Homemade Bread Recipe: Soft, Fluffy, and Full of Flavor

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Want whole wheat bread and white bread? Try this delicious homemade bread recipe that is soft, fluffy, and full of flavor.

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Do you love the idea of having your own homestead? Or maybe you want to start eating cleaner food? There are so many places to start and so many opinions. I honestly believe that the basics are where to start. What are the basics, you ask? Anyone wanting to begin homesteading or eating cleaner doesn’t need land or money. A few ingredients and patience is all you need, because simple living starts with bread.

In the Beginning

Humans have been making bread for over 14,000 years. Yeast bread was developed by the Egyptians in 1350 BC. I can see it now someone forgot or accidently soaked wheat grains and discovered the miracle of yeast and the side effect of it, alcohol. From there bread grew in popularity and had Roman bakeries making enough bread for 2,000 people daily. Bread is still a large part of our daily life, but now we have far more variety.

Eight years ago, when I was first married, bread was the first thing I learned. If I had been told I was doing everything I’m doing now. I would have curled up into a ball. That may be exaggerated. However, making bread was a whole new world for me. Bread making was enough for me back then.

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It has been eight years since then. I now make my own natural yeast, shampoo/body wash bars, garden, can, look after over 40 animals, and taking care of my family. And I am learning more each day. I’m still not perfect and struggle to be a good homemaker, wife, and mother. But I know God placed us on this earth to learn and to grow and that is what I’m trying to do. Little by little.

Why Homemade Bread?

Homemade bread has been a staple of civilization for a reason. It is filling, delicious, and packed with nutrients, especially when you use fresh ground flour.

When you make your own bread, it lacks the preservatives and additives that store-bought bread has. Your homemade bread will have less sugar, and sodium and no preservatives such as potassium bromate, hydrogenated oil, and azodicarbonamide.
Making your own bread can also save you money in the long run, especially with the rate of inflation. Another bonus is that you can tweak the recipe however you would like. It can also be a great stress reliever when you knead the bread by hand.

Are you worried that the homemade bread won’t last as long? Placing your loaf of bread in the fridge works wonders to help keep the bread longer. Made multiple loaves? Place the extras in bread sacks and then into the freezer. They will last weeks in there.

This recipe is the best of both world. You get the benefits of whole wheat flour while also having the delicious taste of white flour. It also makes 4 loaves, which I love because one goes in the fridge and the others go in the freezer. Depending on how much bread your family eats this recipe could keep you stocked for several weeks.

Step 1: Activating the Yeast

• Mix: Place the yeast, sugar and 1/2 cup of warm water in a separate bowl
• Tip: The water needs to be at least 110-115 degrees to activate the yeast and no hotter then 130 degrees. If you don’t have a thermometer you can use the inside of your wrist. If it’s hot on your wrist then it should be hot enough.
• Let Rest: Let the yeast mixture bubble and grow for about 10-15 minutes

Step 2: Waiting for the yeast

• While you wait combine 5 cups of hot water and 6 cups of wheat flour and 1 cup of all-purpose flour. Mix until blended.
• Once blended add the salt, olive oil and honey. Mix until combined and then add 1 cup of all-purpose flour.
• Add the yeast to the dough mixture and combined thoroughly. Slowly add 3-4 cups of all-purpose flour.
• Tip for easier clean up: If you put the olive oil in first and then place the honey in the same measuring cup that was used for the oil the honey will easily slide out without a mess.

Step 3: Kneading the Dough

• Knead in a machine for 10 minutes on slow or until the dough cleanly pulls away from the side
• Kneading by hand you’ll need to flour the counter and your hands and fold the dough and press down. Repeat this process for 10 minutes or until the dough is no longer sticking to your counter.
• Tip: If the yeast hasn’t bubbled your water may have been to cold or to hot. Start the yeast process over again to make sure it bubbles before adding to dough mixture. If you do not, then your bread may not rise.

Step 4: Grease & Flour Pan

• Grease and flour bread pans. You can use shortening or spray oil to grease pans. If using shortening use flour to coat the inside of the pan.
• Grease or flour hands and counters. You can use oil or flour to coat the counter and your hands to be able to mold the dough.

