I didn’t always make my own bread and I definitely don’t always get around to making it now. But when I do, I genuinely enjoy it. My ideal bread-making scenario is tunes playing in the kitchen over the Google Home, no one needing anything from me every 5 minutes and just me mixing up a couple loaves of fresh bread.
Shortly into 2026, I got super interested in seeing what types of dough I could make with my KitchenAid mixer.
I tried pizza dough first for our New Year homemade pizza night on January 2. (cause if I am being honest… I was super hungover on the 1st) and it turned out so good. I started pinteresting bread recipes and tried making my very first loaf of whole wheat bread that same night.
The house smelt unbelievable and it was a hit with my husband and oldest son. Over the next few weeks I played around with some recipes and now I use the same recipe every single time!
I wish every loaf I make could be my ideal scenario but now with the kids home and school out for the summer I am having to fit it in between all the chaos and I am here to say you can to!
Whether it’s throwing the ingredients together quick before a camp/school drop off or after the kids are fed their 3rd breakfast, the KitchenAid mixer makes a world of a difference to my success.
Once my dough is mixed up, it sits covered on the counter for about 1–1.5 hours. In that time, I can clean up my mess, get a few things done around the house, deal with whatever the kids need, or maybe even drink a coffee while it’s still warm (unlikely but I try).
The biggest thing I’ve learned is that making bread doesn’t mean standing in the kitchen for three hours. Most of the time, the dough is doing its thing while I’m doing mine. I mix it, leave it to rise, and go back to whatever else is happening in the house.
This recipe is made with a KitchenAid mixer using the dough hook attachment – No hand kneading required!
Easy Homemade White Bread
Makes 2 Loaves | 8×4-inch Bread Pan
Ingredients
2 cups – Warm water
4 tbsp – Sugar
4 ½ tsp – Instant Yeast
4 tbsp – Olive Oil
3 tsp – Salt
1 cup – Bread Flour
5-5 ½ cups – All-Purpose Flour
Instructions
1. Add warm water, sugar and instant yeast to stand mixer bowl, whisk together and let sit for 6-8 minutes or until yeast is foamy.
2. Add olive oil and salt to mixing bowl and attach into KitchenAid mixer and attach dough hook.
3. Add bread flour and 1–2 cups of all-purpose flour, start mixing on low.
4. Once combined, continue adding the all-purpose flour about 1 cup at a time while mixing on speed 2, until dough ball is formed. Mix for about 5–7 minutes. The dough should form a smooth ball and feel slightly tacky but shouldn’t stick to your fingers when you pinch it.
5. Grease separate bowl with olive oil
6. Shape dough into ball and transfer into greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or a proofing cover and a towel.
7. Let dough rise for 1 hour, or until ball has doubled in size.
8. Grease and flour 8×4-inch bread pans.
9. Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface and divide into 2 equal halves.
10. Gently pat each half into a rectangle the length of your bread pan and about 6-7 inches wide. Fold top into the center, followed by the bottom. Fold the sides in about 1-2 inches and pinch all seams closed. Turn the dough over so seam is facing down and gently roll with hands, helping seams blend in.
11. Place into bread pan and cover with towel. Let rise for 30-40 min.
12. Preheat oven to 375° F and adjust rack to middle position.
13. Bake loaves for 30 – 35 minutes, or until loaves are golden brown.
14. Once finished, let the bread sit in pan for about 5 minutes before transferring the loaves to cooling rack.
15. Allow bread to cool completely before slicing— or wait about 25–30 minutes, cut yourself a slice while it’s still warm, add
some butter and enjoy. Because really, who is waiting for it to cool completely every time?
A Few Tips I’ve Learned Along The Way
- Your water temperature matters. You want it comfortably warm, but not hot. Water that’s too hot can kill the yeast. I usually look for that nice warm-to-the-touch temperature.
- Depending on the flour you use, you may need to use a little more or a little less. Stop mixer once flour is mixed in and pinch the dough. You want it slightly tacky but not sticking to your fingers.
- There are a few different ways to shape dough into that perfect loaf shape. Watching a quick YouTube video beforehand can really help you visualize what you’re trying to do.
- Once bread is baked and out of the pan, tap the bottom of the loaf. It should sound hollow.
A few Items I Use All the Time
These aren’t things you need to make homemade bread, but they’re the things I find myself reaching for every time I make it:
- KitchenAid stand mixer
- Dough hook
- 8×4 loaf pans
- Timer
- Proofing covers (large plastic wrap bowl covers)
- Non stick silicone pastry mat
- Bread knife
