Easy Fluffy Homemade Bread (No Knead Recipe)
This easy fluffy homemade bread is soft, airy, and perfect for beginners. Made with simple ingredients, it pairs perfectly with pasta, soup, or butter.
Ingredients
- 3 1/8 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/4 cup water (temperature does not matter)
- 1 tsp rapid rise instant yeast
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- large pinch of sugar
Instructions
Step 1- Prepare the Dough
- In a large bowl, add the flour.
- In a separate bowl, combine the water, yeast, salt, and a pinch of sugar. Mix until combined.
- Pour the liquid mixture into the flour and stir with a spatula until a dough forms. Use your hands to finish mixing, folding the dough over itself until all the flour is fully incorporated.
Step 2- Rest and Fold the Dough
- Cover the bowl and let the dough rest for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, gently pull and fold the dough over itself. Repeat this folding process about 5 times. Cover again and let rest for another 30 minutes.
- Repeat this process a total of 4 times (about 2 hours). This step helps develop gluten and creates a soft, airy texture.
Step 3- Shape the Dough
- Lightly flour your work surface and transfer the dough.
- Roll it into a long rectangle using a rolling pin. Starting from the long side, tightly roll the dough into a log and pinch the seam to seal.
Step 4- Final Rise
- Cut the dough into two equal pieces using a serrated knife.
- Place the dough onto a nonstick or parchment-lined baking sheet. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rise for 45 minutes.
Step 5- Bake
- Preheat oven to 450°F.
- Remove the plastic wrap and bake for 10 minutes, or until the bread is lightly golden on top.
Step 6- Cool and Serve
- Remove the bread from the oven and let it rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing. This helps the texture set and makes it easier to cut.
Notes
This recipe makes 2 loaves of bread. You can also use the loaves to make pizza crust instead, or 1 loaf of bread and 1 pizza- a perfect Friday night dinner!