Easy bread making recipe

On paper, breadmaking’s a doddle. Easy as pie. But there are a lot of elements to get right – because practice makes perfect. Starting simple gives you the chance to figure out how the ingredients work together, become familiar with dough textures, and try different kneading techniques. And that's where you'll find the recipe for success. Our expert’s put together an easy guide that’s sure to rise to the occasion, so try it out yourself by following these simple steps.

Step 1

Add all your ingredients to a bowl and mix until a rough dough forms. You can do it by hand or use a stand mixer with the dough hook attachment to save yourself some elbow grease.

Step 2

Knead for 10 minutes by hand or 5 minutes in a mixer. When it’s smooth and elastic, it’s ready for the next step. If it feels a bit sticky, just add a sprinkle of flour.

Step 3

For the first prove, pop the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a damp tea towel or cling film, and leave for an hour or until it’s roughly doubled in size.

Step 4

Now it’s time to prep it for baking. Knock back the dough to remove any excess air and shape into a loaf or put it in a tin. Cover and leave to prove again for 30-45 minutes.

Step 5

Preheat the oven to step 5 220°C (200°C for fan ovens) and bake for 25-30 minutes until it looks golden-brown.

Handy hint: check it’s cooked by tapping the bottom and listening out for a hollow sound.

Step 6

Place on a wire rack and slice when it’s completely cooled down.

Step 7

Slather with butter and enjoy!

Top tips

Use the best tool for the job

The right stand mixer gives you tons of handy cooking shortcuts as well as making a statement in your kitchen. They’ve got lots of attachments that help with mixing, whipping, or even kneading dough. There are plenty of different options to suit every budget – and it doesn’t have to break the bank. Happy baking.