Bread Recipes – Homemade Bread That Doesn’t Taste Like a Brick

Ok so bread. Honestly who doesn’t love bread?? Warm, soft, fresh bread out of the oven is like a hug for your mouth But making it at home? People always act like it’s some big scary thing, like u need a PhD in baking to even try. Spoiler alert: u don’t. You just need some patience, flour, and maybe to accept that your first loaf might be kinda ugly. It’s fine. Mine looked like a deflated football the first time.

Anyway here’s a bunch of bread recipes I’ve tried or seen or messed up and learned from. Some r super easy, some take more time, but all worth it IMO.

1. Basic White Bread (aka beginner’s loaf)

This one’s for the ppl who’ve never baked bread before and are like “I just want normal bread pls.”

What you need:

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 packet instant yeast (2 ¼ tsp)

• 1 cup warm water

• 1 tbsp sugar

• 1 tsp salt

• 2 tbsp oil (or melted butter)

How to do it:

1. Mix warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let sit 5-10 mins till foamy (if it doesn’t foam, start over — ur yeast is prob dead).

2. Add flour, salt, and oil. Mix till dough forms.

3. Knead for like 8-10 mins (yes ur arms will get tired).

4. Put in oiled bowl, cover, let rise till doubled (like 1 hr).

5. Punch it (gently lol), shape into loaf, put in greased pan.

6. Let rise again (30-40 mins).

7. Bake at 180°C / 350°F for 30-35 mins.

Let it cool (or not… I always eat a slice hot with butter). Sooo good.

2. No-Knead Bread (for lazy ppl like me sometimes)

If u hate kneading, this is for u.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups flour

• 1 tsp salt

• ½ tsp instant yeast

• 1.5 cups warm water

How:

• Mix everything in a bowl. It will look like a sticky mess.

• Cover with cling wrap, let sit 12-18 hrs (yep, overnight).

• Next day, dump onto floured surface, shape into a ball.

• Let rest for 1 hr while oven heats to 450°F / 230°C. If u have Dutch oven, heat that too.

• Put dough in pot (careful it’s hot!!), bake covered 30 mins, then uncovered 15 mins.

Crispy crust, soft inside. Restaurant vibes.

3. Garlic Breadsticks

Better than pizza shop ones tbh.

U need:

• 2 cups flour

• 1 tsp yeast

• ¾ cup warm water

• 1 tsp sugar

• ½ tsp salt

• Butter + garlic + parsley for topping

Mix ingredients, knead, let rise, shape into sticks, let rise again, then bake 15-20 mins. Brush with garlic butter when out of oven. Dip in marinara and die happy.

4. Banana Bread

Technically cake but we call it bread so we feel better about eating 3 slices

Ingredients:

• 2 ripe bananas (like, super brown ones)

• 1.5 cups flour

• ½ cup sugar

• 1 tsp baking soda

• pinch salt

• 1 egg

• ⅓ cup melted butter or oil

• vanilla extract (if u have it)

Mash banana, mix wet stuff, then dry, bake at 350°F / 180°C for 45-50 mins. Stick a knife in – if it comes out clean, it’s done. Add choco chips or nuts if u feel fancy.

5. Roti / Chapati (Indian flatbread)

Not the kind of bread u bake, but still bread and still awesome.

What you need:

• 2 cups atta (whole wheat flour)

• pinch salt

• ¾ cup warm water (approx)

Mix into a soft dough. Let rest 20 mins. Roll into thin rounds. Cook on hot tawa/pan until it puffs or gets brown spots. Eat with curry or dal or even butter + sugar (childhood snack for real).

6. Focaccia (aka bread with vibes)

This one looks all fancy with herbs and stuff on top but it’s easy.

Ingredients:

• 2.5 cups flour

• 1 tsp salt

• 2 tsp yeast

• 1 cup warm water

• ¼ cup olive oil

• toppings: rosemary, garlic, tomatoes, onions etc.

Mix dough, let rise till doubled. Put in greased tray, poke holes with fingers, pour olive oil on top, add toppings, let rise again. Bake at 200°C / 400°F for 25-30 mins.

Makes ur house smell like a bakery. Soooo good.

7. Sweet Milk Bread

Fluffy, soft, and a lil sweet. Great for French toast later

You’ll need:

• 3 cups flour

• 2 tsp yeast

• ¾ cup warm milk

• 1 egg

• ¼ cup sugar

• 2 tbsp butter

• pinch salt

Mix, knead well, let rise, shape into loaf or rolls, let rise again. Bake 25-30 mins. Brush with butter while still hot. Toast it next morning =

8. Stuffed Bread Rolls

Bread… with stuff inside. What’s not to like?

Ideas for filling:

• cheese + herbs

• pizza-style (sauce + cheese + pepperoni)

• mashed potatoes + spices (desi style)

• Nutella (dessert vibes)

Use basic dough, roll small balls, flatten, add filling, seal, bake or pan fry. Easy snacks.

9. Bread Pizza (when ur broke but hungry)

Use leftover bread slices. Add ketchup or sauce, veggies, cheese. Toast in pan or oven until cheese melts. Done. Not gourmet but def tasty.

10. Random Bread Tips

• Yeast hates hot water. Use warm, not boiling or u kill it.

• Bread takes time. Be patient or just make banana bread lol.

• Don’t cut hot bread too early or it gets gummy inside.

• Store bread in cloth or paper, not fridge (makes it dry)

• Freeze extra bread if u can’t finish it all

• If bread turns hard – make croutons or French toast

• Use leftover dough to make mini buns or breadsticks

Final thoughts (bread = love)

Honestly bread is not as scary as ppl think. Once u make it once or twice, it’s chill. U don’t need to be perfect. Sometimes my bread looks like a rock but still tastes amazing

And nothing — I mean nothing — beats the smell of fresh bread in your house. Makes you feel like you have your life together, even if you 100% don’t.

So yeah, try one of these bread recipes. Or mess around and make your own. Just don’t forget the yeast. Or the salt. I did once… and uh yeah… tasted like sadness