Bread is a recipe I’ve wanted to share on Baking with Granny for quite some time, and right now with all that is going on in the world, it seems like a pretty good time to get my bum in gear and share our Easy Bread recipe with the world.
Bread is always one of the first staples to be sold out in a crisis (after toilet roll, apparently…) which is understandable. It is so versatile and can be used as part of any of your three main meals, as well as snacking; toast, sandwiches, with soup…just to name a few.
If you’re now finding yourself in similar circumstances to us – either in lock down and struggling to get to the shops, or when you do get to the supermarkets there isn’t even a bread crumb left on the shelves – fear not! Our Easy Bread recipe is, well, just that…EASY!
This bread can be made with just a few store-cupboard ingredients, and if you don’t happen to have any Strong Bread Flour, you can easily swap it for Plain Flour; just be sure to read the ingredient tips below.
The best bread I’ve ever tasted!
I promise you that even the most novice of home bakers will feel like an expert bread maker with this recipe, as there’s really nothing that you can go wrong with. Simply start with your dry ingredients in bowl, add the wet ingredients, mix and knead, then let the dough do the rest of the hard work.
No mixers, no dough-hooks, no bread makers… This is good old fashioned, Easy Bread – just like all our Granny’s used to bake. And lets face it, they were/are the experts in surviving tough times! Stay safe bakers.
Ingredients:
Strong Bread Flour
For the most predictable bread dough, Strong Bread Flour is the best. This is due to the amount of protein (ie. gluten) in the flour, which gives the bread a good structure and chew factor.
However if you don’t have any or can’t get your hands on some, Plain Flour is a decent alternative; you’ll just need to work the dough a little harder when kneading to activate what gluten is in the flour. Take a look at the Baking with Granny Instagram to see just how much Granny works a dough made with Plain Flour.
Oh and you can of course use Wholemeal Flour, should you prefer.
Fast Action Yeast
There was a time when you could buy various types of yeast but nowadays, Fast Action Yeast in 7g sachets is the most accessible. It also works brilliantly in many recipes but especially this Easy Bread, as no extra measuring, or preparation is required to activate it.
Salt
When it comes to baking bread, you don’t want your yeast getting ahead of itself. That’s where salt comes in! Salt retards the yeast and slows it down, giving the gluten in your flour time to strengthen and develop. It also adds to the flavour.
Butter/Margarine/Oil
Although this is actually an optional extra in your bread (so don’t worry if you don’t have any) it adds a little something more. I personally use margarine because we always have it to hand and it suits the vegans amongst us. But you could even experiment with different oils for a subtle change in taste.
Warm Water
Cool water will also work but you’ll be left waiting a while for your dough to come to life. Warm water is preferable but just don’t let it be too hot either.
Ingredients
- 500 g Strong White Flour
- 7 g Fast-action Yeast (one sachet)
- 2 tsp Salt
- 3 tbsp Butter/Margarine/Oil (whichever you prefer)
- 300 ml Warm Water
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add the flour, yeast and salt and mix to combine. Make a well in the middle of the mixture and add the butter/margarine/oil and warm water. Mix to combine, adding a little more water if required, and using your hands to bring together into a soft, lumpy, slightly sticky dough.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Place the dough in an oiled bowl and cover with a piece of oil cling film, or a damp tea towel. Allow the dough to rise for at least 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.
- Line a baking sheet with some greaseproof paper and set aside. Knock back the dough (by gently punching the air from the dough and pulling it back on itself) before forming into your desired loaf shape.
- Place the loaf onto your prepared baking sheet (covering again with the oiled cling film or damp tea towel) and leave to prove for a further 1 hour, or until the dough has doubled in size.Pre-heat your oven to 220°c (200°c for fan assisted ovens or Gas Mark 7).
- Before baking, with a sharp knife add a few scores to the top of your bread. Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and the bread sounds hollow with tapped underneath.Leave to cool on a wire rack or enjoy warm, sliced with lots of butter.
