Who doesn’t love the smell of fresh baked bread. This simple recipe is good to learn how to bake a basic bread. This recipe is a combination of recipes and techniques that I used to eventually come up with this simple and fool proof basic white bread. The recipes gives you a foundation that you can build on later by adding other things like spices or herbs or experiment with mixing different flours. It’s great for sandwiches or to use for French Toast.
Your Ingredients:
-2 cups (227 grams) white wheat flour
-1 TBSP. (15 ml)sugar
-1 tsp. (5 ml) salt
-1 TBSP. (15 ml) butter or vegetable shortening, soft at room temperature
-1 egg
-3/4 cups (175 ml) warm water or milk, your choice or use a mixture of half water and half milk
-1 small packet of active yeast
-1 bread pan, or cookie sheet
2. In a separate large bowl combine the the flour and salt combine, then make a well in the center of the bowl and add the egg and soft butter and slowly add the yeast and water/milk mixture. With your hands start combining all the ingredients, keep kneading the dough until it forms a smooth texture. , *see photo below*
3. Continue kneading for a total of about 10 minutes, you will feel the air starting to build in the dough. Next prepare the dough pan or cookie sheet by either using parchment paper or using a little oil cover the entire inside of the pan, then dust with a little flour to again cover the inside , but just a light dusting. (this prevents the bread from sticking and can be removed easier.) Next you need to shape the bread, either in a circular form or shape into a loaf and place on the sheet or in the pan.
4. Use a clean kitchen towel and cover the dough and let it rest for about 40 minutes. We need to let the dough rise to double its size, and this could take up to 40 minutes or more.
Your bread looks so tasty I could grab a slice if I knew how to reach through the screen. Darn it! I see you have your chefs knife there. I always use a serrated knife for cutting or slicing breads. I like your site.
Hi Theresa,
The next step in technology should be something to satisfy us when we see something yummy. I would be nice to be able to reach through the screen:) Actually the knife is a serrated edge knife but it's the angle and the way the light fell on it that it makes it look like a chef knife.
The bread looks absolutely delicious. Want to try it out as all my previous experiments with baking breads haven’t gone too well & am waiting to bake a perfect bread, hope will be able to pull it off this time around :-)
Hi,
Thank you! This is a really simple recipe and it’s perfect for beginners. Have fun and hope you like it.
Could you add anything to this recipe? Maybe nuts or oats? Thank you!
Hi Tonah,
I’ve added oats and it worked great. I also think nuts would be a great addition, maybe even some cinnamon or other spices would be great too. Enjoy!
Thank you! I made it for my family today for dinner. They loved it.. We are also homesteaders and we are a family of 6. Its very cheap to make.. I am going to have to experiment with different nut and oats and spices! Have a great day! Cheers =D
My pleasure Tonah.:) Great, glad to hear you’ll be experimenting with the recipe for your family to enjoy. I hope you’ll send a photo of your bread. You too have a great day:)!