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Basic Homemade Bread

Source of Recipe

From "Taste of Home Ultimate Baking Book"


Recipe Introduction

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

List of Ingredients

◦  1 package (¼ ounce) active dry yeast
◦  3 tablespoons sugar plus ½ teaspoon sugar
◦  2 ¼ cups warm water (105° to 115° F)
◦  1 tablespoon salt
◦  6 ¼ to 6 ¾ cups bread flour
◦  2 tablespoons canola oil


Recipe

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and ½ teaspoon sugar in warm water; let stand until bubbles form on surface. Whisk together the remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, salt, and 3 cups flour. Stir oil into yeast mixture; pour into the flour mixture and beat until smooth. Stir in enough of the remaining flour, ½ cup at a time, to form a soft dough.

Turn dough onto a floured surface; knead 8 to 10 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled, 1 ½ to 2 hours.

Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide dough in half. Shape each into a loaf. Place in two greased 9 x 5-inch loaf pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, 1 to 1 ½ hours.

Bake at 375° F until golden brown and bread sounds hollow when tapped or has reached an internal temperature of 200° F, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

Makes 2 loaves
(16 pieces each)



❧ Test Kitchen Tip:
Fresh bread lasts 3 to 4 days when properly stored in a bread box. Otherwise, wrap it in foil, place it in a freezer bag and freeze it; bread lasts for up to 6 months in the freezer.