Step 5: Mold & Rise

• Mold bread dough into 4 loaves. Fold the dough so it’s in a long cylinder shape. It’s okay if the bottom is ugly. My bottoms always have a seam. Tuck the ends under for a prettier looking loaf.
• Place the loaves into the bread pans and cover with a damp flour sack cloth. Place in a warm area to help it to rise. Let the dough rise a little over the pan for about 35 minutes. This will also depend on how warm your house is. Be patient!
• Preheat oven to 350
• Tip: Make sure the cloth stays damp or it will stick to your dough and deflate it when pulling the cloth off. Also the damp cloth is to keep the dough from drying out as it rises.

The Reward of Homemade Bread

Congratulations, on making four beautiful loaves of bread! Enjoy! Take pride in what you just accomplished. Making bread may seem simple, but you did something amazing. You have started down a path that will help you live a naturally simple and adventurous life.

Remember you don’t have to be perfect. What you make doesn’t have to be perfect. All you need to do is keep learning and growing little by little.

This recipe is from the wonderful Mother-In-Law that taught me how to make bread.

Yield: 4 loaves

Homemade Bread

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This homemade bread has the best of both worlds with both wheat and all-purpose flour. It is airy and delicious! Your family will want to ditch the store-bought bread after trying this.

Prep Time 25 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Rising Time 35 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp Instant Yeast
• 1/2 Cup warm water
• 1 Tbsp Sugar
• 5 Cups Hot Water
• 2 Tbsp Salt
• 2/3 Cup Olive Oil
• 2/3 Cup Honey
• 6 Cups Wheat Flour
• 6 Cups All-purpose Flour

Instructions

1. First place the yeast and tablespoon of sugar in
a separate bowl with the 1/2 cup of warm water.

2. As you let the yeast bubble and rise combine the
hot water and 6 cups of wheat flour and 1 cup of all-purpose flour. Mix until blended.

3.  Add salt, olive oil and honey. Mix until blended and then add 1 cup of all-purpose flour Tip: Put olive oil in first then use the same measure cup for the honey. This way the honey will slide right out of the cup.

4.  Once all the ingredients are combined add the yeast mixture and blend thoroughly. - if your yeast hasn't bubbled your water may have been too cold or too hot. Redo the yeast mixture and make sure it
bubbles and grows before adding or your bread may not rise. If it still doesn't work your yeast may be too old.

5. Add 3-4 cups of all-purpose flour to the bread mixture.

Kneading in a mixer: Place on low for about 10 minutes or until the dough
comes away cleanly from the side of the bowl. Lightly oil hands and counter and place the dough on the counter. 

If you are doing it by hand sprinkle flour or oil on the counter fold the dough and then push it into the counter. Repeat this process for 10 minutes or until the dough is no longer sticking to your counter.

6. Divide bread dough into 4 equal balls. Then mold
them into loaves of bread.

7.  Grease and flour your bread pans. Use shortening and flour or just use the shortening spray (this will depend on what kind of pan you have). When greasing and flouring your pan rub the shortening around the pan so it covers the inside. Take a spoonful of flour. Pick the pan up moving it around so the flour coats the entire inside. You can remove the extra flour by flipping the pan upside down and gently tapping the counter with the pan.

8.  Place the molded bread dough into the bread pans and cover them with a damp flour sack cloth.

9.  Let the loaves rise until they reach at least the top of the pan or a little above. This will take about 35 minutes, but will depend on how warm your house is. My advice be patient.

10.  Preheat oven 350 degrees

11.  Once risen cook bread for 40-45 minutes.

12.  Take the bread pans out of the oven once cooked and gently dump the bread out onto a cooling rack and flip them up right.

13.  Once cooled cut the bread in slices and place into a bread sack. Place the loaves, you won't use right away, into the freezer.

Notes

It is fantastic right out of the oven, especially with homemade jam.

Allow the bread to cool to cut slices easier and it helps to have a good bread knife.

Check out more of our delicious recipes: Strawberry & Banana Smoothie Biscuits and Egg Gravy

Did you like what you see? How was your experience making the homemade bread? Let me know in the comments below.

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