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This image shows two freshly baked golden-brown yeast bread loaves with a soft, tender crust and fluffy interior, ready to be served.

World's Easiest Yeast Bread Recipe

This simple homemade bread recipe yields soft, fluffy loaves with a tender crust. Combining flour, yeast, and hot water, you'll knead and rise the dough before baking it to golden perfection. A final wrap in a tea towel keeps the crust soft.
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Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Course bread
Cuisine American
Servings 1 (1191g)
Calories 1433.6 kcal

Equipment

  • Large mixing bowl
  • Rolling Pin
  • Damp tea towel
  • Loaf pans
  • Measuring cups and spoons

Ingredients
  

  • 2 tsp sugar
  • ¼ cup cooking oil
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 5 cups all-purpose white flour
  • 2 tbsp yeast
  • 2 cups warm-hot water

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl, combine 4 cups of flour, yeast, sugar, and salt.
  • Add hot water and oil, mixing until the ingredients come together, though the dough will be sticky.
    This image shows the process of mixing flour, yeast, sugar, salt, hot water, and oil in a large mixing bowl to create a sticky dough base for the bread.
  • Gradually incorporate the remaining flour until the dough is no longer sticky.
  • Knead the dough for about 5 minutes until it becomes elastic and smooth.
    This image shows bread dough being kneaded on a floured surface until it becomes smooth and elastic, preparing it for the first rise.
  • Return the dough to the bowl, cover it with a damp tea towel, and let it rise until it doubles in size, which should take around 30 minutes.
    This image shows bread dough placed in a large bowl and covered with a damp tea towel, allowing it to rise in a warm spot until it doubles in size.
  • Punch the dough down, then divide it into two portions.
    This image shows the risen dough being shaped into loaves and rolled to fit into well-oiled loaf pans, ready for a second rise.
  • Roll each portion to fit into well-oiled loaf pans and let them rise until the dough reaches the top of the pans.
  • Roll each portion to fit into well-oiled loaf pans and let them rise until the dough reaches the top of the pans.
  • Bake at 400°F for 40 minutes.
    This image shows the dough baking in loaf pans in a 400°F oven, creating golden brown loaves with soft and fluffy interiors.
  • Once baked, brush the hot loaves with water and wrap them in a tea towel to soften the crust.
    This image shows freshly baked bread loaves being brushed with water and wrapped in a tea towel to keep the crust soft and tender

Notes

  • Depending on the humidity and type of flour used, you may need to adjust the amount of flour added.
  • To prevent the crust from becoming too hard, ensure that you wrap the baked loaves in a tea towel immediately after baking while they are still warm.