Is there a homemade bread recipe so easy that kids can make it? You bet.
“MMM! That’s SO GOOD!”
That’s what my nine-year-old said when she took a bite of this homemade bread.
And guess who baked this homemade bread?
She did! It’s from my first cookbook for kids, “Super Simple Baking for Kids“.
I thought making homemade bread would be hard but I was so wrong.
In fact, after experimenting tons of recipe tweaks, we’ve come up with the best homemade bread recipe of all.
The one that gives you soft, buttery results every time!
How to Make This Easy Homemade Bread Recipe
In five steps, you’ll have the softest bread you’ve ever made. Scroll down for the full recipe.
1. Proof the yeast.
Combine 1 cup of all-purpose flour plus all the sugar and yeast in a bowl.
Add warm water. (It should be about the temperature of your bath water.) Set on a warm counter for 10 minutes.
2. Add remaining flour.
When the yeast mixture looks puffy, add 1 cup of flour plus the teaspoon of salt and melted butter. Stir. Add last cup of flour and stir again.
3. Knead the dough.
Your dough will be VERY STICKY. Pour 1/4 cup of extra flour on a cutting board or clean counter top then put the dough on top. Knead the dough with your hands for about 10 minutes. Press down with the heel of your hand, then fold the dough in half. Press down again, fold. Repeat. When the dough changes from sticky to silky, place it in a greased loaf pan.
4. Let the dough rise.
Lay a clean towel over the loaf pan and set it in a warm spot. Give the dough 45 minutes to rise. Punch it down and let it rise for 10 more minutes. While it’s rising the second time, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
5. Bake.
Put your loaf pan in the oven at 375 degrees F for 25 minutes and this is what you’ll get.
The Easy Bread Recipe Your Kids Can Make Themselves
- Prep Time: 1 hour 20 mins
- Cook Time: 25 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour 45 mins
- Yield: 1 1x
Ingredients
- 3 cups all-purpose flour (separated into 1 cup and 2 cups)
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 packet active dry yeast (or 2 1/4 teaspoon)
- 1 cup warm water
- 1/4 cup butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Combine 1 cup of the flour plus all the sugar and yeast in a bowl.
- Add warm water. (It should be about the temperature of your bath water.)
- Set on a warm counter for 10 minutes.
- When the yeast mixture looks puffy, add 1 cup of flour plus the teaspoon of salt and melted butter. Stir.
- Add last cup of flour and stir again.
- Your dough will be VERY STICKY. Pour 1/4 cup of extra flour on a cutting board or clean countertop then put the dough on top.
- Knead the dough with your hands 10 minutes. Press down with the heel of your hand, then fold the dough in half. Press down again, fold. Repeat.
- When the dough changes from sticky to silky, place it in a greased loaf pan.
- Lay a clean towel over the loaf pan and set it in a warm spot. Allow the dough 45 minutes to rise.
- Punch it down and let it rise for 10 more minutes. While it’s rising again, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Bake at 375 degrees F for 25 minutes.
Tools for Baking Easy Homemade Bread
You don’t need a lot of special equipment for baking bread. Here are the tools we use over and over.
- Mixing bowls
- Liquid measuring cups
- Dry measuring cups (<< Please note: these are the cutest. ever.)
- Large wooden cutting board
- Ceramic non-stick bread loaf pan
- Kitchen towels
Plus, more ideas for tiny bakers!
The Best Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies in the World
Do you think this could be done with whole wheat flour?
Yes, I think so! Let us know if you make it. We’re trying it next too. 🙂
i made this recipe with my kids> it was very simple. we made it when my kindergartner was learning about bread in school. i must say it was a hit. we loved it! and everyone that tasted the bread wanted me to make them one as well. this was our first time making bread and it was a wonderful experience.
Hooray Yvonne!
Thank you so much for your note. LOVE that this beloved recipe worked so well for you too.
What size “loaf” pan do you recommend?…we tried this one n a 1.5 QT size pan and after 25 minutes of 375 it was still half raw.
Oh dear! Standard baking pans for bread are usually around 9 inches by 5 inches like this set.
Since oven temps can vary wildly, I’d check the bread at 25 minutes but if it seems raw indeed give it another 5 minutes. Bread can be tricky because the yeast is literally alive. The moisture in the air, amount of kneading, amount of proving, all of these factor into the precise cooking time. I hope you’ll keep trying though because we LOVE this recipe and use it all the time.
My 11 year old son loves to cook , he wanted to make bread and got really discouraged when the complicated recipe he tried did not come out as expected. So i searched and thank GOD i found this one.my son followed the recipe with ease and it came out wonderful!!! Thank you!!
Ruby! You and your son have made my day. I too have tried to make bread many times, crashing and burning all the way back to the store for more flour. Hooray for new bakers! Hooray for success!
Is this active dry yeast or instant yeast?
Active dry! Edited the recipe for clarity. Thanks!
Wish I could give 10 stars. I made this with my 9 preschoolers and it was easy and delicious. We doubled the recipe and I divided the dough into smaller portions that they kneaded and then I let them rise in a muffin tin. Each child had an individual roll that they made themselves. We also made homemade butter to go with it.
Can’t wait to make it at home.