Homemade White Bread
This bread is perfect all by itself, or with added flavors (like garlic, thyme, or even cinnamon sugar, get recipe here)
I used to think the only way to enjoy fresh bread was to buy it from a bakery or buy a clunky bread machine. I was so wrong! This bread is so easy to make, you'll never want to buy store bread again!
If you want video instructions click here
INGREDIENTS:
*2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
*2 1/4 cups warm water
*5 1/2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
*1 tbs salt
*1/4 cup sugar
*2 tbs olive oil
DIRECTIONS:
1. Put your warm water (think bath water warm) in a bowl or measuring cup and stir in 1/2 tsp sugar. Add yeast and let sit for 5-10 minutes until a layer of foam appears at the top of your water. If foam doesn't appear, your water was either too hot or too cold, or your yeast is bad. This step is very important, because if the yeast isn't right, your bread won't rise to a nice fluffy loaf, but instead come out dense and heavy and flat.
2. Put 3 cups of the flour, salt, and the sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix.
3. Push the dry ingredients around to form a well in the middle. Pour your yeast water in the middle. Mix with a dough hook, adding the remaining 2 1/2 cups of flour 1 at a time.
4. Add olive oil and let the mixer knead the dough for a few minutes.
5. Remove dough from bowl, spray the bowl with spray grease and put the dough back in the bowl. Cover and let sit in a warm place until dough has doubled in size (about an hour)
6. Remove dough and split into two equal parts. Using your hands, spread each half out into a rectangle (about 8 inches wide), then roll it into a loaf. Place each loaf seam-side-down in a greased loaf pan, cover and let sit to rise once more for about 45 minutes. The loaves should have risen slightly above the pan.
7. Bake bread for 30 minutes at 350
8. Let cool a little before slicing.
You can use this dough to make rolls, buns, and flavored breads. I've made a garlic thyme bread and a dill onion bread. Both were delicious! Watch the video to see how I did it!
Keep cooking, friends
-Kristin
