I love this super fast bread recipe for last-minute bread. Sometimes it's 4 pm and suddenly I decide I want fresh bread for dinner!
If you are new to baking bread, this easy bread recipe is for you. I've had TONS of reviews from people all over the world who have never made bread before but could make this bread perfectly the first time.
What ingredients do you need to make bread fast
** Check the notes at the bottom of the recipe card below for recipe alternatives and substitutions**
A lot of people are intimidated by making homemade bread. You don't need any special bread machines or even a mixer (although having one will save you some elbow grease).
You only need these ingredients to make a fast bread recipe in 60 minutes
- Bread Flour (or all-purpose flour)
- Milk (or water)
- Sugar
- Instant Yeast (you can use regular active dry yeast, see notes at the bottom of the recipe card)
- Salt
- Egg wash
The secret to fast bread is using Instant yeast. I'm using saf-instant yeast. You can usually find instant yeast right next to the regular yeast at the grocery store.
You don't have to use saf-instant yeast, any brand that says instant will work. Red Star Instant yeast is another popular brand.
Instant yeast is like regular yeast on steroids. You don't need to mix it with the milk and sugar to bloom it. Just mix it in with the flour, add in the liquid and mix! Using instant yeast makes this bread recipe extra easy because you don't have to bloom the yeast, just mix it in with the flour, sugar, and milk.
Instant yeast rises much faster than active dry yeast which makes this fast bread recipe so great.
How do you make easy homemade bread fast?
Combine your flour, yeast, sugar and warm (110ºF) milk in the bowl of your stand mixer and combine for one minute at low speed.
Don't add in your salt and butter right away, it can get in the way of the yeast activating.
After one minute, add in the salt and butter. If your dough is too slippery from the butter, sprinkle in ¼ cup of flour to soak up the butter and is kneading properly in the bowl and not just spinning round and round. If the dough is still not sticking to the sides of the bowl, add a couple of tablespoons of water.
Let the dough mix on medium speed for 5 minutes.
How do you know when the bread dough is done mixing?
Mixing is the MOST important step in making homemade bread. Developing that gluten is key.
Poke your dough, does it bounce back? That's a sign it's ready.
Roll a piece of dough in your hand, is it smooth and silky? If so, then it's ready. If it's sticky and lumpy, it needs more mixing.
You can test to see if your bread has developed enough gluten by doing the windowpane test. Start by pulling off some of the dough and carefully stretching it between your fingers to make a little window.
If you can make it super thin without it breaking, then you're good to go.
If the dough isn't ready, keep mixing for another 2 minutes on medium speed or until the gluten test can be performed successfully. Don't worry about over-mixing.
You can do all of this by hand but it will take longer. Probably about 10-15 minutes of kneading. Don't worry, it's basically impossible to over-knead dough by hand.
How do you proof bread fast?
Time to let this dough rise! Place it into a lightly oiled bowl and cover it with a tea towel to keep in the moisture.
Place your dough in a warm area to rise for 25 minutes. That's it! Super easy! (If you're using active dry yeast instead of instant, let the dough rise 90 minutes)
I put mine next to an open oven set to 170F. Don't put your dough IN the oven or the hot temperature will kill your yeast.
How do you make easy bread loaves fast?
The best part about this bread other than how fast it is, you don't need any special loaf pans.
Just shape your loaves into two (or three or four depending on how many loaves you want). I've even made hamburger buns and hotdog buns with this recipe.
Tuck all the rough edges underneath to form a nice smooth skin on top. This will make your bread look really lovely after it's baked.
Place your two loaves onto a pan with some parchment paper. Make sure they have a good 8" between them so they don't end up touching as they bake.
Let them rest on the pan for 20 minutes. (If you're using active dry yeast, let the bread rise for 30 minutes)
Brush the surface of your loaves with some egg wash to promote browning.
Then make 3 or 4 slices on top of the loaf with a sharp knife at a 30º angle about ¼" deep. (wow that is super specific I know).
