Soft & Fluffy No-Knead Bread
Simple • Budget-Friendly • Beginner-Proof
Why You’ll Love It
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No kneading, no stand mixer
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Uses basic pantry ingredients
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Soft, fluffy inside with a light golden crust
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Great for sandwiches, toast, or dinner bread
🧾 Ingredients (1 loaf)
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3 cups all-purpose flour
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1½ tsp instant yeast (or active dry yeast)
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1½ tsp sugar
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1 tsp salt
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1¼ cups warm water (about 105–110°F / 40–43°C)
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2 tbsp vegetable oil or melted butter
👩🍳 Instructions
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Mix Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. -
Add Wet Ingredients
Pour in warm water and oil/butter. Stir with a spoon until a sticky dough forms. -
First Rise (No Knead!)
Cover bowl with plastic wrap or a towel.
Let rise in a warm place for 1–1½ hours, until doubled in size. -
Shape the Dough
Lightly flour your hands and gently fold the dough a few times to release air.
Shape into a loaf and place in a greased loaf pan (9×5 inch). -
Second Rise
Cover and let rise again for 30–45 minutes, until puffy and near the top of the pan. -
Bake
Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
Bake for 30–35 minutes, until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped. -
Cool
Remove from pan and cool on a rack for at least 20 minutes before slicing.
✨ Tips for Extra Soft Bread
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Brush the top with melted butter right after baking
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Store wrapped in a towel for the first few hours
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Add 2 tbsp milk powder to the flour for bakery-style softness
🥪 Serving Ideas
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Butter & jam
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Sandwich bread
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Toast with eggs or avocado
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Soup or stew side
❓ Q & A
Q1: Can I use active dry yeast?
Yes. Dissolve it in the warm water with sugar first and let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy.
Q2: Why is my bread dense?
Possible causes:
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Water too hot (kills yeast)
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Dough didn’t rise enough
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Too much flour added
Q3: Can I make it whole wheat?
Yes. Replace 1 cup flour with whole wheat flour and add 2 extra tablespoons of water.
Q4: Can I bake this without a loaf pan?
Yes. Shape into a round loaf and bake on a lined baking tray.
Q5: How do I store it?
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Room temperature: 2–3 days
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Freeze (sliced): up to 2 months
🌟 Variations
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Garlic Bread: Add 1 tsp garlic powder + herbs
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Dinner Rolls: Divide into balls, bake 18–20 min
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Cheese Bread: Fold in ½ cup shredded cheese
If you’d like, I can also provide:
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No-knead overnight bread
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Soft milk bread version
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Bread without oven
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2-ingredient emergency bread.
