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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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Course: bread
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes

Equipment

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

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

Instructions

  • 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.
  • Add in the salt and egg. Mix to combine.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.