Name: Homemade bread with just 4 ingredients – an easy recipe for everyone
Prep time: 80 min
Cook time: 80 min
Total time: 80 min
Yield: 10
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups (370 ml) lukewarm water; 2 tablespoons (10 g) dry yeast; 4 cups (500 g) all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon salt

Homemade bread with just 4 ingredients – an easy recipe for everyone

Homemade bread with just 4 ingredients – an easy recipe for everyone

Easy to prepare
10 portions
80 minutes

Jan, 21. 12. 2025

Freshly baked homemade bread that you can make without kneading and without a bread machine needs only 4 basic ingredients. Ideal for beginners and experienced bakers alike – just a few minutes of preparation and patience during rising.

For 10 portions

Ingredients

1 ½ cups (370 ml) lukewarm water
2 tablespoons (10 g) dry yeast
4 cups (500 g) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt

Video tutorial

Preparation procedure

Preparing the starter and dough Pour the lukewarm water into a larger bowl and dissolve the yeast in it. Add the all-purpose flour and salt. Stir with a wooden spoon until a sticky dough forms. Do not knead – by stirring you only incorporate all the ingredients.
First rise Cover the bowl with a clean towel and let it rise for 2–3 hours at room temperature, until the volume has nearly doubled.
Shaping and second rise On a floured surface, gently shape the dough into a loaf without further kneading. Transfer it to parchment/baking paper, cover and let rest for 30 minutes.
Baking the bread Preheat the oven to 230 °C. Place an empty cast-iron pot (or a casserole dish with a removable lid) in the oven. Move the loaf into the heated pot (using the paper), score the surface with a sharp knife. Cover with the lid and bake for 30 minutes. Then remove the lid and bake a further 15 minutes until golden.
Cooling Remove the finished bread and let it cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Only then slice, so the crumb doesn’t compress.

Total preparation time and yield

Dough preparation: 5 min
First rise: 2–3 hours
Second rise: 30 min
Baking: 45 min
Cooling: 30 min
Total: approx. 3 – 4 hours
Yield: 1 large loaf (10–12 slices)

Conclusion

This recipe for homemade bread made from only four ingredients proves that you can achieve a great result without complicated techniques or equipment. The airy crumb and crispy crust will delight the whole family, whether you serve it for breakfast, as a side to soup, or as a snack.