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It is so easy to make our Italian bread recipe at home! This soft, crust bread is delicious and takes just 6 simple ingredients.
A Simple Yeast Bread
Making homemade bread really isn’t difficult, especially making simple loaves like this Italian bread recipe.
For this recipe, you don’t even need to pull out a mixer; all you need is a large mixing bowl! Plus, this Italian bread recipe only requires SIX ingredients that you likely already have on hand. The finished product is not just one, but TWO yummy loaves!
We love to serve it with our favorite pasta dishes (like Spaghetti and Fettuccine Alfredo) or a fresh salad. We’ve even added garlic butter and toasted it for a bit of crust and extra flavor (there are never leftovers)!
So don’t let the yeast intimidate you. Of all the yeast breads you could try to master, this one is one of the simplest!
WHY WE LOVE IT:
- Pantry staples. The ingredients are simple and most likely already in your pantry!
- Easy steps. Working with yeast is simple – and we’ll “proof” it! 😉
- Makes two loaves! Your effort will be rewarded with two delicious loaves of crusty Italian bread. YUM!
Ingredients
PREP TIME: 40 minutes
RISE TIME: 1 hour 30 minutes
COOK TIME: 30 minutes
- 2 cups very warm water – between 105°F and 115°F
- 5 teaspoons instant yeast or rapid rise – If you use active dry yeast, you will need to bloom it in warm water before adding in other ingredients. see How to Activate Yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil – canola oil, or olive oil
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 5 cups all purpose flour – or bread flour for chewier crumb
- optional – butter to brush on top of baked loaves
How to Make Italian Bread
- DOUGH. Whisk 2 cups warm water, 5 tablespoons instant yeast, 1 tablespoon sugar, 2 tablespoons oil, and 2 cups of flour in a large bowl till smooth. Let sit in a warm place till bubbly, about 30 minutes.
- Add 1 tablespoon salt and 1½ cups flour and mix. Continue mixing in flour until no longer sticky and a soft dough is formed.
- RISE. Knead for a couple of minutes on a lightly floured surface till smooth. Return to bowl. Cover and let rise till doubled, about an hour.
- Placing the dough near a warm window, crock pot, or oven can help it rise faster.
- When it looks like it has doubled in size poke it with your finger. If the dough springs back and fills in the dent, let it rise longer. If the dent stays, it’s ready.
- SHAPE. Divide the dough in half and roll each piece into a long loaf about 12 inches long. Place both loaves on a greased baking pan.
- 2ND RISE. Cover with a tea towel and let loaves rise till doubled (about 30-45 minutes). Score using a sharp blade or scissors to make 3-4 shallow (¼ to ½ inch) slits on the top of the dough before baking. This allows air to escape without cracking the bread.
- BAKE. Bake in an oven preheated to 375°F for about 30 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Let the loaves cool on wire racks. Serve this Italian bread recipe warm on its own or with your favorite pastas and lasagnas.
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Italian Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups very warm water
- 5 teaspoon instant yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 5 cups all purpose flour
Instructions
- Whisk water, yeast, sugar, oil, and 2 cups of flour in a large bowl till smooth. Let sit in a warm place till bubbly, about 30 minutes. Add the salt and add enough flour to make a soft dough.
- Knead a few times on a floured counter till smooth. Return to bowl. Cover and let rise till doubled, about an hour.
- When it looks like it has doubled in size poke it with your finger. If the dough springs back and fills in the dent, let it rise longer. If the dent stays, it's ready.
- Divide the dough in half and roll each piece into a long loaf about 12 inches long. Place both loaves on a greased baking pan.
- Cover and let loaves rise till doubled, 30-45 minutes. Cut a few diagonal slits across the top of each loaf.
- Bake in an oven preheated to 375°F for about 30 minutes or till the crust is golden brown.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Shape the loaves of dough, but don’t let them rise. Instead, freeze until solid then wrap with plastic wrap and again with foil and freeze for up to 3 months.
To bake, unwrap a loaf, place it on a baking sheet, and cover it loosely with a tea towel. Let the dough rise until double, add scoring slices, and bake.
To keep your loaves fresh for as long as possible, wrap them with plastic and store them at room temperature for 2-3 days, or wrap them again with foil and freeze them for 3 months.
I am assuming the calorie count is for the whole loaf??
Correct! For the whole recipe. Definitely not for just one slice. 😉
The best ever! Oh my goodness, it is perfect. Thank you
You are welcome! I am so glad you think so 🙂 Thank you!
Rave reviews from the family when they tried this bread. Yummy and so easy!
Happy to hear that! Thank you for letting me know!
Can I use a plastic bowl
Delicious. My go to bread recipe!
Happy to hear that! Thank you!
Hi! This is my first time ever attempting to bake bread. I’m only on step 2 but I wasn’t able to get all of the flour (the final 3 cups) to mix in smoothly. It seems like there is too much flour. any thoughts? Thank you!
No, it’s definitely not too much. Did you knead it enough? I am sorry, I wish I knew for sure.
Super easy and absolutely delicious. This is my favourite, and only, bread recipe.
That makes me happy to hear! Thank you so much!!
So far my dough is not rising well. This is my 2nd bread attempt. I really like this recipe so far. I kind of think my issue may be temperature? Would temp affect the rise? I also didn’t use instant yeast. That could be a thing too? ❤️
Those two things could have easily affected it or also bad yeast. Make sure your yeast is fresh…that is key. Hopefully, you perfect it 🙂
Italian bread recipe sounds great. Looking forward to making some to share.
Thank you! We love it & it’s a great recipe to share with others 🙂
What a wonder and easy and delicious recipe! Will be a staple in my kitchen. ThAnk you.
You are so welcome! Thank you for saying that!