Every so often, I let myself dream about being the ultimate wife and mother and making something from scratch. Lately, I’ve been wiling away my daydreams about making homemade bread because frankly, there’s nothing like the smell of baking bread to make you feel all warm and gooey inside. I’ve had a bread maker for years, but really don’t enjoy hauling it inside all that often (thanks to no kitchen cabinet space, poor Mr. Breadman’s home is in the garage). Could homemade bread be that hard? Turns out, NO, it isn’t. So I’ve rounded up some simple recipes that even the unseasoned baker can manage (and trust me, I’m said baker and even I could handle this!). Enjoy!
1. No-Knead Bread (In A Hurry)
The first homemade bread I ever made was using this recipe, and even my worry-prone self got through it with a beautiful loaf at the end (I pretty much doubt that I’m “doing it right” every step of the way). If you want bread that doesn’t require the typical 18-24 hour rise time, this is a great option because it only needs a 6-8 hour rise, followed by a 1-2 hour proof (that’s the second rise after you’ve shaped the dough) and only 45 minutes of baking in a dutch oven. You will seriously be amazed that this 4-ingredient bread came from your loving hands, not from a commercial baker (or France!).
Get over to TheKitchn.com for this super easy and delicious recipe!
Source: RoxanasHomeBaking.com
2. White Sandwich Bread
I just love toast and nothing tastes as good as homemade toast from white sandwich bread. There’s a little chewiness mixed in with the crisp crust, YUM! The great thing about this recipe is it’s another one that doesn’t require a long rise and proof time. You can have this cooked in just 30 minutes, after less than 2 hours of rising! Your family will never want to go back to store-bought bread again!
Head over to RoxanasHomeBaking.com for this delicious and simple bread recipe.
Source: MyMundateAndMiraculousLife.com
3. Easy French Bread
Sure, you can buy a loaf of French bread at the store for under $2, but we’ve already established how much more fulfilling it is to make your own! And bonus, this recipe seriously only takes an hour from start to finish! It has only 4 ingredients (plus water), so no worrying about the types of products going in to your bread. You will wow dinner guests with your artisanal bread!
Head over to MyMundateAndMiraculousLife.com to get this amazing recipe.
Source: HandleTheHeat.com
4. Focaccia Bread
Yeah, we just got fancy with this addition of Focaccia Bread. Bread is one of my favorite parts of going out to dinner, especially at Italian restaurants, and I love Focaccia bread. It’s chewy and crispy at the same time and is packed full of flavor. The best part? It’s actually not hard to make! It will take you longer to put all the ingredients together than it will to actually bake this delicious bread!
Get yourself over to HandleTheHeat.com for a great video on making this wonderful bread all for yourself.
Source: AverieCooks.com
5. Sourdough Bread
Ok, I’ve always wanted to make sourdough bread. But did you know it can take up to a WEEK to make? A traditional loaf needs a sourdough starter, which needs 5-7 days to ferment to get that “sour” taste that we all love about sourdough breads. I personally don’t have that much time or attention to wait that long, and that’s why this sourdough is right up my alley. This version uses greek yogurt and sour cream to speed up the fermentation process and you will only need a minimum of 6 hours for the first rise. Score! Once you get all the ingredients together, it’s basically the same process as any other artisanal bread: mix, let rise, proof and bake for 40 minutes.
Can you smell your bread baking yet?