Easy Homemade Bread Recipe
Is there anything better than homemade bread? There are very few things, in my mind at least, that can compete with the deliciously warm and cozy smell of freshly baked bread right out of the oven. That is why today I am sharing my momma’s easy homemade bread recipe with you!
I love baking homemade bread. This is especially true as the weather turns cooler and the trees begin to take on their fall colors. It is that time of year when I get the itch to make a batch, or two or three.
Baking a loaf of homemade bread solidifies that fall is here and it is time to break out the fall decorations and sweaters.
Oh how I love fall and everything it has to offer, but I especially love that it is perfect weather to break out the bread recipe and get to work.
My Momma’s Homemade Bread
I remember being a kid and coming home from school on a cool fall afternoon to the fresh from the oven bread my momma always made.
Momma always had an afterschool snack ready and waiting for us, but it was always a special treat to come home to that glorious smell of homemade light bread.
It was always a fight with my older sister over who got the “butt” of the bread as my momma calls it. You know the piece I mean, that wonderful end piece that is soft and delicious on the inside and wonderfully crust covered on the outside. Just talking about it makes my mouth water.
And to make a wonderful thing even better, it was always served up in excessively thick slices, slathered in melted butter, with a glass of chocolate milk.
Mmm mmm! There is no beating it for an after school snack. Now as a mom of three my life goal is to give my kiddos the same delicious memories that I have of my momma’s kitchen, starting with homemade light bread.
What is Light Bread
People often ask, “What the heck is light bread?” Honestly, I had zero clue until I began writing this post. What can I say? I just thought it was my momma’s most delicious secret, no questions asked. It just is what it is, and what it is is tasty.
But apparently it is actually a thing!
Light bread is bread made from finely ground bleached wheat flour that has been raised with yeast. One thing I know for sure, it is delicious and there is nothing light about it, except maybe its deliciously light and fluffy texture.
Calorie wise though I am pretty sure it is not on anyone’s diet plan.
Tips for Bread Making
Baking bread can seem like a daunting task, but bread making is one of the easiest things to learn to do in the kitchen.
Bread is made up of four simple ingredients: Flour, water, Yeast, and salt. Anything else you add in is just for flavor.
These tips will help to ensure your bread turns our perfect every time.
Knead Your Dough
Kneading your dough is essential to perfect bread.
Under knead and your bread will be dense and will not rise properly. Over kneading leads to tough bread.
Here are a few ways to know if you have kneaded your dough enough.
First take a look at your dough. If the surface appears shaggy and the dough does not hold its shape it needs to be kneaded more.
You can also poke a finger onto the surface of the dough. If it bounces back quickly, you have a properly kneaded dough.
You could also try the window pane method. Take a small piece of dough and stretch it out. If you can stretch it thin until you can see light coming through like a window pane without it breaking, your are in business!
Humidity Can Affect Dough
Humidity can absolutely affect the rise and texture of your beloved loaf.
When humidity is on the rise, moisture can get locked into dry ingredients which can change textures and baking times for not only your bread, but for any baked goods.
Check Your Yeast
It is important to make sure you use the right kind of yeast for your recipe. This recipe calls for Active Dry Yeast.
It is also important to check the expiration date of your yeast.
There is nothing worse than realizing your yeast has been expired and you cannot get it to bloom.
It is also important to use the correct temperature of water to bloom your yeast. Too hot and you will kill it, to cold and it won’t want to come out and play!
Easy Homemade Bread Step By Step
Now that we have talked about some tips for making bread, let’s get started in the step by step.
Step 1
In a large mixing bowl combine warm water and dry yeast and allow to get frothy and begin to bloom. We use the mixing bowl to our favorite stand mixer.
Step 2
With the bread hook, mix together yeast mixture and remaining water, sugar, salt, and butter along with most of the flour. Continue to mix on medium speed adding additional flour slowly until the dough is easy to handle.
Step 3
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead dough until smooth and elastic, adding a little flour as needed to prevent sticking.
Step 4
Place dough in a lightly buttered bowl turning to coat. Cover with a clean dry towel and place in a warm place to rise until doubled in size about 1.5 hours.
We love these bowls!
Step 5
Once doubled in size, punch down dough and divide in half. Roll each half into a rectangle and roll up beginning at the short side. Place seam side down in the greased loaf pans.
Cover with clean dry cloth and let rise until doubled again, about 1.5 hours.
Step 6
Once doubled in size, preheat oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes until golden brown. If the top browns too much lightly cover with a piece of aluminum foil during the last 15 minutes of baking.
Get Your Kids Involved
Baking has always been a favorite hobby of mine. I love to be in the kitchen creating delicious confections to share with family and friends.
To make it even better, now I get to bring my kids into the kitchen with me. Baking with my kids is one of my favorite things to do as a mom. Cookies, bread, brownies, cakes, you name it we will bake it.
Gunner especially loves helping me out in the kitchen and is always quick to pull up his stool and get his little hands dirty with momma. He can often be found by my side if I am making lunch, cooking dinner, or baking yummy treats.
I believe in large part it is because he usually gets to also be my taste tester, but no matter the reason, it always makes my heart feel full to have him by my side in the kitchen.
Enjoy!
I hope you enjoy making and eating this bread as much as my family has over the years and that you build some great memories.
Do you have any special memories tied to a childhood favorite? I would love to hear about them in the comments below!
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Homemade Light Bread
Equipment
- Mixer with dough hook
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 tsp Active Dry Yeast equivalent to two packets
- 3 1/2 cups Warm Water 105 degrees F
- 1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 1/4 tbsp Salt
- 4 tbsp Butter softened
- 9 to 10 cups All Purpose Flour
Instructions
- Dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup water for 5 minutes in a large mixing bowl until the yeast begins to bloom. Do not use hot water, this will kill the yeast.
- In the same bowl, with bread hook mix together yeast mixture and remaining water, sugar, salt, and butter along with up to 6 cups of flour. Continue to mix on medium speed adding additional flour slowly until the dough is easy to handle.
- Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead dough until smooth and elastic, adding a little flour as needed to prevent sticking.
- Place dough in a lightly buttered bowl turning to coat. Cover with a clean dry towel and place in a warm place to rise until doubled in size about 1.5 hours.
- Once doubled in size, punch down dough and divide in half. Roll each half into a rectangle and roll up beginning at the short side. Place seam side down in the greased loaf pans.
- Cover with clean dry cloth and let rise until doubled again, about 1.5 hours.
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Once doubled in size bake at 425 degrees F for 30 to 35 minutes until golden brown. If the top browns too much lightly cover with a piece of aluminum foil during the last 15 minutes of baking.
One Comment
Molly Transatlantic Notes
I absolutely love freshly made bread; I need to get into the habit of making it more often, and with this recipe I can easily do that. Thanks!