Top 5 easy bread recipes
Bread-making doesn't have to be a challenge – discover our easy bread recipes for a simple loaf. Try making your own white, rye or tiger bread.
Making your own bread may seem intimidating, but it doesn't have to be. Our easy baking recipes will transform just a handful of storecupboard ingredients into fluffy white loaves.
Watch our video for making three basic bread recipes from a simple dough mixture. To make bread without yeast, see our soda bread recipes. Or find a machine to do the work with our review of the best bread makers.
If you're up for a long-term project, discover the secret to expert sourdough bread. For the ultimate selection of recipes, see our bread collection.
1) Easy white bread
Make this easy white bread for the perfect everyday loaf. Mix strong white flour, salt and a sachet of fast-action yeast in a large bowl. Make a well in the center, add water and olive oil and knead for 10 minutes. Leave to prove, then bake for 30 minutes. To make this in a breadmaker, add all the ingredients to the machine and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
2) Tiger bread
Create a supermarket favourite at home with this tiger bread recipe. Mix strong white bread flour, yeast, sugar and salt then gradually add water and knead for 10 minutes. Leave to prove until doubled in size. Knead, cover and prove again. Coat the loaf in a paste made from rice flour, yeast, sesame oil, salt and sugar. Bake for 35 minutes – once cooked, the loaf should sound hollow when the base is tapped and should feel light for its size.
3) Classic white loaf
Get ahead by baking a classic white loaf and freezing for up to one month. This versatile loaf is great for sandwiches, toast and even on it's own with a generous pat of butter. Combine strong white flour, yeast, salt and water and knead by hand or with a stand mixer using a dough hook. Cover and leave to rise until doubled in size. Knead, cover and leave to rise again, before baking for 30 minutes.
4) Easy-bake bread
This lightly sweetened easy-bake bread is a great way to use up any seeds, nuts or flavourings. Use a wooden spoon to combine bread flour, yeast, salt and a tablespoon of honey, then knead for 10 minutes. Turn the dough into an oiled bread tin and put in a warm place until the bread fills the tin. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden.
5) Rye bread
For a loaf with bolder flavour, try our hearty rye bread recipe. Feel free to experiment with the ratio of rye flour to white flour. Rye contains less gluten than white flour so the dough will not feel as springy as a conventional white loaf. Once you've made your dough, leave to rise in a warm place until doubled in size. Slash a few incisions on an angle then bake until dark brown and hollow sounding when tapped.
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What's your favourite loaf to make at home? Leave a comment below...
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