Homemade Italian Bread

Homemade Italian Bread is incredibly easy to make! This simple recipe for Italian Bread is perfect to serve alongside soup, use as the base for garlic bread, or to use as sandwich bread. 

Use Italian Bread to make Homemade Garlic Bread or serve alongside Baked Rotini, Easy Lasagna, or Lasagna Soup.

Homemade Italian 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.

Italian Bread 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 infused olive oil. And when toasted, it plays a crucial role in Panzanella Salad.

This recipe for Italian Bread is also 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 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.
• Salt
• Olive Oil–used to brush bread with before baking
• Spices–I like to add in dried oregano and garlic powder to give my Italian bread more flavor, but this is completely optional.

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.

Italian Bread Dough in Bread Machine

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

Italian Bread 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 warm place until double in size–about 1-2 hours depending on temperature of your house.

Italian Bread Dough 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 stand mixing bowl.
• Pour in yeast water and mix together using mixing hook on stand mixer, until just combined.
• Remove mixing hook and attach dough hook.
• Knead until dough is nice and smooth–about 5 minutes.
• Place dough in oiled bowl and cover.
• Let rise in warm place until double in size–about 1-2 hours depending on temperature of your house.

How to Bake Italian Bread

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

• While bread is rising, heat oven to 350 degrees.
• After second rise, brush bread with olive oil.

• Sprinkle with Parmesan if desired (not traditional)
• Bake until bread for 20-25 minutes.

How do you know when 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 it’s internal temperature.  Do this by placing a thermometer in center or bread. When it reads 190 degrees, your Italian Bread is baked to perfection.

Homemade Bread Recipes

• Honey Whole Wheat Bread
• No-Knead Whole Wheat Dutch Oven Bread
• Easy Whole Wheat Cranberry Walnut Bread
• Whole Wheat Cinnamon Raisin Bread

Homemade Italian Bread

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

5 from 2 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 1/2 cups unbleached flour I used whole white wheat
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons yeast
• 1/2 tablespoons olive oil to give bread a golden exterior

Optional Add-Ins

• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan Cheese optional
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder optional
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano optional

Instructions

Using a Bread Machine

• Place water, flour, salt and garlic powder and oregano (if using) into 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 dough cycle is complete, punch dough down and divide dough in half. Roll each half into long log like shape and 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 dough has nearly doubled in size.
• Brush each 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.

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 dough has risen, punch the dough and divide into 2 equal portions. Roll each portion into a long log like shape and 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 dough has nearly doubled in size.
• Brush each 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.

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. 

Nutrition Facts

Homemade Italian Bread

Amount Per Serving

Calories 238 Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value*

Fat 5g8%

Saturated Fat 2g13%

Cholesterol 6mg2%

Sodium 734mg32%

Potassium 96mg3%

Carbohydrates 31g10%

Fiber 2g8%

Protein 9g18%

Vitamin A 85IU2%

Calcium 129mg13%

Iron 0.9mg5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

I would love to know how you enjoy this recipe!Snap a picture and tag #amindfullmom on Instagram or Facebook - I would love to see!