3 Easy Bread Recipes For Beginners

Baking your own bread at home may seem like a challenge, but with the right recipes, it can be surprisingly simple—even for beginners!

There’s something so satisfying about the smell of freshly baked bread filling your kitchen and the joy of slicing into a loaf you made from scratch.

Here you will find easy, beginner-friendly bread recipes that are perfect for first-time bakers. Get ready to enjoy homemade bread with confidence!

No-Knead Artisan Bread

This rustic loaf requires minimal ingredients and no kneading.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1½ teaspoons salt
• ½ teaspoon instant yeast
• 1½ cups warm water

Instructions

Mix the Dough

• In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, and instant yeast.
• Add the warm water and stir until a shaggy dough forms. The mixture will be wet and sticky—this is normal!

First Rise

• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel.
• Let it rise at room temperature for 12 to 18 hours (overnight is great) until the surface is bubbly and the dough has doubled in size.

Shape the Dough

• Lightly flour a clean surface and turn the dough out onto it.
• Sprinkle a little flour on top and fold the dough over itself a few times to shape it into a ball. Let it rest for about 15 minutes.

Preheat the Oven

• About 30 minutes before you’re ready to bake, place a Dutch oven (with the lid) in the oven and preheat to 450°F (232°C).

Bake the Bread

• Carefully remove the hot Dutch oven from the oven.
• Place the dough into the pot (it’s okay if it’s not perfectly shaped). Cover with the lid and bake for 30 minutes.
• Remove the lid and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown.

Cool and Enjoy

• Let the bread cool on a wire rack before slicing. Enjoy your delicious artisan bread!

2. Simple Sandwich Bread

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 packet (2¼ teaspoons) instant yeast
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup warm water (about 110°F or 43°C)
• 2 tablespoons melted butter or oil

Instructions

Activate Yeast

• In a bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and instant yeast.
• Let it sit for about 5 minutes until it becomes frothy.

Mix Ingredients

• In a large bowl, mix together the flour and salt.
• Pour in the yeast mixture and melted butter. Stir until a soft dough forms.

First Rise

• Knead the dough for about 5-7 minutes on a floured surface until smooth.
• Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until it doubles in size.

Shape the Loaf

• Punch down the dough to release air, then turn it out onto a floured surface.
• Shape it into a loaf by flattening it into a rectangle and rolling it tightly. Pinch the seams to seal.

Second Rise

• Place the shaped loaf into a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan.
• Cover and let it rise for another 30-45 minutes, or until it rises above the pan.

Preheat Oven

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Bake

• Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

Cool

• Remove from the pan and let cool on a wire rack before slicing.

3. Quick Dinner Rolls

Ingredients

• 2½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons instant yeast
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F or 43°C)
• 2 tablespoons melted butter

Instructions

Mix the Dough

• In a large bowl, combine 2 cups of flour, instant yeast, sugar, and salt.
• Add warm milk and melted butter. Mix until combined.

Add More Flour

• Gradually add the remaining flour until a soft dough forms. It should be slightly sticky.

First Rise

• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place for about 30 minutes, or until doubled in size.

Shape the Rolls

• Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a floured surface.
• Divide it into 12 equal pieces and shape each piece into a ball. Place the balls in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.

Second Rise

• Cover the rolls and let them rise for another 20-30 minutes until puffy.

Preheat Oven

• Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

Bake

• Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the rolls are golden brown on top.

Brush with Butter

• Remove from the oven and brush the tops with additional melted butter if desired.
• Let cool slightly before serving.