If you’re anything like me, the thought of baking your own bread is terrifying and visions of flour covering every square inch of your kitchen is enough to not even try. I am here to tell you, however, that this is an easy homemade bread recipe that is really good and doesn’t take your entire day to bake. Win win!

Prep: 80 min   |    Cook: 40 min  |   Yield: 1 large loaf or 2 small

Ingredients:

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 – 3 teaspoons table salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder (*optional)
• 1 envelope active dry yeast (2 teaspoons/ 4 oz)
• 1/8 teaspoon sugar (1 pinch)
• 2 cups lukewarm water
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

*Skipping baking powder will make the bread denser. This is the way I always make it.

Directions:

1. Combine flour, salt, and baking powder in a large bowl.
2. Combine sugar and dry yeast in a small bowl. Add a small amount of lukewarm water and let yeast activate. You’ll see it start to bubble after a couple of minutes.
3. Add yeast mixture to the flour mixture and mix with wooden spoon or mixer set on low.
4. Slowly add lukewarm water until fully mixed.
5. Add oil and mix with wooden spoon to combine.
6. Cover the dough and let rest and rise 60 minutes. Gently mix after 30 minutes and let rest the additional 30 minutes. I like to keep mine in the microwave so it is slightly warmer.
7. Preheat oven to 400˚F and grease your pan. You can bake in any size/shape bread pan.
8. Add dough and let rest for 10 minutes.
9. Bake for 40 minutes or until the crust is golden brown.

It can’t get any easier than that, folks! Try it out and let us know what you think!

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