These slices help the bread rise evenly and keep it from tearing.
Bake your bread for 25-30 minutes at 375ºF. I rotated my loaves halfway through baking to prevent uneven browning.
And that is how you make the MOST amazing, super easy fast bread recipe in only 60 minutes.
How long does this homemade bread last?
We devoured one whole loaf with dinner and saved the other loaf for tomorrow. The great thing about this fast bread recipe is you can make more bread easily whenever you need it.
Wrap your loaf in plastic wrap to seal in moisture and leave it on the countertop.
You can reheat slices or the whole loaf either in the microwave for 10 seconds or in the oven for 2-3 minutes.
Need more bread recipes? Check these out
Easy Soft Dinner Rolls
Easy Focaccia Bread
Master Sweet Dough Recipe
Recipe
Equipment
- Stand mixer with dough hook
Ingredients
- 28 ounces bread flour or all purpose (about 5 ½ cups, spooned and leveled)
- 10 grams instant yeast needs to be instant (about 3 teaspoons)
- 2 ounces sugar 4 Tablespoons
- 16 ounces warm milk (110ºF) or water (two cups)
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 ounces melted unsalted butter ¼ cup
Instructions
- Heat milk to 110ºF-115ºF
- Combine flour, instant yeast, sugar, and milk in the bowl of your stand mixer with the dough hook attached and mix for one minute
- Add in salt and melted butter
- Add in a ¼ cup more flour if the dough is not sticking to the bowl because of the butter. If the dough is still not sticking to the bowl, add in 1-2 Tablespoons of water.
- Mix for 5 minutes on speed 2
- After 5 minutes, take a piece of dough and stretch it between your fingers. If you can make a very thin "window" that does not tear then you have developed enough gluten and you can shape your dough.
- If the window tears, then mix for 2 more minutes.
- Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 4-5 turns until you can form a smooth ball
- Coat a large bowl in a little olive oil
- Place the dough top side down into the bowl to get the top of the dough covered in oil then flip it over. Cover with a cloth and place in a warm area for 25 minutes to rise until the dough doubles in size *see notes*
- Preheat your oven to 375ºF
- Divide your dough into two loaves (or more if you want to make hoagie's or rolls)
- Let your loaves rest for 20 minutes
- Brush your loaves with egg wash to promote a nice golden brown color
- Use a sharp knife to make three slashes at a 30º angle in the top of the loaf, about ¼" deep. These slashes make the loaves look nice and also keeps the crust from tearing while it bakes in the oven.
- Bake your loaves for about 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. You can also use a thermometer to check the center of your bread. If the temperature reads 190º - 200º your bread is done.
Video
Notes
1. Let your dough proof for 90 minutes or until it doubles in size
2. Divide the dough, shape, brush with egg wash, make cuts with the knife and let rest for 30 minutes before baking. ** Egg wash - crack one egg and whisk with 1 Tablespoon of water. Use a soft pastry brush to brush it onto the loaves. If you don't use egg wash your bread will be very pale. You can also use milk instead of egg for the wash. ** You can use oil instead of butter ** You can use water or almond milk in place of milk ** You can replace white flour with wheat flour (use 24 oz instead 28 oz because wheat flour is denser than white flour)
Banu B says
I have made this 3 times and I will never stop making this. Thank you so much for sharing the recipe, I bake at night and in the morning it is alrd gone hahah.
Sue Moore says
I made it for a second time today and simply can't get it to stick to the sides of the bowl. I tried adding the extra flour and then the water...still doesn't work. Tried a little more flour still just stays on the dough attachment. It was good and beautiful but I'm overworking my kitchenaide. Help.
Elizabeth Marek says
Water will make the dough softer and stickier.
Sandy says
This is a good basic, easy white bread recipe. Texture wasod, very easy to slice thin slices. Would definately make again, maybe using 1/2 wheat flour.
