Easy Homemade Bread Recipe

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5 from 12 votes

This homemade bread recipe combines bread flour and whole wheat flour with yeast, honey, and olive oil to create a soft, hearty loaf. The dough can be made by hand or with a stand mixer, then allowed to rest before shaping and baking. The method produces a bread with a chewy crust and a tender crumb, suitable for everyday slicing and sandwiches.

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

35 mins

Additional Time

2 hrs 30 mins

Servings: 24 servings

Calories: 113 kcal

Course: Bread

Cuisine: American

Ingredients

3 cups bread flour
2 ½ cups whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon salt
2 ½ teaspoons yeast or one packet
2 cups water between 105 and 110 degrees, warm
1 tablespoon olive oil plus additional for oiling the bowl and pans
2 tablespoons honey

Instructions

Cup of Yum

This recipe is quite easily made in a stand mixer with a dough hook. But if you don't have one, that's no problem. All you really need is a big bowl and a wooden spoon. Just follow the alternate instructions I'veincluded in parenthesis for making it by hand.
Measure the flour*, salt, and yeast into the mixer bowl. (By hand: measure into a large mixing bowl)
In a measuring cup, stir together the warm water, oil, and honey**.
Turn on the mixer to its lowest speed for about 15 seconds to just combine the dry ingredients. (By hand: Mix the dry ingredients together with a spoon).
Switch off the mixer and pour in the liquids all at once. Turn the mixer back on to its lowest speed for about 1 1/2 minutes until the ingredients are fairly well combined. (By hand: Use a sturdy wooden spoon to mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until well combined.)
Turn off the mixer and let the dough sit in the bowl for 10 minutes. (By hand: Let stand for 10 minutes).
Turn the mixer on to the second speed and let it run for 3 minutes. Remove the bowl from the mixer and turn the dough out onto a lightly floured board or counter top. Knead 3 or 4 times until a smooth dough is achieved. (By hand: Turn the mixture out onto a floured wooden board or counter top and knead by hand for about ten minutes or until a smooth dough forms.)
Let the dough sit for a minute while you wash the mixer bowl and oil it with an additional tablespoon of olive oil.
Place the dough into the oiled bowl top side down and then turn it over so that the oiled top is up. Leave it in a warm place covered with a towel for about an hour or until doubled in volume.
Turn the risen dough out onto a lightly floured surface and gently deflate it, kneading another three or four times.
Divide the dough in half. Flatten each half into a rectangle. Roll up and form into a loaf shape. Place each loaf into an oiled loaf pan.
Cover and let rise again – about 35 to 45 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 375 and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until nicely golden brown. ***
Remove loaves from pans and let cool at least 30 minutes on a wire rack.

Notes

For a traditional white loaf, use only bread flour in place of the whole wheat flour.
Fluff flour before measuring and spoon it into the measuring cup without packing to ensure accurate measurement.
Measuring oil before honey with the same spoon prevents honey from sticking to it.
For a softer crust, place a pan of water on a lower oven rack during baking or brush loaves with olive oil for a golden finish.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1slice Calories 113kcal (6%) Carbohydrates 22g (7%) Protein 4g (8%) Fat 1g (2%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Sodium 292mg (12%) Potassium 74mg (2%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 2g (4%) Vitamin A 1IU (0%) Vitamin C 1mg (1%) Calcium 7mg (1%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 24 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 113

% Daily Value*

Serving	1slice
Calories	113kcal	6%
Carbohydrates	22g	7%
Protein	4g	8%
Fat	1g	2%
Saturated Fat	1g	5%
Sodium	292mg	12%
Potassium	74mg	2%
Fiber	2g	8%
Sugar	2g	4%
Vitamin A	1IU	0%
Vitamin C	1mg	1%
Calcium	7mg	1%
Iron	1mg	6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.