Easy Italian Bread
Discover the joy of homemade baking with this Easy Italian Bread recipe, perfect for beginners and seasoned bakers alike. With just six pantry-friendly ingredients—like all-purpose flour, olive oil, and active dry yeast—this recipe yields a beautifully golden, soft loaf with a slightly chewy crust. Ready in under two hours, including rise time, this bread is ideal for everything from sandwich-making to serving alongside pasta dishes or soups. The simple steps, including kneading the dough to silky perfection and letting it rise twice for optimal texture, make this a fail-proof way to fill your kitchen with the comforting aroma of freshly baked bread. Perfect for family dinners, entertaining, or everyday enjoyment, this Easy Italian Bread is a timeless classic you'll want to bake again and again.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups Warm water
- 1 tablespoon Active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon Granulated sugar
- 4 cups All-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons Salt
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water, active dry yeast, and granulated sugar. Stir gently and let the mixture sit for 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy, indicating the yeast is activated.
Add 3 cups of flour, salt, and olive oil to the bowl. Mix until a shaggy dough forms. Gradually add the remaining cup of flour, a little at a time, as needed to form a soft, slightly sticky dough.
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. Add small amounts of flour during kneading if the dough is too sticky, but avoid adding too much.
Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning it to coat the surface. Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.
Punch the dough down to release any air bubbles, then shape it into a loaf or divide it into two smaller loaves. Place the loaf or loaves on a parchment-lined baking sheet or in a lightly greased loaf pan.
Cover the dough loosely with a towel and let it rise again for 30-40 minutes, until puffy and slightly larger.
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). If desired, lightly score the top of the bread with a sharp knife or razor for decoration and to help it expand while baking.
Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
Remove from the oven and let the bread cool on a wire rack before slicing and serving.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
267 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 4.0 g | 5% | |
| Saturated Fat | 0.6 g | 3% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% | |
| Sodium | 489 mg | 21% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 49.5 g | 18% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 1.9 g | 7% | |
| Total Sugars | 1.7 g | ||
| Protein | 6.9 g | 14% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 10 mg | 1% | |
| Iron | 2.4 mg | 13% | |
| Potassium | 72 mg | 2% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
