Ingredients:
- 4 cups of bread flour (or all-purpose flour)
- 1 and 1/2 cups of warm water
- 2 teaspoons of instant yeast
- 2 teaspoons of salt
Instructions:
- In a large mixing bowl, mix the flour, instant yeast, and salt together. Make sure to evenly distribute the yeast and salt throughout the flour.
- Slowly add the warm water to the mixture, stirring with a wooden spoon or your hands until a sticky dough forms. You may not need all of the water, so add it gradually until the dough comes together.
- Knead the dough for about 10 minutes, either by hand or with a stand mixer. If kneading by hand, place the dough on a floured surface and use the heel of your hand to push the dough away from you, then fold it over and repeat. If using a stand mixer, use the dough hook attachment and knead on low speed for about 10 minutes. The dough should be smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover with a damp towel. Let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it has doubled in size. This step is called proofing.
- After the dough has risen, gently punch it down to release any air pockets and shape it into a round loaf. You can also shape the dough into a long loaf or divide it into smaller pieces to make rolls.
- Place the dough on a baking sheet or in a greased loaf pan. Cover it again with a damp towel and let it rise for another 30-45 minutes. This will allow the dough to rise again and develop more flavor.
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C). Once the dough has finished rising, use a sharp knife to make a few shallow slashes in the top of the loaf. This will allow the bread to expand while baking.
- Bake the bread for 30-35 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped. If the bread is browning too quickly, you can cover it with aluminum foil for the last 10 minutes of baking.
- Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool on a wire rack before slicing and serving. This will allow the bread to cool evenly and prevent it from getting soggy.
And that’s it! Homemade bread can be a bit time-consuming, but it’s well worth the effort. Enjoy your freshly baked bread with some butter or your favorite spread.
Note: Baking bread can be a bit tricky, so don’t be discouraged if your first few attempts don’t turn out perfectly. Keep practicing and experimenting with different recipes and techniques to find what works best for you.
