This easy bread recipe can be made with pantry staples but is so elegant and delicious! It is a french bread style that is always found at our family dinner party table!
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Easy Homemade Bread
Although this bread is easy enough to make regularly, we tend to save it for special occasions! It’s a French Bread that you could buy from your local grocery store but so much better! Who doesn’t love to indulge in homemade bread straight out of the oven slathered in salty butter! My boys consider this bread a treat as we try to stay away from refined flours in our daily meals. I love bringing this bread to a family gathering so everyone can enjoy it! It yields 3 loaves and is so easy to make, although it looks like you slaved all day making it!
This homemade bread is delicious with my Spicy Chicken Soup for a cozy and comforting complete meal!
Tools for Making Easy Homemade Bread
There are a few things that help make this bread come together so quickly and easily:
- KitchenAid Stand Mixer with Dough Hook Attachment
- Baking Sheet
- Pastry Brush
- Cooling Rack
I can’t say enough about how easy the stand mixer and dough hook make this bread. No hand kneading is required. The hardest part for me is waiting for the two 5 minute rest periods, which really isn’t a big deal at all considering some bread recipes ask you to let the dough rise for hours or more. This is a great recipe to make with kids! I love making this bread with my 7-year-old who loves to cook. His favorite part is shaping the bread before it goes in the oven!
Ingredients for Easy Bread Recipe
To make this bread you will need:
- All-Purpose Flour
- Active Dry Yeast
- Himalayan Salt (Or Sea Salt)
- Butter Flavored Shortening
- Sugar
- Water
- Egg
Steps
- Add yeast and warm water to a small measuring cup and stir to dissolve.
- Mix salt, shortening, and sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment.
- Add 1 cup of boiling water to stand mixer followed by 1 cup of cold water.
- Next, add the yeast mixture to the stand mixer.
- Add 3 cups of flour to the mixer on low speed to combine.
- Slowly add remaining flour one cup at a time.
- Mix for 6 minutes on medium speed. Dough will become smooth and elastic. Allow to rest in mixer bowl for 5 minutes.
- Divide rested dough into 3 equal pieces and place on a greased cookie sheet. Allow to rest for 5 more minutes.
- After the dough has rested spread each piece of dough into a rectangle on the cookie sheet with hands.
- Fold each rectangle until a seam meets in the middle.
- Fold ends over.
- Turn each loaf over.
- Using a sharp knife make 3 slits in each loaf.
- Next brush dough with egg wash.
Shaping The Bread Dough
- Bake bread, allow to cool and enjoy!
Why Make Homemade Bread?
I love making homemade bread because it brings back memories of my Grandma’s delicious homemade bread and more recently my Mothers-In-Law’s! There is something so cozy and warm about a bread baking in the oven. In this fast-paced, technology-based world, it’s nice to slow down and indulge in some old fashioned comforts. I love teaching my boys about traditions and this bread has become one of them!
Another important reason for making your own bread is knowing the ingredients that you are putting into it! You can play around with the flour to make it healthier, reduce the sodium and change the oil to suit your taste and diet.
I hope your family loves this recipe as much as we do! Let me know if you try it in the comments! xo Charlotte
Easy Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp Active Dry Yeast
- 1/3 cup Warm Water
- 2 tbsp Sugar
- 1 tbsp Butter Flavor Shortening
- 3/4 tbsp Pink Himalayan Sea Salt * you can use sea salt as well
- 1 cup Boiling Water
- 1 cup Cold Water
- 6 cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 Egg (beaten)
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 170 degrees F.
- Add yeast and 1/3 cup of warm water to a small measuring cup and stir to dissolve.
- Mix salt, shortening, and sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment.
- Add 1 cup of boiling water to stand mixer followed by 1 cup of cold water.
- Next, add the yeast mixture to the stand mixer
- Add 3 cups of flour to the mixer on low speed to combine.
- Slowly add remaining flour one cup at a time.
- Mix for 6 minutes on medium speed. Dough will become smooth and elastic. Allow to rest in mixer bowl for 5 minutes.
- Divide rested dough into 3 equal pieces and place on a greased cookie sheet. Allow to rest for 5 more minutes.
- After the dough has rested spread each piece of dough into a rectangle on the cookie sheet with hands.
- Fold each rectangle lengthwise until a seam meets in the middle.
- Fold ends over.
- Turn each loaf over.
- Using a sharp knife make 3 slits in each loaf.
- Next brush dough with egg wash.
- Place bread in 170 degrees oven for 15 minutes. then increase temperature to 400 degrees to bake bread for an additional 15 minutes, allow to cool and enjoy!
Oh this looks amazing! I cannot wait to try it!
Thanks so much Karen! I hope you enjoy!