Notes
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Love the recipies but could you please give the oven temperatures in farenheit for here in the US
Thanks
Hi Judy.
As we are based in the UK we use the metric system. For alternative units of measurement I would recommend using a converter – either online or an app.
Amy :)
To be fair Amy, it would not take much to put Fahrenheit in brackets “Bake at 220C (450F)” as many sites do and would help retain some of your audience. When I see an american recipe in Fahrenheit it really helps when they do it for us who use Centigrade. Cheers :)
The conversion for 220C is 450 F. Hope this helps.
This is a fantastic recipe I made a lovely loaf and today will use the same recipe but make rolls instead.
Fantastic recipe, worked first time making a lovely loaf. If I were to reduce the amount of salt would this have an effect on the loaf rising?
The best bread recipe ever many thanks just taken the loaf out of the oven
I will never buy another loaf
Great recipe. Followed it exactly and the result was delicious. Thank you!
Yes! Made this today…did exactly as instructed and it came out perfect – just like in your photos. Thank you!
beautiful bread thank you! it turned out so good. cam you please give an estimate of calories?
Congratulations! this bread recipe was the best
And believe me I have tried countless,this is one I shall continue to use
An I skip the second prove?
No it won’t work just follow the recipe
I have a problem finding a warm place in my house to let it prove. Can I put it in the oven at lowest setting?
Put a bowl of boiling water in the bottom of a cold oven and place the dough in there to rise.
I used my electric heat mat in my cold kitchen
Best recipe I have found…thank you! Made a few loafs already and all soft and light. Tried with margarine and sunflower oil and the oil has been the fluffiest which is great but both have been devoured quickly! I have reduced the salt to half for personal preference but still a great taste. Will be experimenting with adding some seeds etc but think this will be my “go to” bread recipe for a long time!
A great recipe for everyday bread. Easy to do when I get home from work, and make bread for the next day. Turns the frustrations of the day into a lovely loaf!
Can’t believe I actually made bread lol! This is very easy to do and I am now going to try whole meal next time.
So yummy!
Thanks, the loaf came out well with olive oil, and plain white flour. Just how do you get sesame seeds to stick..
Thanks
Jack
Didn’t rise very well on second proof, looked more like a pancake. Think my dough was too soft
Today I used this recipe to make bread for the first time. It was very easy to follow and came out well. Thank you for sharing the recipe
– from a uni student bored under lockdown
Can nuts, fruit etc be added to this recipe?
Absolutely, Donna! This recipe can be used as a base for any additions you want to try adding.
Sorry, this just did not work for me.
Usually i work by cups, but this time i got the scales out and measured everything properly, bought olive oil, and premium brand fast acting yeast (which says to follow normal recipes with it)
I found this mixture far too loose and soft, needing to add more flour to get to a kneadable consistancy.
Wanting to try this recipe, i carried on, but found the amount of rise dissappointing on each prove.
I note that compared to the recipes i made before in my old bread maker, this recipe has no sugar in it – which begs what the yeast is supposed to feed on, in the absence of baking powder or bicarb soda.
Really disappointed – was looking forward to fresh bread
I’m sorry you didn’t have success, SonjaAnn. As you’ll see from the previous reviews this is generally a very successful recipe.
Additional sugar isn’t required to feed the yeast as there is an adequate amount that occurs naturally in the flour to allow this.
Based on your feedback it sounds to me like your yeast might have been the issue. It could be the date on it, or just a bad batch – I’d recommend testing it: https://www.thespruceeats.com/how-long-is-yeast-good-for-1388307
If not, then it could be that you haven’t left it to rise for long enough. An hour is usually sufficient but different temperatures and atmospheres can influence this too, meaning a longer or shorter period of time is needed.
Hope that helps!
I’m several months on from trying this recipe and I still use it every time – sometimes shape into rolls.or divide into two baguettes. Only thing I’ve changed, and this is to suit our personal tastes, is I’ve halved the salt with no detriment to the rise. Great recipe!
Is that salted or unsalted butter?