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. Every now and then, I like to treat myself by making my favorite homemade bread recipe – it’s so easy and requires little hands on time. I often eat it with softened salted butter or make a dip with olive oil, salt and pepper, but it’s also great for a homemade grilled cheese. Any way you slice it, you’re going to love this foolproof bread recipe.
Making your own bread is so much easier than you think – no breadmaker necessary! If you have a KitchenAid mixer, you can even make it do all of the work. Otherwise, you can knead the dough into a ball with your very own hands.
Just allow 1 hour to cover the dough and put it to bed while it rises. I love using my flour sack towels when allowing dough to rise. And if you have a little extra time, my friend KariAnne suggests you punch it down and let it rise again.
Brush the dough ball with olive oil, top with your favorite herbs and bake!
Enjoy!
The Best Homemade Bread Recipe
Ingredients
optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200 degrees.
- In a mixing bowl, combine 1½ c flour, yeast, sugar and salt.
- In a small saucepan, warm milk 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, sea salt and sprinkle rosemary on.
- Bake 35 minutes.
I can’t wait to hear what you think! Are you a bread lover as well?
Just made this bread and my family loved it. 🙂
Thanks for the recipe!
karianne
You wasted no time, my fellow carb lover! Thanks!
What kind of yeast are you using?
This bread looks incredibly yummy ♥
summerdaisy.net
Omg, yes! This looks amazing – can’t wait to try it!
Thanks, Kathleen! I hope you’re having a beautiful day!
Do you use all purpose flour or bread flour?
I always use all purpose flour. I’m a basics kind of girl. Enjoy!
Can you replace milk with water?
No, but if you’re looking to make it lactose free, use fairlife.
This looks divine!! What size cocotte are you using? Thanks for all of your wonderful inspiration!!
Great question – you can use any deep dishes, but these are the cocottes I use.
When you punch it twice does it need to sit in the oven at 200 degrees again?
You can, but I don’t – I have little patience to wait again and it still produces a beautiful loaf of fluffy bread that’s crusty on the outside.
I’m going to give this loaf a try. BTW, I use my bread machine to do the mix/needing. I even let my loaf rise in it. I then turn it out onto my cast Iron baker. This system works well for me.
Sounds fantastic! I have a bread machine, but rarely take it out. Cast iron bakes beautiful bread, doesn’t it? Enjoy!