Who doesn’t love homemade fresh baked bread lathered with butter that melts in your mouth. My recipe is so damn easy and versatile, you can make it everyday if you wanted to, baking off two bread loafs per recipe.

If you been following me here or on YouTube you’ll know this same recipe can make many creations, such as pizza and cinnamon buns. Whichever you decide to have, my recipe is well tested, as I am “baking up a storm” twice a week, for my family. The best part, it only takes 30 minutes of your day to prepare and by lunchtime you get to taste fresh home baked bread.

Once again, here’s the recipe:

Fresh Baked Bread

Yield : 4 – 8 guests / Makes 2 loafs of Bread

INGREDIENTS : 

• 2 1/2 cups of lukewarm water

• 2 tablespoons of sugar

• 4 tablespoons of active dry yeast

• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons of canola oil

• 5 cups of Bread flour

• 2 tablespoons of cornstarch

• 4 teaspoons of salt

METHOD : 

• Sift 5 cups of flour in large bowl.

• Add and mix in 4 teaspoons of salt and cornstarch

• Take lukewarm water ( no higher then 110 degrees F) . Stir in 2 tablespoon of sugar and sprinkle in the 4 tablespoons of yeast. Let sit for 10 minutes.

• [Tip : Place 2 1/2 cups of warm sugar water into your mixer bowl so you don’t have to transfer it and sprinkle on yeast ]

• After 10 minutes, attach your dough hook, if you haven’t.

• Start up mixer on low and add 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons of olive oil to yeast mixer.

• Now slowly add the flour and salt mixer. ( SLOW – add 1 cup of flour gradually as it mixes and then add a little more flour- it really does make a difference)

• Combined and Mix for 10 minutes. It should look “elasticity” . (Using a mixer is much easier then kneading your dough mixer by hand. But you can do this by hand, like my grandpa Varze always did. The mixer makes your life easier.)

• Now transfer your dough into a large oiled bowl ( or Oil Spray) and cover it with a dry cloth. Let it rise in a warm area to double the size. ( approximately 45 minutes to 60 minutes, depending how cold your kitchen is). I noticed ( up here in Canada) during Winter months my dough takes a good hour to rise.

TIP : To find this nice warm area, what I do is turn on my oven to 150 degrees F and then turn off. Place the bowl of dough covered with the dry cloth on top of the stove with the oven door partially open. Let sit for 45 minutes to 60 minutes – just so it’s double the size.

• Place dough on floured surface and cut evenly in half.

• Form into elongated dough and place in oiled bread pans. If you like, brush egg wash on top. ( egg wash = 1 egg w/ 2 tablespoons of milk and mix )

• Cover once again and let rise for 45 – 55 minutes ( double in size)

• Place in preheated 350 degrees F oven and let bake for one hour ( 60 minutes)

• If you’re making buns, form buns onto baking sheet and also let rise for 45 minutes. Place in 350 degree oven for 25 – 30 minutes, until nice golden brown.

Once ready, bring out and let cool for 5 minutes. After that, place on rack or board to rest and cool off. In about 15 minutes you can slice your first piece of bread with ample spread of rich butter.

Enjoy !

Cheers

Chef Bari