There’s absolutely nothing like soft, steaming fresh baked bread to warm up a cold winter day. Our mom’s (Grandma’s!) homemade easy bread recipe is a household favourite that doesn’t last for long!
Grandma’s Classic Homemade Bread Recipe
Why bother making your own bread?
Our mom started making this bread after our father was placed on a salt-restricted diet. We hadn’t realized how much sodium store-bought bread contained until then. By making your own bread you can control the amount of salt and sugar and limit preservatives in the bread.
If you haven’t tried making your own bread, you’ll be surprised to learn how quick and easy it is to make without the need of a bread machine. Within just a couple hours, a freshly baked loaf of bread will be baked and ready to enjoy.
It makes a delicious side for many main dishes such as this homestyle chicken shish kabob recipe, or a light Spring leaf salad or a yellow pole bean salad.
Or if you prefer a sweet snack, top a warm slice of bread with some homemade mulberry jam.
A few tips for making bread by hand:
- The more you knead, the better.
- The firmer the dough, the better.
Ingredients Needed for this Easy Bread Recipe (single loaf):
- 3.5 cups of all-purpose white flour (unbleached), Robin Hood or NoName brand
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 tablespoon active quick rise dry yeast
- 1.5 cup water, warm
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 tablespoon olive oil
- Deep loaf baking pan, 9 ½” x 5″
- KitchenAid Stand Mixer with dough attachment
- Parchment Paper
- Paper Towel
Directions for Grandma’s Homemade White Bread Recipe:
In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and salt.
Add 1/2 tablespoon of yeast and 1/4 teaspoon of sugar to 1/2 cup of warm water. Stir together.
Using the dough attachment, add the yeast mixture to the flour mixture and knead on low setting until blended, approx. 5-10 minutes.
Add 1 cup of warm water and continue to knead until firm and smooth, approx. 15 minutes.
Remove from mixing bowl and place on a floured surface.
Knead the dough by hand for 1-2 minutes and shape into round ball.
Cover with a paper towel for 30 minutes or until the dough has risen to double its size.
Line a deep baking pan with parchment paper. Add 1/4 tablespoon of olive oil to the parchment paper. Shape into loaf and place in greased baking pan, turn several times to coat.
To make two loaves as shown, simply double the recipe and divide the dough in half to form two separate loaves.
Using scissors, add small cuts along the top as shown.
Cover with paper towel and let rest approx. 30 minutes. During this time, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Place pan on the top wire rack. Bake for 30 minutes or until surface is golden.
Remove and let cool before removing from pan. Serve warm or cool.
That’s it! This classic homemade bread recipe is quite versatile. You can add in chia seeds for some fiber or hemp heart for protein. Or switch out some of the white flour for whole-wheat or whole grain alternatives. We’ll share some ideas soon with how to use this easy bread recipe for raisin bread, buns and more.
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Easy White Bread Recipe
Equipment
- Deep loaf baking pan, 9 ½" x 5"
- KitchenAid Stand Mixer with dough attachment
- Parchment Paper
- Paper Towel
Ingredients
- 3.5 cups all-purpose flour unbleached, Robin Hood or NoName brand
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 tablespoon active quick rise dry yeast
- 1.5 cup water warm
- 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and salt.
- Add 1/2 tablespoon of yeast and 1/4 teaspoon of sugar to 1/2 cup of warm water. Stir together.
- Using the dough attachment, add the yeast mixture to the flour mixture and knead on low setting until blended, approx. 5-10 minutes.
- Add 1 cup of warm water and continue to knead until firm and smooth, approx. 15 minutes.
- Remove from mixing bowl and place on a floured surface.
- Knead the dough by hand for 1-2 minutes and shape into round ball.
- Cover with a paper towel for 30 minutes or until the dough has risen to double its size.
- Line a deep baking pan with parchment paper. Add 1/4 tablespoon of olive oil to the parchment paper. Shape into loaf and place in greased baking pan, turn several times to coat.
- To make two loaves as shown, simply double the recipe and divide the dough in half to form two separate loaves.
- Using scissors, add small cuts along the top as shown.
- Cover with paper towel and let rest approx. 30 minutes. During this time, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Place pan on the top wire rack. Bake for 30 minutes or until surface is golden.
- Remove and let cool before removing from pan. Serve warm or cool.
Hello Jane and Sonja,
I would love to make this bread, but I have instant yeast. Please advise on the proofing time and if i have to do the second rise?
Thank you
Sabrina
Hi Sabrina, this recipe calls for instant yeast (or aka quick-rise yeast) so you can go ahead and follow the recipe as it’s written. Thank you and enjoy!