Description

Grandma’s Perfect Homemade Bread is a classic, soft, and fluffy loaf made from simple pantry ingredients. This easy-to-follow recipe yields a golden crust and tender crumb, perfect for sandwiches or toast. With a perfect balance of sweetness and saltiness, it’s a comforting staple that brings the warmth of homemade baking to your kitchen.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough Ingredients

4 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
1.5 cups warm water (about 110°F)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted)

Instructions

Mix dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of all-purpose flour, sugar, salt, and active dry yeast. Stir the ingredients well to ensure even distribution of yeast and seasoning.
Add warm water: Gradually pour the warm water into the dry mixture, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon until fully combined into a sticky mixture.
Add butter and remaining flour: Pour in the melted unsalted butter and then add the remaining flour one cup at a time, mixing after each addition until a soft dough forms.
Knead the dough: Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for 8 to 10 minutes until the dough becomes smooth, elastic, and slightly tacky but not sticky.
First rise: Place the kneaded dough into a clean, lightly oiled bowl. Cover it with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap. Let it rise in a warm, draft-free place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) while the dough is rising.
Shape the dough: After the first rise, punch down the dough to release air bubbles. Transfer it to a floured surface and shape into a loaf. Place the shaped dough into a greased loaf pan.
Second rise: Cover the loaf pan with a towel and allow the dough to rise again for 30 minutes or until puffed up and nearly doubled.
Bake the bread: Bake the loaf in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes. The bread should have a golden-brown crust and sound hollow when tapped on the bottom.
Cool the bread: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then transfer the loaf to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Notes

Use warm water at about 110°F to activate the yeast effectively without killing it.
Kneading is critical for gluten development, ensuring a soft, airy crumb.
Letting the dough rise in a warm environment helps the yeast ferment properly for a better texture and flavor.
If you prefer a crustier bread, place a pan of water in the oven to create steam during baking.
Store the bread in an airtight container or bread box to maintain freshness for up to 3 days.
For longer storage, slice and freeze the bread, then toast slices as needed.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Bread
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice (approximately 60g)
Calories: 160
Sugar: 2g
Sodium: 280mg
Fat: 3.5g
Saturated Fat: 2g
Unsaturated Fat: 1.5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 28g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 5g
Cholesterol: 8mg

Keywords: homemade bread, easy bread recipe, yeast bread, classic loaf, soft bread