Quick 20-Minute Homemade Bread Recipe
A quick and easy homemade bread recipe that comes together in just 20 minutes. Perfect for when you want fresh, warm bread without the long rise times. This recipe uses instant yeast for a fast fermentation, delivering a soft crust and tender crumb that pairs well with any meal.
- 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
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: Combine warm water, sugar, and instant yeast in a mixing bowl. Let it sit for 5 minutes until it becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Form Dough: Add flour, salt, and olive oil to the yeast mixture. Stir all ingredients together until a soft dough forms.
- Shape the Loaf: Shape the dough into a loaf and place it on a parchment-lined baking sheet, preparing it for baking.
- Rest and Preheat: Let the shaped dough rest for 5 minutes while you preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C), allowing the dough to relax and the oven to reach the right temperature.
- Brush and Bake: Brush the top of the loaf with olive oil or melted butter to enhance browning, then bake it in the preheated oven for 15 minutes until golden brown.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool slightly before slicing and serving for best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Ensure water is warm (around 110°F) to properly activate the yeast without killing it.
- Using instant yeast skips the long rising time, but for fluffier bread, you could let the dough rise longer if desired.
- Brush the loaf with olive oil for a crispier crust or with butter for a softer, richer crust.
- Check the bread at 15 minutes; oven temperatures may vary and affect baking time slightly.
- Store leftover bread in an airtight container to keep it fresh for up to 2 days.
Keywords: quick bread, homemade bread, easy bread recipe, instant yeast bread, 20-minute bread