LM says
YEEES! finally. Lol. First so easy to make and it is the first homemade bread loved by my picky eater. I have tried so so so many. He ate the crust and all! Thank you for sharing.
Tina says
Simply amazing 🙌🏽 I’ve made this twice already, and the second time, I baked it in a Pullman loaf pan, it was the best, if I can post a picture, I would done it already! Thanks Liz!
Elizabeth Marek says
Wonderful! Please join our facebook group Sugar Geeks to share your photos 😀 Cant wait to see them!
Taya Northrop says
My family loves this recipe
S. Pearson says
I’ve been married 45 years and this is the first successful loaf bread I’ve made on my own. The loaves were beautiful and delicious! Thank you. I just accomplished something I’ve always wanted to do.
Elizabeth Marek says
Thank you so much!
CT says
First handmade bread since using bread maker years ago. Loved have easy it was to put together with standing mixer. Used some of the dough to made cinnamon buns. What a deal, bread and dessert for the week. Loving it!
Elizabeth Marek says
Now that is some great multi-tasking!
Jen says
Such a great recipe! First try and my bread was amazing. Thank you!
Diksha says
Best bread ever.. in such a short time. Came out wonderful. Just a thing .. bread tears along the side, not as smooth and whole as yours... What could be the reason.
Elizabeth Marek says
Just make sure that you score a little deeper next time to give your bread room to expand otherwise it will tear as it rises
Cindy Handford says
Easy and tastes great! Love that it makes two loaves. Used your tip of rising on oven door. Worked perfectly 👍 Usually don't make homemade bread. I would recommend this recipe to all. Thank you🙂
Audrey SL Chan says
My 1st Bread Ever in my Life & it's PERFECT ❤️❤️❤️ I Greatly Recommend this recipe to Everyone especially Beginners & who wants a FAST & FANTASTIC Bread Recipe 💚💚💚
Pat says
I just made Garlic bread with your recipe. It was amazing! Thanks so much!
annie goh says
I have made this bread this morning and it is nice and soft, with holes like in your photos. I have tried many other recipes but always turned out to be dense and heavy. Thanks for your genuine sharing and I will try making with water and olive oil. If it turns out good, will post another review.
annie goh says
I like your mixer in this bread video. Hope that you can share where to buy this.
Elizabeth Marek says
Its a bosch universal plus mixer.
annie goh says
Thanks.
Prachi says
Hi Liz, planning to make this receipe. I just have one doubt. I have instant dry yeast. Is there any difference in instant yeast and instant dry yeast or same? Thanks 😊
Elizabeth Marek says
Instant dry yeast is the same as instant yeast
Carolina says
Waiting 1st proof🤞🏼
I wonder if instead of loaf I can make buns with this dough
Elizabeth Marek says
Yes you can make buns, rolls, anything
Bunny says
I proof all my yeast pastries inside the oven, with the door closed, with just the oven light on. It's draft-free, and not hot enough to destroy the yeast. It's also a great way to clarify butter - I found this out quite accidentally when I put butter in the oven to soften, and forgot about it.
Kim says
Awesome recipe! All I had on hand was cake flour however so I added 2 tablespoons of cornstarch per cup of flour and the bread turned out beautifully!
Sneha says
Oh my god! You just made my dream come true with this recipe..it turned out exactly as shown in your picture and tasted heavenly..thank you so much...lots of love
Karen says
This recipe is wonderful. I had'nt made bread in a long time and it came out great
Leah says
Soooooooo amazing!! You cannot go wrong with this recipe, I mixes at faster speeds at time 😂🤣 be a I’m lazy and didn’t want to kneed it at all by hand.
It’s so delicious, a huge hit with my family, and beautiful! 💕
Thank you Liz!!!
Roger Roselle says
Very nice and clear recepi. Thsnk you. I like more of this for home hobby baking
Lynn says
Made this a few times.Always turns out amazing.This time I added everything bagel spice to dough.Omg.So good.