One of my new year’s resolutions was to get more comfortable with dough, bread making to be exact. At the start of the year, I made some really shitty looking burger buns. *reference photo below please*
Like what the hell is that? Looking at it now makes me cringeeee!!! But 2 days later I made this ⬇️
and then the next day I made that ⬇️
All that to say that this bread recipe is literally stupid-proof. If you have a reputation of effing up when it comes to bread making, this is for you. You might mess up, but that’s only if you don’t listen to me.
I’d like to start off by saying, be very very precise with measuring out your ingredients. This is not the time for you to get creative. Now, I don’t use a scale to weigh my ingredients. Although, I probably should. Anyways, you’ll find that the ingredients are all measured out in cups/tbsp. Try your best to bring out those lab skills and get on an eye level. Trust me, you’ll thank me later. One more thing, if you’re a part of the no-stand mixer crew, you’re kneading for 10 minutes. And not a minute less, I’m serious. Let's get baking.
Ingredients
1 cup warm water
1 tbsp yeast
1 tbsp sugar
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tbsp butter melted, unsalted + more for brushing
3 cups flour
2 tsp salt
Directions
Start by combining warm water, yeast, and sugar in a small bowl. Cover the mixture with a damp towel and let it sit for about 10 minutes to allow the yeast to activate.
In a large bowl, add flour, olive oil, melted butter, and salt. Pour the yeast mixture into the bowl. Knead for approximately 10 minutes, or until the dough no longer sticks to the sides of the bowl. If the dough is too sticky, add 1-2 tablespoons of flour at a time until you achieve the desired consistency.
Once the dough is well-kneaded, shape it into a ball and place it in a well-oiled bowl. Cover the bowl with a towel and allow the dough to rise until it doubles in size, which typically takes about 1 hour depending on the warmth of your kitchen.
After the dough has doubled in size, punch it down and transfer it to a floured surface. Divide the dough in half and shape each portion into a loaf. Pinch the edges to seal and tuck the ends underneath. Place the loaves in a loaf pan or on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Using a sharp knife or razor blade, score the top of each loaf with multiple slashes at an angle. Cover the loaves with a towel and let them rise for another 30-45 minutes, or until they noticeably puff up.
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and place a baking pan on the bottom rack. Brush the loaves with egg wash. Place the loaves in the oven and pour water into the preheated baking pan on the lower rack to create steam.
Bake the bread for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. If one side of the bread is browning quicker than the other, you may need to rotate the loaves halfway through baking.
Optional: For a softer crust, brush melted butter over the top of the loaves immediately after removing them from the oven. If you prefer a crispier crust, you can omit this step.
As usual, I’m always posting throughout the week on tiktok + instagram <3
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Thanks so much for sharing
So soo good! Can’t wait to try this recipe :))