Name: Easy Homemade Bread
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 3 1/4 cup all-purpose flour; 1 package instant yeast; 1 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon white granulated sugar; 1 1/4 cup milk; 2 tablespoon butter; olive oil (salt and rosemary to top bread)

A quick and easy artisan homemade bread recipe that is adaptable. It’s perfect for smothering in butter, dipping in oil, or slicing for sandwiches. This homemade bread is moist on the inside, crusty on the outside, and full of flavor!

Finish with rosemary and olive oil for a beautiful savory kneaded bread.

A loaf of homemade bread on a white surface, with a blue linen napkin on the side.

If there’s one thing I know, it’s bread. I’ve been addicted to bread as long as I can remember.

Right or wrong, I judge restaurants on the bread they serve. A great loaf of bread leaves a lasting first impression and keeps me coming back for more.

This is a homemade bread recipe that we’ve been making for years. It feels special and creates a warm and cozy fragrance in your home – just the feeling we all need right now!

A marble surface with a loaf of homemade rosemary bread sliced in half.

Every now and then, I like to treat myself by making my favorite homemade bread – it’s so easy and requires little hands-on time.

We bake a lot around here. While many of my bread recipes are quick breads that don’t require yeast (like this carrot cake loaf or my brown sugar bread), yeast creates an entirely different experience in your kitchen.

If you love baking with yeast, you’ll love my homemade 30 minute dinner rolls if you love this delicious artisan bread! Another idea? Making stretchy, gooey soft homemade cinnamon rolls just feels so special for breakfast or brunch!

I promise, anyone can make this bread. Don’t be intimidated by yeast, I’m going to walk you through it!

Table of Contents

Homemade Bread Ingredients

Flour – Use your favorite brand of all-purpose flour for this recipe.
Instant Yeast – Add instant yeast straight into the mix of dry ingredients for ease and convenience.
Milk – adds much-needed creamy moisture.
Sugar – Adds just a touch of sweetness to your loaf of bread, helps caramelize the top, and helps keep your homemade bread soft and moist.
Salt – To flavor and season the bread.

Variations

Olive Oil – Brush olive oil on top for a hint of amazing flavor.
Herbs – Fresh or dried rosemary, oregano or thyme. Add to the dough, on top just after brushing with olive oil or both! This Beau Monde Seasoning is a fabulous addition.
Cheese – Aged cheeses work well. Consider asiago, parmesan, gruyere or sharp cheddar.
Sun Dried Tomatoes – Another delicious addition to this delightful bread.

A sliced loaf of homemade bread on a white surface, with a blue linen napkin on the side.

Making artisan bread is so much easier than you think! You don’t even need a bread maker! If you have a KitchenAid mixer, it will do all of the work for you.

Otherwise, you can knead the dough into a ball with your very own hands!

Need help with yeast? I’ve got a complete guide that will take you through the steps of baking with yeast! Don’t miss these fabulous tips and tricks!

How To Make Homemade Bread

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
In a large bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups flour, yeast, salt, and sugar.
In a small saucepan, warm the milk and butter over low heat just until the butter melts. You don’t want the milk mixture to be too hot or it will kill the yeast. Gradually mix it into the flour mixture and add the remaining flour until smooth.
Using a dough hook on your stand mixer simply using or your hands, knead the bread dough for 4-5 minutes.
Lightly coat a baking sheet or cocotte with olive oil. Place homemade bread dough in the dish and cover with a light towel. Place in the oven for 1 hour, turning the heat off.
Remove and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Punch down dough, create a new ball, brush with olive oil, and sprinkle with sea salt and rosemary. Bake the bread for 35 minutes.

A close up of a round loaf of rosemary olive oil bread.

The instant yeast in this recipe is the ingredient that makes the homemade bread rise and is critical to the recipe.

Once you have kneaded the dough, using a dough mixer or by hand, you’ll leave the dough (covered) in a warm place for an hour. I place my bread in a warm oven to allow the dough to rise, and cover it with a very light tea towel so that it can breathe.

A marble surface with a loaf of homemade rosemary bread.

Ways to Enjoy Artisan Bread

This tastes great alone, with softened butter, honey butter, strawberry butter or dipped with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Check out this bread dipping spice mix recipe for an incredible way to dip, or add a dollop of garlic butter!

This easy homemade bread recipe can also be sliced for sandwiches and gourmet grilled cheese.

Any way you slice it, you’re going to love this foolproof bread recipe!

A marble surface with a slice of homemade artisan bread.

Tips

Just warm the milk and butter before adding it to the dry ingredients, do not boil it.
Knead the bread for at least 4 to 5 minutes.
Allow one hour for the bread to rise.
Bake the bread in a pre-heated oven.
Flour sack towels are great for covering doughs when allowing dough to rise, but any kitchen towel will do.
If you have a little extra time, punch it down and let it rise again.

I enjoy making artisan bread in a dutch oven. More steam is created this way and it results in a wonderfully crispy crust. However, any baking dish will do.

How to Store Homemade Bread

Most homemade bread will not last long because unlike grocery store breads, there are no preservatives. The good news? It’s definitely eaten before it could possibly go bad!

In order to preserve freshness, it’s ideal to place your homemade loaf inside a paper wrap, just like you’ll find it at the grocery store. It keeps about 2-3 days.

If you try this recipe, please come back to share using my 5 star rating in the comments below! Not only do I appreciate it, but I know readers do, too! For more easy recipes and simple living ideas, subscribe to my newsletter! Not making it now? Don’t forget to pin it for later!

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5 from 17 votes

Easy Homemade Bread

Author: Julie Blanner

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 35 mins

Total Time 45 mins

A quick and easy artisan homemade bread recipe that is adaptable. It's perfect for smothering in butter, dipping in oil, or slicing for sandwiches. This homemade bread is moist on the inside, crusty on the outside, and full of flavor! Finish with rosemary and olive oil for a beautiful savory kneaded bread.

Print Rate Recipe

Yield 8

Ingredients

optional

▢ olive oil salt and rosemary to top bread

Instructions

Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
In a mixing bowl, combine 1½ cup flour, yeast, sugar and salt.
In a small saucepan, warm milk and butter just enough to melt the butter, but not to a boil so that it doesn't kill the yeast.
Mix into flour mixture and add remaining flour until smooth.
Using a dough hook (or your hands) knead dough for 4-5 minutes.
Lightly coat baking dish or cocotte with olive oil. Place dough ball in cocotte and cover with a light towel. Place in oven for 1 hour, turning the heat off.
Remove and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Punch dough down, create a new ball and brush with olive oil (and optional sea salt and rosemary).
Bake 35 minutes.