Bread! Just saying the word makes me smile. In fact, I think my eyes smile too. Some people call bread their weakness, but I’m not here to speak negatively about it—or myself! Instead, I embrace my love for bread, to the point where I started experimenting with making my own. I’ve tested, added, removed, failed, burned, and created textures from gooey to fluffy. But guess what? None of those experiments went to waste. I kept the recipes that worked and learned from the ones that didn’t.
This one? This recipe is my favorite. It’s foolproof. Whether you need quick burger buns, soft sandwich bread, dinner rolls, or even herbed bread, this one does the trick every time.
The Easiest Homemade Bread Recipe
This recipe is so forgiving that even if you let it rise for just 20 minutes for the second proof, it still turns out delicious—slightly denser but still flavorful and soft on the inside.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups warm water
- 1 ¾ tablespoons yeast
- 4 tablespoons sugar
- 6 tablespoons oil
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
Instructions:
- Mix water, yeast, sugar, and oil. Let it stand for about 5 minutes until it becomes foamy.
- Add flour and salt, then knead for about 2 minutes.
- Cover and let it rise in a warm area for 20 minutes.
- Divide the dough into rolls and let them rise for another 35 minutes.
- Bake at 400°F for 12 minutes.
- Enjoy soft, sweet, golden-brown bread with a texture similar to Hawaiian bread—just with less sugar!
Air Fryer Bread – A Game Changer!
I recently tested baking this bread in my air fryer, and it only took 6 minutes! My air fryer has a preheat option that runs at 400°F for 4 minutes and then turns off. While my dough was rising on the board for 35 minutes, I placed it in a baking pan that fits inside my air fryer (note to self: next time, let the second rise happen in the baking pan). After 5 minutes of baking, it was perfectly golden and done. I’m so glad I checked!
Baking is Like Life—Just Start!
I hesitate to call myself a baker. Baking intimidates me. But bread? Bread I can handle. And honestly, isn’t life the same way? Things feel hard until you actually do them.
Give yourself permission to mess up at least three times. Once you start, you’ll figure out what works and make it your own. I now add basil and oregano when I plan to eat this bread with pasta or meatballs. Small tweaks make it even better!
A Thought on Bread and Life
Speaking of bread, I recently came across an article on Bible Study Tools: What Did Jesus Mean When He Said “I Am the Bread of Life”? It’s a great read if you want to explore a deeper meaning behind something as simple yet essential as bread. Bible Study Tools is one of my go-to resources for diving deeper into spiritual themes.
Will You Try This Recipe?
Let me know if you give this recipe a try! What’s your favorite way to enjoy homemade bread? I’d love to hear from you.
