Quick 20-Minute Homemade Bread Recipe
This Quick 20-Minute Homemade Bread recipe delivers a fresh, golden loaf with minimal ingredients and time. Perfect for busy days, this easy bread uses instant yeast and is baked quickly to produce a soft interior with a crispy crust. Enjoy this delightful bread warm with butter or your favorite spread.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon instant yeast
- 1 teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 0.75 cup warm water (about 110°F)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or melted butter (plus extra for brushing)
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: Combine the warm water, sugar, and instant yeast in a mixing bowl. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active and ready.
- Mix Dough: Add the all-purpose flour, salt, and olive oil into the yeast mixture. Stir thoroughly until a soft dough forms that comes together but remains slightly sticky.
- Shape Loaf: Form the dough into a loaf shape with your hands and place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet to prevent sticking during baking.
- Rest and Preheat Oven: Let the formed dough rest for 5 minutes while you preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). This brief rest period helps relax the gluten for better texture.
- Brush and Bake: Lightly brush the top of the dough with olive oil or melted butter to enhance browning and flavor. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the crust turns golden brown.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bread to cool slightly on a wire rack before slicing. Serve warm for the best taste and texture.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, use melted butter instead of olive oil for the dough and brushing.
- Ensure the water temperature is around 110°F to properly activate the yeast without killing it.
- Use parchment paper on the baking sheet to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- If you want a softer crust, brush the loaf with butter immediately after baking while still warm.
- This bread is best consumed the same day for optimal freshness but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
Keywords: quick bread, homemade bread, 20-minute bread, easy bread recipe, no knead bread, quick yeast bread
