Classic white loaf
Add to favourite + Print Print

Classic white loaf

By Good Food team

Begin your bread-baking journey with this simple white loaf – once you’ve conquered this, you’ll be able to move on to more advanced recipes

  • Prep:20 mins
    Cook:45 mins
    plus at least 1 hr 40 mins proving
  • Easy

Nutrition per serving

  • kcal 111
  • fat 1g
  • saturates 0g
  • carbs 24g
  • sugars 0g
  • fibre 0g
  • protein 4g
  • salt 0.3g

Ingredients

  • 500g strong white flour, plus extra for dusting
  • 7g sachet fast-action dried yeast
  • sunflower oil, for proving

Method

  1. Tip the flour, yeast and 1 tsp salt into a large bowl and make a well in the middle. Pour in just under 350ml lukewarm water and use your fingers or a wooden spoon to mix the flour mixture and water together – you should have a slightly wet, pillowy, workable dough, so add a splash more water if needed.

  2. Tip the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for at least 10 mins, or until smooth and elastic. Or, do this in a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook for 3-5 mins. Put the dough in a clean oiled bowl, cover and leave to prove until doubled in size, about 1-2 hrs.

  3. Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Knock back the dough by tipping it back onto the floured surface and pushing the air out with the palms of your hands. Form the dough into a ball, transfer to a baking sheet, cover with a clean tea towel and leave to prove again for 40-45 mins, or until roughly doubled in size again.

  4. Dust the top of the loaf with a little flour and slash a cross into the top with a sharp knife, if you like. Bake for 15 mins, then reduce the heat to 190C/170C fan/gas 5 and bake for 30 mins more until the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the underside. Transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool completely. Will keep in an airtight container for up to three days or frozen for a month.

Suggested recipes from this collection...