• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Cookbook
  • About Chelsea
    • Contact
    • Work With Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Self-Publishing Resources
  • Sous Vide School

A Duck's Oven logo

You are here: Home / Recipes / Bread for Beginners

Posted on May 28, 2012 | Last updated on December 9, 2020 | By Chelsea Cole | 14 Comments

Bread for Beginners

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
This recipe is super simple and great for beginners looking to try their hand at bread baking. Step by step instructions included!
 
Bread for beginners infographic

I’m doing an experiment. A grand experiment. And I’d love to hear your feedback! Boyfriend and I were talking about “infographics” the other night and he asked why I don’t do one with a recipe. At first this sounded complicated and impossible, but I thought more and more about how useful it could be, especially with sites like Pinterest around.

So, I thought about what recipes people tend to over complicate but are household staples, and I came up with good old dinner bread. The task usually seems daunting because bread can be complicated and time consuming, but it doesn’t have to be! Nearly all breads that I bake now, be it pizza dough or a loaf to have with dinner, start out with the same base, and I want to share that with you.

Start by proofing yeast in warm water and a little bit of sugar. To check the temperature of the water, I seriously just stick my finger in it. If it it hurts my finger, it’s too hot. If it feels “luke warm” it’s a bit too cold. Somewhere between there. My methods are super scientific. Let it sit for about ten minutes. It’s ready when it’s foamy and looks like this.

Yeast proofing in white bowl on wood surface

Then add some olive oil and salt. Then you get to add whatever you want to make this bread tasty. Be creative! I usually take a garlic powder and Italian seasoning route, but you could add cheddar cheese and jalapenos, fresh herbs, or just make it plain-jane.

 
Proofed yeast with salt, olive oil, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning in white bowl

Then knead in some flour, a bit at a time, until the dough is no longer sticky. Using your KitchenAid with the dough hook or by hand, knead the dough for 3 minutes. Then let it rest for 2 minutes. Then knead it for another 3. Trial and error has taught me these times are about the minimum you can get away with for perfectly elasticy dough.

I’m kind of a messy baker, but it’s okay. Then form that beautiful dough into a ball and let it rise in an oiled, covered bowl for about an hour, or until doubled in size.

Punch it down and form the dough into a loaf shape. Throw it on an oiled cookie sheet. I’m just using a half sheet.

Bread dough shaped into loaf on cookie sheet

Let it rise for another half hour and score it. Or don’t score it. I just think it makes it look pretty.

Bread dough shaped into loaf and scored on cookie sheet

Bake it in a preheated oven at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. And you’ve done it! That’s it!

Baked loaf of bread on cookie sheet

Although bread does take some forethought with all the rising time, it’s in no way complicated to prepare. Homemade bread just might be my favorite carb to have with dinner.

Or it could be mashed potatoes. Or maybe it’s bread. Or I’ll just have both.

Sliced loaf of bread on white tea towel on wood surface

Make some this week, and let me know what you think of this graphic!

Want to try your hand at some other bread recipes now? I’ve got some ideas:

  • Flatbread with Tomatoes, Peppers, and Burrata
  • Easy Crusty Bread
  • Cast Iron Skillet Cornbread
  • Pepper Jack Cheese Bread
If you make this, it would mean the world to me if you’d rate and review! It helps other people find this recipe.
 
Print
clock clock icon cutlery cutlery icon flag flag icon folder folder icon instagram instagram icon pinterest pinterest icon facebook facebook icon print print icon squares squares icon

Bread for Beginners

★★★★★ 4.5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Chelsea Cole
Print
Pin

Description

This recipe is super simple and great for beginners looking to try their hand at bread baking. Step by step instructions included!


