
The Best Basic Bread
This really is The Best Basic Bread and one of my favorite recipes. It's simple, it's soft, and it tastes amazing! I love making my own bread for my family because I know exactly the ingredients that are going into it, it's frugal, and it can be transformed into so many different things! Everyone should definitely be making their own breads!
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Servings: 2 loaves
Calories: 1558kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 packet active dry yeast (about 2 1/4 teaspoons)
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 cups warm water (tips below for proper temperature)
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 5-6 1/2 cups all purpose flour
Instructions
- You don't have to have a stand mixer with a dough hook to make this bread, but that's the way I make it. It will still work if making by hand! If making by hand use a large bowl, if using a stand mixer, use your bowl for the mixer. Place your active dry yeast, 1/4 teaspoon of sugar, and warm water into your bowl. WARM WATER TIP: If the water is too hot for the tip of your finger, it's too hot for the yeast. I let my water run for a few seconds to get hot. I feel it with my finger, and if I can't hold my finger in the water for at least 10 seconds without it being too hot, then I make it slightly cooler. When you can withstand the heat from the water for at least 10 seconds, that's a great temperature for the yeast.
- When your yeast is foamy (this will take about 5 minutes) it's time to add more ingredients.
- Add the salt, vegetable oil, and granulated sugar to your yeast mixture.
- Add 4 cups of your all purpose flour and stir with a large spoon to combine.
- If using your stand mixer: place your bowl into your stand and attach your dough hook.
- Turn your mixer on low and slowly start adding more flour 1/2 cup at a time. I use in total about 6 1/4 cups on average (so I add 2 1/4 cups once it's on the mixer).
- Once the dough starts to clean the bottom of the bowl, you've added enough flour. This will take approximately 3-5 minutes.
- If using your hands: Add 1 cup of flour and start to mix into the dough. Turn the dough out onto your counter or board and begin kneading. Add 1/2 cup of flour at a time until it is no longer extremely sticky and forms a ball. This will take approximately 6-8 minutes of kneading.
- With a paper towel, rub oil into a new large clean bowl.
- Place your dough into the clean, oiled bowl.
- There may be a bit of dough stuck in the bowl and that's okay.
- Cover with plastic wrap or a towel and let sit for approximately 1- 1 1/2 hours or until it's doubled in size. The temperature and humidity of your home will affect how long this takes. The colder it is, the longer it will take.
- Once your dough has doubled in size, punch it down in the middle.
- Take one half of the dough and place it onto a lightly floured surface.
- Lightly spray or rub your bread pans with oil.
- Roll the dough into a rectangle that is roughly the width of your bread pan.
- Roll the rectangle up from short end (width).
- Place into your prepared bread pan.
- Repeat this process with your other half of your dough.
- Again, cover your bread pans with plastic wrap or a towel.
- Let it sit again for about 1- 1 1/2 hours until doubled in size.
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.
- Once preheated, place your risen bread into the oven and bake for 30-36 minutes.
- How to tell if it's done: lightly tap on the top of your loaf, and if it sounds hollow, it's done!
- Remove from the oven. Remove both loaves from the pans and let cool on a cooling rack.
- Once cooled, slice and enjoy!
- The nutrition facts are per loaf of bread.
Notes
Nutrition
Calories: 1558kcal | Carbohydrates: 306g | Protein: 39g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Sodium: 3512mg | Potassium: 423mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 17mg
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