Nothing beats the smell of classic homemade bread baking in the oven 🍞🤍
This is a reliable, old-school loaf—soft inside, golden crust, perfect for sandwiches or butter.
Classic Homemade Bread (1 Loaf)
Time: ~3 hours (mostly rising)
Skill level: Beginner-friendly
Ingredients
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3 cups all-purpose flour (or bread flour)
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1 packet active dry yeast (2¼ tsp)
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1 cup warm water (110°F / 43°C)
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2 tbsp sugar or honey
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1½ tsp salt
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2 tbsp oil or melted butter
Instructions
1. Activate yeast
In a large bowl, mix warm water and sugar. Sprinkle yeast on top.
Let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy.
2. Make dough
Add salt and oil. Gradually stir in flour until a shaggy dough forms.
3. Knead
Turn onto a floured surface and knead 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic
(or 5–6 minutes with a stand mixer).
4. First rise
Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise 1–1½ hours, until doubled.
5. Shape
Punch down dough, shape into a loaf, and place in a greased 9×5 loaf pan.
6. Second rise
Cover and let rise 30–45 minutes, until dough rises about 1 inch above the pan.
7. Bake
Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 30–35 minutes, until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped.
8. Cool
Remove from pan and cool on a rack before slicing (hard part!).
Tips for Perfect Bread
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If dough is sticky, add flour 1 tbsp at a time
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Brushing the top with butter after baking = soft crust
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Bread is done when internal temp hits ~190–195°F
Easy Variations
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Whole wheat: Swap 1 cup flour for whole wheat + add 1 tbsp honey
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Herb bread: Add 1 tsp dried herbs
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Dinner rolls: Divide dough into balls and bake 15–18 minutes
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No mixer? Hands work just fine