Have you ever wondered how to make homemade bread? Well, let’s try and turn your wonder into action. The making of bread, the technique of kneading the dough and the patience of allowing the dough to rise at its own leisure and having your home smell like a bakery is somewhat therapeutic. 

The preparation may seem like ages (well honestly its mainly you waiting around while the dough does all the work) but its definitely worth the time when you have the golden-crusted loaf of your lovely bread before you.  

I could continue at length about my love for baking and the perks of creating good wholesome food from scratch, but let’s be honest we are all here for the recipe and the method.

I hope you do find delight in creating your own masterpiece while following my step by step

method and hopefully a new found love for handmade bread.

 * Refer to notes at the end 

Firstly, begin by adding 500ml of milk and 2 tablespoons of butter to a saucepan

(preferably one that can hold at least 1 to and 1½ liters of liquid). 

                                                                       

In a large bowl, sift 6 cups of flour and add the 2 tablespoons of sugar. You can choose to mix the dough by hand or with a kitchen mixer on medium speed.

In another bowl combine 8 ml of yeast, ¼ cup of lukewarm water and the cooled milk mixture.  

Gradually add your wet ingredients to the flour mixture and salt. 

Mix until the dough becomes easy to handle. If you decide to use a mixer, beat the dough at medium speed for approximately 2 to 4 minutes.

Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface to knead* the dough for approximately 10 minutes. 

Mold the dough into a ball.

Place the ball of dough into a large greased bowl (I prefer to use butter) and lightly brush the ball of dough with butter.

Cover with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm, draught free area to rise double in size for approximately 1½ - 2 hours.

Your dough is ready once the dough has risen and if you poke or press the dough and the impression made remains.  

Start by punching down the dough to allow the excess air to escape.

Begin to transfer your dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll out the dough.

Divide your dough in half if you wish to make 2 loaves.

Begin by rolling out your dough into a rectangle and fold the dough by means of a trifold, as follows:

Roll the dough to form the loaf.

Push the sides of the bread dough under the loaf. 

Place into a greased loaf tin, cover with plastic wrap.

Allow the dough to rise for a further 1 hour.

Once the bread dough has risen, heat oven to 200℃ and bake for 25 to 40 minutes, or until the bread sounds hollow when tapped.

(Please do proceed with caution. Use a bread knife/spoon to lightly tap the surface of the bread to hear a hollow sound).

Your wait will be over soon...

Congratulations! Your very own homemade bread is ready!

Slice and enjoy!

                         
                           via GIPHY



     Serving suggestion: brush the top of the loaf of bread with butter before serving

 

So here you have it, the making of homemade bread.

 I hope you give the recipe a try. 

Happy baking!

XOXO