If you’re wanting to make a perfect loaf of white bread from scratch, this is the recipe for you! The Best Homemade Bread in a Bag is an easy way to whip up a soft loaf of fresh bread. The method of mixing the ingredients in a Ziplock bag makes bread making a really fun process and perfect for kids.
The Best Homemade Bread in a Bag
There are few foods as good as fresh homemade bread. I love a warm slice with butter and strawberry freezer jam. But making bread can seem like a big task. That’s why I love The Best Homemade Bread in a Bag! The ingredients are all mixed together in a Ziplock bag, then just knead the dough, roll it up, and pop it into a bread pan to rise before you bake it to golden brown perfection.
Making bread in a bag is a super fun activity for kids! My daughter loved joining me for this baking project.
The Ingredients
I always recommend that you read through my detailed instructions here in this post to make sure you fully understand the process of making The Best Homemade Bread in a Bag before you begin. I have the complete recipe with ingredients and instructions in an easy to print format at the end of this article.
Here are the ingredients you’ll need:
- 2 ½ to 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 envelope (.25 ounce or 2 ½ teaspoons) fast acting dry yeast
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3 tablespoons corn or vegetable oil
How to Make The Best Homemade Bread in a Bag
STEP 1: In a 1-gallon zip-top bag, add 1 cup of flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Zip the bag closed, squeezing the air out of the bag, then use your hands to shake and move the bag until all ingredients are combined.
STEP 2: In a small saucepan, heat the milk and corn oil over medium heat just until it reaches 120-130F degrees.
Tip: bread making is a great opportunity to teach kids the importance of having impeccably clean hands when working with food. Before you begin making this recipe, wash hands thoroughly because this will be a hands on job!
STEP 3: Open the zip-top bag and pour the warmed milk and oil into the bag. Reseal the bag, then use your hands to work the bag until the ingredients are well combined.
STEP 4: Add the flour, about ½ cup at a time, working the bag with your hands between each addition, until a soft dough forms and pulls away from the sides of the bag.
STEP 5: Sprinkle a clean countertop generously with flour, then remove the dough from the bag and knead on the counter for 5 minutes. Add additional flour if as you knead, just until the dough is smooth and elastic.
STEP 6: Cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel and let rest for 10 minutes.
STEP 7: Roll the dough out to a 12×7-inch rectangle. Beginning from one short end, roll the dough up tightly into a log. Place the dough into a 8.5×4.4 inch loaf pan that has been greased with non-stick cooking spray. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and set aside to rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
Baking Homemade Bread
STEP 8: Bake the bread at 375F for 30 minutes or until done. Cool the bread for 5 minutes in the pan, then remove and cool completely on a wire cooling rack.
Tip: For an extra soft and flavorful crush, brush the top of the freshly baked bread with melted butter while it’s still hot from the oven.
We were super happy with the results of this recipe! The bread was soft but held up very well when slicing. It was a fantastic sandwich bread and we enjoyed a few pieces as toast.
Kid tested and approved!
How to Store Homemade Bread
Since homemade bread has no preservatives, it will mold very quickly. Keep it wrapped well with plastic wrap or in a Ziplock bag. It can be kept at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to three days, but will be at it’s best when fresh. We usually only keep it for 48 hours.
You can also slice the loaf and then wrap it in several layers of plastic wrap and then foil and freeze the loaf for up to three months.
The Best Homemade Bread in a Bag
- Total Time: 2 hours
- Yield: 1 loaf 1x
Description
If you’re wanting to make a perfect loaf of white bread from scratch, this is the recipe for you! The Best Homemade Bread in a Bag is an easy way to whip up a soft loaf of fresh bread. The method of mixing the ingredients in a Ziploc bag makes bread making a really fun process and perfect for kids.
Ingredients
- 2 ½ to 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 envelope (.25 ounce or 2 ½ teaspoons) fast acting dry yeast
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup whole milk
- 3 tablespoons corn or vegetable oil
Instructions
- In a 1-gallon zip-top bag, add 1 cup of flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Zip the bag closed, squeezing the air out of the bag, then use your hands to shake and move the bag until all ingredients are combined.
- In a small saucepan, heat the milk and corn oil over medium heat just until it reaches 120-130F degrees.
- Open the zip-top bag and pour the warmed milk and oil into the bag. Reseal the bag, then use your hands to work the bag until the ingredients are well combined.
- Add the flour, about ½ cup at a time, working the bag with your hands between each addition, until a soft dough forms and pulls away from the sides of the bag.
- Sprinkle a clean countertop generously with flour, then remove the dough from the bag and knead on the counter for 5 minutes. Add additional flour if as you knead, just until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Cover the dough with a clean kitchen towel and let rest for 10 minutes.
- Roll the dough out to a 12×7-inch rectangle. Beginning from one short end, roll the dough up tightly into a log. Place the dough into a 8.5×4.4 inch loaf pan that has been greased with non-stick cooking spray. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and set aside to rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
- Bake the bread at 375F for 30 minutes or until done. Cool the bread for 5 minutes in the pan, then remove and cool completely on a wire cooling rack.
- Prep Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: bread
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: bread, homemade bread, bread in a bag
Feedback
After you make The Best Homemade Bread in a Bag, come back and tell me how you like it! You can leave a comment and recipe rating in the comments section below. You can also click here to see this on Pinterest and leave a comment there or even your own picture. Another option would be to tag me on Instagram @MomNeedsChocolate. Can’t wait to hear from you!
More Delicious Recipes
Leave a Reply