Basic Homemade Bread

Name: Basic Homemade Bread
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Yield: 2 loaves (16 slices each).
Cuisine: Comfort Food Bread Recipes, Comfort Food Recipes, Comfort Food Vegetarian Recipes
Ingredients: 1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast; 2-1/4 cups warm water (110° to 115°); 3 tablespoons sugar plus 1/2 teaspoon sugar; 1 tablespoon salt; 2 tablespoons canola oil; 6-1/4 to 6-3/4 cups bread flour

If you'd like to learn how to bake bread, here's a wonderful place to start. This easy white bread recipe bakes up deliciously golden brown. There's nothing like the homemade aroma wafting through my kitchen as it bakes. —Sandra Anderson, New York, New York

Featured In

Our Most Popular Recipes in June

Next Recipe

Ingredients

1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
2-1/4 cups warm water (110° to 115°)
3 tablespoons sugar plus 1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons canola oil
6-1/4 to 6-3/4 cups bread flour

Directions

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and 1/2 teaspoon sugar in warm water; let stand until bubbles form on surface. Whisk together remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, salt, and 3 cups flour. Stir oil into yeast mixture; pour into flour mixture and beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, to form a soft dough.
Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 8-10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, 1-1/2 to 2 hours.
Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide dough in half. Shape each into a loaf. Place in 2 greased 9x5-in. loaf pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, 1 to 1-1/2 hours.
Bake at 375° until golden brown and bread sounds hollow when tapped or has reached an internal temperature of 200°, 30-35 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

Love Baking? Join Bakeable, Taste of Home's community dedicated to the joy of baking. Subscribe to the Bakeable newsletter and join the Facebook group where you’ll find recipes, tips and monthly challenges.

Homemade Bread Tips

How Do You Use Yeast?

Yeast can be tricky at first, but once you learn how to proof yeast, you should be all set. The trick is to make sure the water is not too hot. Don't go higher than about 110 degrees.

How Do You Knead Bread?

Kneading bread is simple. Flour your worktop, then push, pull and stretch the dough until it's nice and smooth. When it's properly kneaded, the dough should be stretchy and smooth.

How Do You Proof Bread

Proofing bread allows the yeast to do its work to help the dough grow. To proof bread, place the bread in a greased bowl and let rest in a warm, humid environment until it doubles in size. If you're having trouble getting the dough to proof, use these proofing tricks.

How Do You Store Homemade Bread?

You can store homemade bread in a plastic bag or a bread box for maximum freshness. If you don't think you can finish it in a few days' time, you can also freeze bread. Just wrap it up in plastic and pop in the freezer. It'll keep for a few months. If your bread has gone a bit stale, you can always use it to make homemade croutons, French toast or bread pudding.

Nutrition Facts

1 slice: 102 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 222mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.

Reviews

Click stars to rate

Average Rating:

Janet

Nov 21, 2017

Can I safely halve this recipe (particularly the yeast)? There's just me and my beloved that I'm baking for so I don't want two loaves (yet).
Josie

Nov 21, 2017

Thanks
janis570

Nov 21, 2017

is this right on the salt 1 tablespoon salt seems like a lot
Frédéric-Bastien

Nov 17, 2017

Didn't think I would get it right, but somehow I did. Then I started doing twice the recipe and ended up with substituting some flour with wheat bran and try different shapes. I ended up with baguettes, subs, bread and buns. All in one cooking session. Even tried some maple & cinnamon bread which ended up great!
Heavens_IL

Oct 31, 2017

I usually fail miserably at anything connected with yeast but I made 2 successful loaves with this recipe. I took the advice of previous reviewers and mixed the water, sugar and yeast and let it stand to proof it. I also looked up other tips online like "How to tell when bread is risen enough (not just "doubled")" "How to tell when bread is ready to bake" "How to tell when bread is thoroughly baked". With those tips I produced 2 nice loaves. The only thing I would have liked is a finer texture. I've only been able to produce that in the past using the sponge method. I will use this recipe again.
Craig

Oct 30, 2017

Steph, try using warmer water - 120 to125 degrees. Air humidity and temperature are most important. Your DIL.
Katie

Oct 22, 2017

OMG first time I ever baked bread, this recipe is the best. first time And easy to follow Instructions will make it more of it. And tasty nice and fluffy
Janet

Oct 15, 2017

I love how easy it is to follow. Too bad I didn't follow it:( I forgot to put the oil in. Didn't even clue in until I was reviewing cook times! We shall see. I will re-review once I've tried it.
Adrienne

Oct 12, 2017

I've been making this bread for the last 6 years and my family LOVES it! This bread is easy to make and tastes wonderful too. This bread is a staple in our home!
robert

Sep 28, 2017

Great easy recipe and a first time bread maker like me can make. Great tasting bread and so easy to make