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loaf of homemade sandwich bread sliced on cutting board

Simple Dairy Free Bread Recipe

This simple recipe yields a delicious loaf of homemade yeast bread with only 5 ingredients. It's the perfect beginner friendly bread recipe!
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Prep Time 1 hour 50 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course: bread
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/4 cup warm water 100-110 degrees F
  • 2 tsp active dry yeast
  • 2 tsp cane sugar brown sugar or honey also work
  • 1 large egg if you want to do an egg wash on top, you'll need 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3 1/2 - 4 1/2 cups all purpose flour

Equipment

  • Stand Mixer with Dough Hook optional
  • 9X5 Loaf Pan
  • Large Bowls one for mixing if you're not using a stand mixer

Method
 

  1. Start by proofing your yeast. In the bowl of a stand mixer, or a large mixing bowl, add the warm water. Sprinkle in the active dry yeast and sugar. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes. If the yeast is good, you should notice bubbles forming on top.
  2. Add in the salt and egg. Mix to combine.
  3. Add the dough hook to your stand mixer. Start by adding in a cup of flour at a time and allowing the mixer to incorporate it. Once you get to 3 cups, switch to adding flour 1/2 cup at a time or until the dough is pulling away from the sides. You should end up somewhere between 3 1/2 and 4 1/2 cups of flour used total.
  4. Let the mixer run knead the dough for about 3-4 minutes. If kneading by hand, continue kneading until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.
  5. Transfer the dough to a large lightly oiled bowl and cover with a clean cloth. Place in a warm area and allow to rise for about an hour, or until the dough has doubled.
  6. At the end of the first rise, punch down the center of the dough, allowing it to pull away from the sides. Dump the dough out onto a floured surface.
  7. Roll your dough into a loaf shape by making a rectangle and rolling the sides in. You can then tuck the ends under. Place the loaf into a nonstick or greased loaf pan. Allow to rise in a warm place for another 20-30 minutes, or until the dough has risen above the sides of the loaf pan.
  8. After the dough is done rising, you can brush the top with an egg wash to get a beautiful golden brown crust.
    Bake the loaf in 350 degree oven for 25-30 minutes.
  9. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes in the pan. Remove from the pan and allow to cool completely on a rack.
  10. Store bread in an airtight container for 2-3 days, or in the fridge for a week.

Notes

Be sure to add the flour a little at a time and not all at once. Depending on flour type and measuring process, you may find you need a little more or a little less than the recipe calls for. 
You can omit the egg by adding an additional 1/4 cup of water to the dough.