Scale

Ingredients

1 cup warm water
1 tbsp yeast
1/2 tsp sugar
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tsp salt
Desired add ins (I used 1 tsp garlic powder and 2 tbsp Italian seasoning)
2 1/2–3 cups flour

Toppings, if desired (e.g. kosher salt, parmesan)


Instructions

1. Combine warm water, yeast, and sugar and let sit for about ten minutes, or until foamy.
2. Add the olive oil, salt, and desired add ins and stir to combine.
3. Using the dough hook on your KitchenAid or with a spoon and then hands, add the flour 1/2 cup at a time until dough is no longer sticky. Knead the dough using the dough hook or by hand for three minutes. Let it rest for two minutes. Knead for another three minutes, then form into a ball.
4. Coat a large bowl with olive oil and add the dough ball, turning to coat. Cover with a towel or saran wrap and let sit for one hour, or until dough has doubled in size.
5. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees and lightly oil a baking sheet.
6. Form the dough into a loaf shape, tucking and pinching edges. Let rise for about 30 minutes. Score with a sharp knife. Add toppings, if desired.
7. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until outside is golden brown. Let cool for 15 minutes before slicing.


Keywords: bread for beginners

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @aducksoven on Instagram

Filed Under: Appetizers, Bread, Sides

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Adele Mackay says

    January 19, 2020 at 12:22 am

    Your bread looks great ? have you a recipe for multigrain bread?

    Reply
    • Chelsea says

      January 26, 2020 at 6:13 pm

      I don’t have one, but knowing there’s interest is helpful for me!

      Reply
  2. Cindy M says

    May 29, 2020 at 5:53 am

    My bread is always well cooked on the outside but still doughy on the inside. Any suggestions?

    Reply
    • Chelsea says

      May 29, 2020 at 4:00 pm

      Ovens can very a little bit – I’d reduce the temp by 25 degrees F and cook longer! Start with 8-10 minutes longer and see how it improves.

      Reply
  3. Mel says

    July 11, 2020 at 6:36 pm

    Do you cover the loaf during the second rise?

    Reply
    • Chelsea says

      July 13, 2020 at 3:32 am

      Yes, you do!

      Reply
  4. Sheri says

    October 25, 2020 at 6:26 pm

    How many cups of flour do you need? 21/2 -3 does not make sense to me.

    Reply
    • Chelsea says

      October 27, 2020 at 4:11 pm

      You’ll need 2 1/2 to 3 cups of flour – add it gradually until the dough is elastic and no longer sticky. Your flour and elevation can affect this, hence the range!

      Reply
  5. Sonia says

    November 17, 2020 at 8:35 pm

    Did you use bread or all-purpose flour?
    Thank you

    Reply
    • Chelsea Cole says

      December 4, 2020 at 12:20 am

      All purpose, but you can use bread!

      Reply
  6. Kathy says

    December 27, 2020 at 5:19 pm

    What type of yeast? Self rising or regular?

    ★★★★

    Reply
    • Chelsea Cole says

      December 27, 2020 at 5:22 pm

      Regular!

      Reply
  7. Mandy says

    January 2, 2021 at 4:19 am

    I added Rosemary and garlic to this which ended up being an Italian restaurant-style bread perfect for dipping in olive oil! My family is obsessed!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Chelsea Cole says

      January 3, 2021 at 11:42 pm

      Yay!! I’m so glad to hear that!

      Reply

Leave a Comment & Rate this Recipe Cancel reply

If you love this recipe, it would mean the world if you gave it a star rating and review as a comment! Star ratings help people discover my recipes when searching.

Thank you for your support,
Chelsea

Primary Sidebar

Hi! I'm Chelsea.

I'm the author of Everday Sous Vide: It's All French to Me, a digital marketer by day, and food blogger and freelance content creator by night. I'm a University of Oregon grad currently in Portland, OR, my hometown. I first started this blog as a college student hoping to encourage other students to branch outside of pizza and boxed mac and cheese. While some things have changed since I finished school, I still rely on simple recipes to produce fun, comforting food!

Learn More
Get my sous vide 101 guide
  • What's for dinner?

  • Recipe Type

  • Ingredients

  • Healthy

  • Technique

Footer

  • Blog
  • Recipe Index
  • Travel
  • About Chelsea
  • A Duck’s Oven Privacy Policy
  • Contact

Exclusive Member of Mediavine Food

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Copyright © 2021 A Duck's Oven on the Brunch Pro Theme