything as requested.
Valerie says
I love this recipe! What would be the measurements if I want to use whole wheat flour? Thanks!!
Nicole says
If you plan to use whole wheat flour I would start by only swapping out half of the ap flour for whole wheat..