Easy white bread

Easy white bread

A great recipe for an electric breadmaker - or do it the traditional way

Difficulty and servings

Easy

Makes 1 loaf

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 20 mins

Cook time

Cook 25 - 30 mins

Plus 2 hours proving
Freezable

Method

  1. Mix the flour, salt and yeast in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre, then add the oil and water, and mix well. If the dough seems a little stiff, add 1-2 tbsp water, mix well then tip onto a lightly floured work surface and knead. Once the dough is satin-smooth, place it in a lightly oiled bowl. Leave to rise for 1 hour until doubled in size or place in the fridge overnight.
  2. Line a baking tray with baking parchment. Knock back the dough, then gently mould the dough into a ball. Place it on the baking parchment to prove for a further hour until doubled in size.
  3. Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Dust the loaf with flour and cut a cross about 6cm long into the top of the loaf with a sharp knife. Bake for 25-30 mins until golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped underneath. Cool on a wire rack.
Try

Saving time

A dough's first rising can be done in the fridge overnight. This slows down the time it takes to rise to double its size, giving it a deeper flavour. It's also a great timesaver, as you can start it the night before, then finish it off the next day.

204 kcalories, protein 6.0g, carbohydrate 38.0g, fat 4.0 g, saturated fat 1.0g, fibre 2.0g, salt 1.0 g

Recipe from Good Food magazine, October 2005.

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Latest comments and suggestions

Results 1-20

  • 2008-04-14 17:44:38.849084

    sally rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Made this the 'traditional' way!made it into rolls rather than a loaf but it was really fantastic lovely soft, fluffy scrummy bread, will definitely become a regular in our house.

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  • 2008-05-02 09:01:58.094003

    Sarah Fenton commented on this recipe

    Great recipe which worked really well using the dough setting on my breadmaker. I also adapted the recipe by using 350g white bread flour and 150g granary instead of 500g white. It was lovely, and we can't stop eating it!

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  • 2008-05-15 22:30:16.302555

    Mabel commented on this recipe

    I made this yesterday -it is really lovely and one for my Favourites folder. Mabel

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  • 2008-06-07 20:23:07.66267

    watashi commented on this recipe

    i have just made this bread and it's beautiful fluffy and soft, i will make it on a regular basis :)

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  • 2008-06-12 18:40:19.469667

    emmawemma rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    This is a great recipe, full proof and made it by hand. Substituted 150g stonemill brown and the rest white which was lovely.

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  • 2008-07-13 18:45:52.360358

    Evenstar rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I didn't have any strong white flour so just made it with ordinary plain flour and it came out fine. It was yummy with a delicious crust! We spread it with butter while it was still warm and dunked it into the 'Cold Weather Hotpot' - perfect comfort food. I will definitely be making it again and again!

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  • Binder photo lou

    2008-08-04 14:35:42.681746

    lou commented on this recipe

    Lovely and easy to prepare, eaten up in less time than it took to make. Delicious!!

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  • Binder photo lou

    2008-08-04 14:38:26.675917

    lou rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Rate it at top marks

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  • 2008-08-20 18:34:56.979539

    paulas menus rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Will be making this again,superb,foolproof give it a go!!!

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  • Binder photo Jo

    2008-09-17 21:32:24.137944

    Jo rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Excellent recipe, can't stop eating the stuff now!

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  • 2008-09-20 17:57:42.969112

    Pammy rated and commented on this recipe

    4 stars

    First loaf of bread I have ever made - and by hand too. Very easy to do, very few ingredients needed and it was lovely. Will certainl do again. I left it in the oven nearly 30 minutes, but next time will leave a couple minutes more to make more brown (fan oven)

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  • 2008-09-22 18:00:02.622288

    Madbubbles rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    I love making home made bread but unfortunately it normally comes out quite dense and hard so I tend to just use the breadmaker.....until I tried this recipe. It is SO easy, and bread is light and fluffy and very tasty. Will be sticking to this one in future and not even bothering with anything else.

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  • 2008-09-29 14:18:13.747716

    janet rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Used dough setting on breadmaker, made 2 smaller loaves. Soft ,light and fluffy. Will make rolls next time. A great success.

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  • 2008-10-06 12:45:15.787519

    MrBill rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    First attempt came out a little 'dense' - but nonetheless a very worthy and completely edible attempt! Second time round I used warm / tepid water with a dissolved tablespoon of sugar. Shaped the dough into a 'bloomer' style loaf - much lighter - don't know if it was down to the sugar or the better rising with the warm water. Great recipe though! Third attempt - same as second but used bread machine - and it's odd just how different (i.e. BETTER) this tastes when made by hand as distinct from baking the same mix in the machine - Anyone else noticed this? Thanks for the recipe!

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  • 2008-10-21 12:29:50.652189

    Nicki commented on this recipe

    I have tried this recipe twice now, and although really tasty it is coming out really dense. I am using dried active yeast. Does anyone have any suggestions? Should I use milk?

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  • 2008-11-11 15:58:37.150341

    blulou commented on this recipe

    Not tried this yet, but from the recipe and ingredients I would say that if your bread isnt fluffy it may be because the water really needs to be tepid to activate the yeast and usually there is some kind of sugar/honey added to feed the yeast. As far as I'm aware every type of yeast needs this, even the easy bake stuff. A couple of tsp of sugar should be fine for these quantities, slightly more if you use honey, but check the instructions on your yeast packet (if using dried).

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  • 2008-11-20 12:04:54.106638

    robyn256 rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Superb - will never need to buy the good stuff again!

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  • 2008-12-08 11:26:54.033219

    Alison rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    Should be a 6 star recipe. Best template for bread making I have ever found. I use 350g white: 150g granary too, and 1/2 milk, 1/2 water (warm); haven't found the need for sugar, but may try it. Adding some chopped walnuts and sultanas makes a great bread to go with cheese. Painting the crust with melted butter when it comes out of the oven gives a lovely, softer crust.10 times better made by hand (Kenwood chef) than in breadmaker; mine has taken to tripping the fuses - but who needs the monster on the worktop anyway?!

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  • 2009-01-06 15:35:45.078315

    Sweet tooth rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    this worked really well. Was so proud as have treid to make bread in the past but it has always been really heavy. Added 1tsp sugar as some others have suggested. Will definately do again.

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  • 2009-01-20 08:25:01.230493

    Robyn rated and commented on this recipe

    5 stars

    So easy! Liked it so much that i had to bake another loaf the next day... did it by hand. Excellent recipe! a keeper!

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Difficulty and servings

Easy

Makes 1 loaf

Preparation and cooking times

Preparation time

Prep 20 mins

Cook time

Cook 25 - 30 mins

Plus 2 hours proving
Freezable

Can't go wrong recipe

Ingredients

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204 kcalories, protein 6.0g, carbohydrate 38.0g, fat 4.0 g, saturated fat 1.0g, fibre 2.0g, salt 1.0 g

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