Hey, there bread lovers! Are you tired of the bland, cardboard-like slices of bread you find at the grocery store? Why not try making your own homemade bread? Not only is it delicious, but it’s also a fun and rewarding activity that will leave you feeling accomplished and full (of carbs, of course).
How many of us became homemade bread enthusiasts during COVID? I know I sure did! The funny thing is my husband is the actual breadmaker. He’s the one that worked in a bakery and made homemade bread back in his home country in a little village in Portugal. I was always intimidated by making bread. Something about it made me nervous. I had no confidence in my bread-baking skills and believe that I could actually make bread, but when things got tough, I decided to give it a try and I am so glad that I did.
First things first, let’s talk about the ingredients. You’ll need flour, water, yeast, salt, and a bit of sugar. Yeast is an essential ingredient in bread making and if you don’t have fresh yeast, your bread won’t rise as it should. So make sure your yeast isn’t expired. Did you know that yeast provides flavor, and aroma and contributes to the nutritional value of bread? Without yeast, your bread won’t do what it’s supposed to.
Ingredients
- 7 ½ cups of bread flour
- 3 cups of lukewarm water
- 2 tsp of sugar
- 2 tsp of salt
- 2 tsp of dry yeast
Now, let’s get to the fun part – kneading the dough. You can use a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment, or you can go old school as my grandmother and mother have done, and do it by hand. Don’t be afraid to get a little messy – kneading dough is like giving your hands a workout. Plus, it’s a great way to relieve stress. Need something to punch? Take your anger out on your dough! Your bread will thank you for it!! LOL!
Once the dough is nice and smooth, it’s time to let it rest and rise. This is the perfect time to take a break and binge-watch your favorite show on Netflix. Just make sure you set a timer so you don’t forget about the dough. Trust me, I’ve done it!
After the dough has risen, it’s time to shape it into a loaf and let it rise for an additional 30 minutes before you pop it into the oven. Knead it a few more times, shape it, sprinkle it with some flour, and let it sit covered with the same paper towel and towel that you used before. Only make cuts to it as I did below right before you place it in the oven. And here’s a little secret – you can make all kinds of shapes and sizes of bread. Don’t feel like making a boring old rectangular loaf? Try making a round boule or a twisted baguette. The possibilities are endless!
As your bread bakes, your house will be filled with the mouthwatering aroma of freshly baked bread. It’s like having your own personal bakery, without the early morning wake-up calls. And when the bread is done, it’s time to slice into it and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Slather on some butter, drizzle on some honey, or make a sandwich with all your favorite fixings.
Tips
- If you don’t have a Dutch oven, you can bake the bread on a cookie sheet. Just cut the dough in half and form the dough into 2 logs. Place a sheet of parchment paper on the cookie sheet and then the dough. Bake at the same temperature and for the same amount of time.
- Make sure to measure the flour accurately or the dough will not have the right consistency.
- Place a paper towel over the dough before a towel so that the dough doesn’t stick to the towel, making for easier cleanup.
- After baking, this bread is great for freezing. You can make it ahead of time and then defrost it whenever you need to.
So there you have it – the basics of making homemade bread. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things. Want to add some herbs or spices to your bread? Go for it! Nuts and dry fruits are also a great addition. Want to make a giant loaf that could feed an army? You do you. Making bread is all about having fun and enjoying the process.
This bread recipe makes a pretty big loaf. If you’re looking to make a smaller loaf you could always cut the recipe in half. The rest of the instructions are the same.
Just remember – if at first, you don’t succeed, try, try again. Making homemade bread can be a bit of trial and error, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll never want to go back to store-bought bread again. Happy baking!
How to Eat This Delicious Bread
- This bread is great with butter, especially straight out of the oven.
- It’s great to dunk into soups, sauces, or dips.
- Awesome to make sandwiches with.
Have fun with this recipe. Feel free to share what you have done in the comments below or share a picture of you enjoying this delicious meal!
Bom Appetite! Enjoy your meal!
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How to Make Homemade Bread
Equipment
- 1 5 quart Dutch Oven
Ingredients
- 7 ½ cups of bread flour
- 3 cups of lukewarm water 100-110℉
- 2 tsp of sugar
- 2 tsp of salt
- 2 tsp of dry yeast
Instructions
- Place flour and salt into a mixing bowl.
- Using dough hook attachment from stand mixer, mix well.
- In a separate bowl, or using a large measuring cup, add 3 cups of lukewarm water, sugar and yeast.
- Whisk until yeast dissolves and let sit for 5 minutes for yeast to activate.
- Add water mixture slowly into flour mixture mixing as you go using the hook attachment.
- Dough will become wet and then turn into a doughlike texture.
- Place dough on a floured surface and knead with your hands until the dough is softer and non-sticking. Add some flour if needed.
- Form into a ball and place back into the mixing bowl.
- Cover with a paper towel, and then a kitchen towel and set aside.
- Let sit for about 1 ½ hours until the dough rises almost to the very top.
- Preheat oven to 450℉ with dutch oven inside and let heat for 30 minutes.
- Remove dough from the mixing bowl onto a lightly floured surface. Knead the dough a few more times and form into a round or oval shape, depending on the shape of your dutch oven.
- Place dough on parchment paper in a bowl, sprinkle some flour over it and set aside for another 30 minutes.
- Dough will rise again.
- After the oven has been preheating for 30 minutes, take parchment paper with the dough and place in a Dutch oven in your oven.
- Place the lid over your dutch oven and bake for 40 minutes.
- After 40 minutes remove the lid and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and place on the cooling rack.
- Let rest for 30 minutes before cutting and serving.
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