Homemade Bread

If you'd like to learn how to bake bread, here's a wonderful place to start. This easy white bread recipe bakes up deliciously golden brown. There's nothing like the homemade aroma wafting through your kitchen as it bakes.

Ingredients

1 package (7g) active dry yeast
2-1/4 cups warm water
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon salt
2 tablespoons canola oil
6-1/4 to 6-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

Method

1. In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the sugar, salt, oil and 3 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, to form a soft dough.
2. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 8-10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1-1/2 hours.
3. Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide dough in half. Shape each into a loaf. Place in 2 greased 9x5" loaf pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, 30-45 minutes.
4. Bake at 190°C for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and bread sounds hollow when tapped. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool. 

Add Seeds or Nuts

Seeds can add nutritional value as well as texture to bread. They contribute protein and fibre, as well as healthy fats. Try ground sunflower or pumpkin seeds, or ride the growing wave of favour found in flaxseeds. They're tiny, but they're a good source of fibre, magnesium, manganese, protein and vitamin B1 (thiamin). 

Test Kitchen Tips

Be careful that your water isn't too hot when proofing yeast. Learn how to here.

Nutrition Facts

1 slice: 102 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 222mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fibre), 3g protein.