After This Recipe, You Will No Longer Buy Bread — You’ll Make It Yourself at Home

I’m so happy you’re here—because this Homemade Bread recipe is the one that finally makes you say, “Why was I ever buying bread at the store?” It’s soft, fluffy, golden, beautifully chewy, and smells so good while baking that I’m always kicking myself for not filming the moment it comes out of the oven. Anything but boring!!

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Homemade Bread – Overview of the Recipe

This homemade bread is beautifully simple: just warm water, flour, yeast, olive oil, and salt. No fancy techniques, no complicated kneading—just tender, fresh, bakery-quality bread you can make any day of the week. It’s perfect for sandwiches, toast, garlic bread, dipping in soups, and more.

Once you try it, you will truly never go back to buying store-bought bread.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Only 5 basic ingredients
• No special equipment required
• Beginner-friendly
• Soft, tender crumb with a golden crust
• Ready in about an hour
• Cheaper and healthier than store-bought
• Perfect for sandwiches, rolls, dipping, and more
• Freezes beautifully

What Does Homemade Bread Taste Like?

This homemade bread has the classic comforting taste of fresh bakery bread—light, soft, ever so slightly chewy, with a delicate flavor from the olive oil and a warm yeasty aroma. The crust bakes beautifully golden and the inside stays pillowy and moist. It tastes fresh, wholesome, and downright irresistible.

Benefits of This Recipe

• Uses pantry staples
• No preservatives or additives
• Customizable to sweet or savory versions
• Great for meal prep
• Budget-friendly
• Makes the house smell amazing

Ingredients for Homemade Bread

• 4 tablespoons (60 ml) olive oil
• 1 tablespoon (10 g) dry yeast
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1⅓ cups (320 ml) warm water
• 4¾ cups (570 g) plain flour

Optional Add-Ins

• 1 tablespoon sugar or honey (for a softer, sweeter loaf)
• Garlic powder
• Herbs (rosemary, thyme, oregano)
• Sesame seeds or poppy seeds
• Everything Bagel seasoning
• Parmesan cheese
• Whole grains

Tools You’ll Need

• Large mixing bowl
• Wooden spoon or spatula
• Clean kitchen towel
• Baking tray or loaf pan
• Parchment paper (optional)

Additions & Substitutions

Additions

• Add 2 tablespoons butter for richer flavor
• Add ½ cup oats for a rustic loaf
• Add 1 cup shredded cheese for a cheesy pull-apart version
• Add roasted garlic for gourmet garlic bread

Substitutions

• Swap olive oil for melted butter or vegetable oil
• Substitute half the flour with whole wheat flour
• Use instant yeast instead of dry yeast (no activation needed)
• Use warm milk instead of water for a softer loaf

How to Make Homemade Bread

1. Activate the yeast. In a large bowl, combine warm water and yeast. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.
2. Add remaining ingredients. Add olive oil, salt, and flour gradually. Mix until a soft dough forms.
3. Knead the dough. Turn onto a floured surface and knead for 5–7 minutes, or until smooth and elastic.
4. First rise. Place dough back into the bowl, cover with a clean towel, and let rise for 30–45 minutes, or until doubled.
5. Shape the loaf. Punch down the dough and shape it into a loaf or round bread. Place onto a baking tray or into a greased loaf pan.
6. Second rise. Let rise for 15 minutes while the oven preheats to 375°F (190°C).
7. Bake. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the top is golden and the bread sounds hollow when tapped.
8. Cool. Let cool on a rack before slicing—if you can resist!

What to Serve With Homemade Bread

• Butter & jam
• Olive oil + balsamic vinegar dipping
• Soup (tomato, chicken noodle, creamy potato)
• Sandwiches
• Garlic bread
• Avocado toast
• Breakfast eggs
• Cheese plates

Storage Instructions

• Room temperature: 3–4 days (store in an airtight bag)
• Refrigerator: Not recommended (dries out bread)
• Freezer: Up to 3 months (wrap tightly)
• Reheat: Bake at 300°F for 10 minutes to refresh

General Information

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Rise Time: 45 minutes
• Bake Time: 25–30 minutes
• Servings: 10–12 slices
• Difficulty: Easy
• Category: Bread / Baking / Homemade

Conclusion

This Homemade Bread is everything we crave—warm, soft, golden, comforting, and unbelievably easy. Once you bake it, the smell alone will convince you to ditch store-bought bread forever. It’s wholesome, budget-friendly, and perfect for everyday meals.

If you loved this recipe, try my Cottage Cheese Protein Bagels, Quick No-Bake Crunch Bars, and Spinach Feta Puff Pastry Trees next!

Share Your Creations!

Make this bread at home? I’d love to see it! Leave a review and share your loaf photos on Pinterest—your homemade creations always inspire me!

Nutritional Information (per slice)

Approximate values:

• Calories: 155
• Carbs: 27g
• Fat: 3g
• Protein: 4g