Homemade Italian Bread

Homemade Italian Bread is one of the easiest breads to make at home. It is a low-fat, classic recipe made with basic pantry staples. It has a crusty, flavorful crust and a soft, tender interior and is absolutely delicious. 

Homemade Italian Bread pairs perfectly with Lasagna Soup, Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana, Instant Pot Minestrone Soup, or use to make Homemade Garlic Bread.

There is something about walking into a kitchen and smelling homemade bread baking.

And while people can be intimidated with the thought of making homemade bread, this recipe for Italian Bread is incredibly simple to make.

It is made with simple ingredients and has a slightly crispy crust on the outside, but perfectly soft on the inside.

This low fat, tender bread makes the perfect base for sandwiches, toast, grilled cheese, or garlic bread. It is also delicious when dipped in homemade tomato sauce or seasoned olive oil. And when toasted, it plays a crucial role in Panzanella Salad.

This recipe for Italian Bread also happens to be one of the easiest homemade bread recipes to make.

This recipe for Italian Bread also happens to be one of the easiest homemade bread recipes to make.

Ingredients for Italian Bread

• Flour--Use unbleached bread flour for best results. It is also important to measure by lightly spooning flour into a measuring cup to ensure accurate flour measurement.
• Water--Be sure to use warm water that is at about 105 degrees. If water is too hot the yeast will be killed and if the water is too cold the yeast will not be activated.
• Yeast--Be sure you use Instant Yeast (not Quick Rise Yeast) and be sure yeast is not expired for best results.
• Salt
• Olive Oil--Used to brush the bread with before baking
• Spices--I like to add garlic powder to give my Italian bread more flavor, but this is completely optional and is not traditional.

How to Make Italian Bread

The process of making Italian bread uses basic pantry staple ingredients and is quite a simple process. It can be made by hand, with a stand mixer or in a bread machine.

Step One: Prepare the Dough

Using a Bread Machine

• Secure loaf pan in bread machine.
• Pour warm water into pan.
• Add flour and salt.
• Make a well in the flour and add yeast to well.
• Set bread machine to "dough" cycle.

Mixing Dough By Hand

• Sprinkle yeast over warm water.
• Let the yeast bloom in the water for 5-10 minutes, or until foamy.
• Mix the flour and salt together.
• Stir in the foamy water with a wooden spoon until incorporated.
• Knead until dough is nice and smooth--about 10 minutes.
• Place dough in lightly oiled bowl
• Cover and let rise in a warm place until double in size--about 1-2 hours depending on the temperature of your house.

Preparing with Stand Mixer

• In a measuring cup, sprinkle yeast over warm water.
• Let the yeast bloom in the water for 5-10 minutes, or until foamy.
• Mix the flour and salt together in a stand mixing bowl.
• Pour in a yeast water and mix together using mixing hook on a stand mixer, until just combined.
• Remove mixing hook and attach the dough hook.
• Knead until dough is nice and smooth--about 5 minutes.
• Place dough in oiled bowl and cover.
• Let rise in a warm place until double in size--about 1-2 hours depending on the temperature of your house.

How to Bake Italian Bread

• Once the dough has doubled in size, punch down the dough and shape into a long oval shape.
• Cut diagonal slits on top of bread every 2-3 inches.
• Cover Italian Bread Dough with a kitchen towel and let rise for another 30 minutes.

• While bread is rising, heat oven to 350 degrees.
• After the second rise, brush the bread with olive oil for a golden crust.

• Sprinkle with Parmesan if desired for additional flavor, keeping in mind this is not traditional.
• Bake until bread for 20-25 minutes.

How do you know when the bread is fully baked?

• Bread is finished baking when you tap the bottom of the loaf of bread and it sounds hollow.
• But a sure-fire way to know your bread is baked perfectly is to take its internal temperature.  Do this by placing a thermometer in the center of the bread. When it reads 190 degrees, your Italian Bread is baked to perfection.

Homemade Bread Recipes

• Whole Wheat Bread
• Whole Wheat Dutch Oven Bread
• Cranberry Walnut Bread
• Whole Wheat Cinnamon Raisin Bread
• Whole Wheat Rolls

Homemade Italian Bread

This simple recipe for Italian bread is one of the easiest recipes for homemade bread.

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Bread

Cuisine: Italian

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Servings: 8 -10

Calories: 238kcal

Author: Kristen Chidsey

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 cup warm water
• ▢ 2 ½ cups unbleached flour
• ▢ 1 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1 ½ teaspoons yeast

Optional Add-Ons

• ▢ 2 teaspoons olive oil to give bread a golden exterior
• ▢ ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan Cheese optional
• ▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder optional

Instructions

Using a Bread Machine

• Place water, flour, and salt into the bread machine in order specified by your machine. Make a well into the flour and add the yeast to the well. Set to dough cycle and turn on.
• Once the dough cycle is complete, punch the dough down shape into a large oval shape. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rise for another 30 to 60 minutes, or once dough has nearly doubled in size.
• Once the dough has doubled again, cut diagonal slits on top of bread dough every 2-3 inches
• Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until browned and the internal temperature of the bread reaches 190 degrees. Remove from oven and place on cooling rack to cool completely.

Preparing without a Bread Machine

• Pour water into a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle yeast over warm water and let the yeast bloom, or get foamy and bubbly, for 5-10 minutes.
• Mix the flour, salt, and oregano and garlic powder (if using), together and stir in the foamy water with a wooden spoon (or dough hook of a stand mixer)until incorporated.
• Knead until dough is nice and smooth--about 5-10 minutes.
• Cover with a clean kitchen towel and set in warm place to rise until doubled in size--about 1-2 hours depending on temperature of your house.
• Once the dough has risen, punch the dough down and shape into an oval-shape loaf. Cut diagonal slits on top of bread dough every 2-3 inches. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rise for another 30 to 60 minutes, or once the dough has nearly doubled in size.
• Brushthe loaf with olive oil. Sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese if desired.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until browned and the internal temperature of the bread reaches 190 degrees. Remove from oven and place on cooling rack to cool completely.

Equipment Needed

• Digital Thermometer

Notes

• Bread is finished baking when you tap the bottom of the loaf of bread and it sounds hollow. You can also take it’s internal temperature. When it reads 190 degrees, your Italian Bread is baked to perfection.
• Flour–use unbleached bread flour for best results. It is also important measure by lightly spooning flour into measuring cup to ensure accurate flour measurement.
• Water–be sure to use warm water that is at about 105 degrees because if water is too hot the yeast will be killed and if water the yeast will not be activated.
• Yeast–Be sure you use Instant Yeast (not Quick Rise Yeast) and be sure yeast is not expired for best results.
• Baking at high altitude? Check out these adjustments that you may need to follow. 
• Optional Seasonings--If you would like to season your Italian bread, add in 1 teaspoon of garlic powder to the flour mixture, brush the dough with olive oil and sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese before baking. 
• This bread will keep at room temperature for 3-4 days and can be frozen for up to a month. 

Nutrition

Calories: 238kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 734mg | Potassium: 96mg | Fiber: 2g | Vitamin A: 85IU | Calcium: 129mg | Iron: 0.9mg

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