Homemade Bread in a Bag
Looking for the easiest homemade bread recipe around? We've got you covered!
Looking for a recipe for bread that does not require a machine or too much work? This Homemade Bread in a Bag recipe will make fresh loaves of bread with almost no effort. The quick homemade bread recipe is made with minimal kneading and is a great cooking project to do with children. After baking, the bread will have a light brown crust and soft, doughy inside. Learn how to make homemade bread while leaving your kitchen mess-free.
Ingredients
- 5 cup bread flour, plus 2 tablespoons for kneading (see note)
- 1 tablespoon RapidRise yeast (do not substitute regular yeast)
- 3 tablespoon sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 cup water
- 3 tablespoon butter
Instructions
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Place 2 cups of the flour into a gallon-size zip-top plastic bag and add the yeast, sugar, and salt. Shake the bag to mix the ingredients. Heat the water in the microwave for 1 minute, until it is 120 degrees F.
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Add water and butter to the bag and seal the top. Knead the ingredients with your hands until the butter is well incorporated.
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Add 2 cups more flour and again knead with your hands. Add the final 1 cup of flour and continue to knead until the dough comes together and no longer sticks to the sides of the bag.
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Sprinkle a clean work surface with the cup of flour and turn dough out of the bag onto the surface.
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Knead 15 -20 times until the dough is smooth.
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Spray the top of the dough with cooking spray and cover with plastic wrap; let rest 10 minutes until it is puffy.
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Remove the plastic and punch down the dough.
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For bread loaves: Spray two 9 x 4 loaf pans with cooking spray. Divide the dough into two portions. Use your fingers or a rolling pin to roll the dough into a square about 9 x 9 inches. Roll very tightly into a log, pinching ends to seal and place into prepared pans, seam side down. Repeat with the second portion.
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For dinner rolls: Spray two 8 x 8 bake pans with cooking spray. Divide the dough into two portions. Loosely roll each portion into a 2-inch wide log and divide that into 12 equal size pieces. Roll each piece in your palms to form a smooth ball, pinching edges underneath. Place in the pan and repeat with the remaining dough.
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Cover dough with plastic wrap which has been sprayed with cooking spray and allow to rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Bake loaves for 30-35 minutes, rolls for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and bread tests 200 degrees F with an internal read thermometer.
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Tip out of the pans and let cool on cooling racks.
Notes
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Bread flour is formulated to have a higher gluten content and will make better bread; all-purpose flour will work but bread flour is the better choice.
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Rapid rise or instant yeast works quicker and is important to use in this method of mixing and rising.