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

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  • 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

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.