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    You are here: Home | Recipes | Breads

    Easy Italian Bread Recipe

    May 26, 2023 by Faith VanderMolen

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This homemade easy Italian bread recipe has been in my family for years. It requires just 4 ingredients and minimal hands-on-time, making it a great yeast bread recipe for bakers of all levels!

    a basket full of sliced italian bread
    Jump To
    • Ingredients
    • How to make homemade Italian bread
    • Storage
    • More homemade bread recipes!
    • 📖 Recipe

    I've been enjoying this easy Italian bread recipe for as long as I can remember.

    As a child, I didn't realize how spoiled I was to have freshly baked bread with many of my dinners.

    I also didn't realize how easy it was to make this Italian bread recipe until my Mom gave me the job of making it for the first time as a kid.

    There are quite a few easy, beginner-friendly vegan yeasted bread recipes on this blog, my favorites being this Easy 4 Ingredient Whole Wheat Artisan Bread, this Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread (No-Knead!) and this amazing Irish Soda Bread recipe.

    However, this Italian bread recipe is probably the bread recipe I make most often. Not only does it make Italian bread loaves, you can also use this dough recipe to make Easy Vegan Pizza Bread and even flatbread!

    Let me show you how to make it with step-by-step photos and instructions!

    Ingredients

    Most yeasted bread recipes require just 4-5 ingredients, making them really easy to whip any day of the week. For this Italian bread recipe, you'll need just 5 ingredients which I'll list out below.

    • Flour (I often use a mix of white and wheat)
    • Active dry yeast
    • Salt
    • Sugar
    • Warm water

    As you can see, all of these ingredients are common items that you probably already have in your pantry!

    How to make homemade Italian bread

    If you're new to making bread, this Italian bread recipe is for you! It really is so easy to prepare and results in fluffy, yet hearty loaves that you'll want to make every week.

    Let me show you how to make this Italian bread recipe with step-by-step instructions and photos below.

    STEP 1: Mix Dough Ingredients & Pulse

    Place the flour, yeast, salt and sugar into a food processor fitted with the dough hook. Pulse the ingredients together until just combined.

    mix ingredients for bread and pulse

    STEP 2: Slowly Add Water

    Turn the food processor on low and stream warm water into the food processor until a ball of dough starts to form. You want all the flour to stick together without the dough being too sticky, so add the water slowly to make sure it doesn't get too wet. Once the dough has formed, stop adding in water, yet allow the food processor to knead the dough for another minute or two.

    slowly add water to the dough

    STEP 3: Proof the Dough

    Place the dough into a greased mixing bowl and allow it to rest in a warm place for about 20 minutes.

    proof the bread dough

    STEP 4: Prepare the roll

    After the dough has rested and risen a little, dump it out onto a lightly flour surface.

    prep bread dough on a mat

    STEP 5: Flatten the Dough

    Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough into a rectangle.

    roll the dough with a rolling pin

    STEP 6: Roll the dough

    Roll the rectangle up into a tight log.

    roll the dough into a tight log

    STEP 7: Pinch the dough ends

    Seal the edge of the dough and pinch the ends together.

    pinch the ends of the dough roll

    STEP 8: Roll the log over so that the seam is face down.

    roll the dough log over

    STEP 9: Second Proof

    Cover the log with a tea towel and allow it to rise in a warm area for 40-60 minutes.

    cover dough to let rise

    STEP 10: Preheat your oven and bake

    While the loaf is rising, preheat your oven to 425°F / 220°C. Bake the loaf for 20 minutes.

    a tasty italian bread roll

    STEP 11: Cool & Serve

    Allow the loaf to cool before slicing it and enjoying it warm with vegan butter or alongside a bowl of pasta!

    Cool slice and serve the bread

    Storage

    Homemade bread always tastes the best when it is enjoyed fresh the day it is baked. However, if you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container for 1-2 days on the counter or for 3-4 days in the fridge.

    The bread will get harder and tougher the longer it sits, so be sure to zap it in the microwave to soften it back up!

    More homemade bread recipes!

    Below are my most popular homemade bread recipes for you to try!

    • whole wheat artisan bread on a cutting board
      Easy Whole Wheat Artisan Bread Recipe
    • Homemade Whole Wheat Bagel Recipe!
    • Whole Wheat No-Yeast No-Rise Vegan Pizza Dough
    • Easy Chapati Recipe (Indian Flatbread)

    📖 Recipe

    homemade Italian bread cut up and served in a basket

    Easy Italian Bread Recipe

    Faith VanderMolen
    This homemade Easy Italian Bread Recipe has been in my family for years. It requires just 4 ingredients and minimal hands-on-time, making it a great yeasted bread recipe for bakers of all levels!
    3.75 from 4 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr 50 minutes mins
    Course Breads
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 10 servings
    Calories 101 kcal

    Equipment

    • Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
    • Hamilton Beach Food Processor

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 cups flour*
    • 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon sugar
    • 2 cups warm water**

    Instructions 

    • Place the flour, yeast, salt and sugar into a food processor fitted with the dough hook. Pulse the ingredients together until just combined.
    • Turn the food processor on low and stream warm water into the food processor until a ball of dough starts to form. You want all the flour to stick together without the dough being too sticky, so add the water slowly to make sure it doesn't get too wet. Once the dough has just formed, stop adding in water, yet allow the food processor to knead the dough for another minute or two. 
    • Place the dough into a greased mixing bowl and allow it to rest in a warm place for about 20 minutes.
    • After the dough has rested and risen a little, dump it out onto a lightly flour surface. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough into a rectangle. Roll the rectangle up into a tight log. Seal the edge of the dough and pinch the ends together. Roll the log over so that the seam is face down. 
    • Cover the log with a tea towel and allow it to rise in a warm area for 40-60 minutes. While the loaf is rising, preheat your oven to 425 °F.
    • Bake the loaf for 20 minutes.
    • Allow the loaf to cool before slicing it and enjoying it warm with vegan butter or alongside a bowl of pasta!

    Notes

    *I like to use a mix of white and whole wheat flour.
    **You probably won't need the entire two cups!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 101kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 4gFat: 0.5gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.1gSodium: 234mgPotassium: 53mgFiber: 1gSugar: 0.5gVitamin C: 0.01mgCalcium: 5mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

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    Comments

    1. jacquie says

      February 01, 2023 at 12:23 pm

      this looks delicious but what about those of us without the resources of a food processor or dough hook? any hope for us to get homemade Italian bread?

      thanks.

      Reply
      • Faith VanderMolen says

        February 12, 2023 at 12:45 am

        I believe you can use your hands to knead the dough. Start with 1 cup of water and add more as needed until a dough forms. Then knead the dough for a few minutes before continuing with the recipe.

        Reply
    2. Melissa says

      August 15, 2022 at 6:48 pm

      This looks amazing and I love the simplicity! If I don’t have a dough hook for my food processor, could I use my stand mixer? Thanks!

      Reply
      • Faith VanderMolen says

        August 19, 2022 at 2:31 am

        I think a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook would work great! Let us know if you try it out and how it goes!

        Reply
    3. Rosemary says

      December 20, 2021 at 5:43 pm

      Sorry. I meant 5 stars.

      Reply
      • Faith VanderMolen says

        December 21, 2021 at 1:01 pm

        So glad you enjoyed the recipe Rosemary! I can't change your star rating, but I think you should be able to go back and click on the 5th star to edit your rating if you want. Thanks so much!

        Reply
    3.75 from 4 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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