Here’s a simple, classic 4-ingredient bread recipe that’s easy to make and doesn’t require fancy equipment:
🍞 Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet (≈2 ¼ tsp) active dry yeast
- 1 ¼ cups warm water (about 110°F / 43°C)
- 1 tsp salt
Optional: 1 tbsp sugar or honey to help yeast rise faster
🥣 Instructions
- Activate the yeast
- Mix warm water and sugar (if using) in a bowl
- Sprinkle yeast over the water and let it sit 5–10 minutes until foamy
- Mix the dough
- Add flour and salt to the yeast mixture
- Stir until it forms a rough dough
- Knead
- On a floured surface, knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic
- Alternatively, use a stand mixer with a dough hook
- First rise
- Place dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let it rise 1–2 hours until doubled
- Shape the loaf
- Punch down the dough
- Shape into a loaf and place in a greased loaf pan
- Second rise
- Cover and let it rise 30–45 minutes
- Bake
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C)
- Bake for 25–30 minutes until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped
- Cool
- Let the bread cool completely on a wire rack before slicing
✨ Tips
- For a rustic touch, sprinkle flour or seeds on top before baking
- Use warm water, not hot—too much heat kills the yeast
- This bread keeps 2–3 days at room temperature or can be frozen
If you want, I can give you a super-easy no-knead 4-ingredient bread recipe that takes just 10 minutes of prep and still gives a soft, fluffy loaf. It’s perfect if you want bread fast.
Do you want me to do that?
