Sandwich bread
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Perfectly easy, perfectly no-fail, just perfect!  This bread is great for first-time bread bakers.
Makes 2 loaves
2 & 1/4 cups warm water (not too hot - it will kill the yeast) around 110 degrees)
1 teaspoon sugar
1 package or 2 & 1/2 teaspoons of active dry yeast
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon salt
6 & 1/2 cups flour (all-purpose or bread flour)
1 tablespoon olive oil (for coating bowl and top of dough during rise)
  • You can make this in a large bowl and knead it yourself OR with a stand mixer and dough hook.
  1. In a large bowl or in the bowl of your stand mixer, pour in the warm water and 1 teaspoon sugar.  Stir a couple of times, then sprinkle the yeast on top of the mixture.  Cover with a dishtowel and set aside for around 5 minutes or so, until bubbles start to form on top.
  2. Add in 3 cups of the flour, salt, and the other 3 tablespoons of sugar.  Stir by hand or mix on low speed in the stand mixer until fairly smooth.
  3. Add the remainder of the flour - 1/2 cup at a time until the mixture is a soft dough.  If it is too wet, add a bit more flour; if too dry, a tiny bit more water.  It should by a little sticky, but not too much.
  4. If using your stand mixer, mix on low with dough hook for around 5 minutes, stopping every minute or so, to scrape down sides, if necessary.  If kneading yourself, turn dough out onto a floured surface and knead until smooth - around 10 minutes.
  5. Place in a well-oiled bowl with a bit of oil brushed on top of the dough (or back into your mixer bowl) and set in a warm place for an hour & 1/2 to two hours, until dough has risen and doubled in size.
  6. Prepare 2 loaf pans by oiling them with oil or butter on bottom and all sides, then dusting with flour.
  7. Remove dough from bowl and punch down, dividing into two equal pieces.  At this point, I knead it just a bit more with my hands, then shape it into a rectangle.  Place in the prepared loaf pans.
  8. Bake in a pre-heated 375 degree over for around 30 minutes or until bread is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.
  9. Set on a wire rack for around 5 minutes, then remove from pans and let cool on the wire racks.​