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Amazing Amish Bread
I love baking bread, particularly in the cold winter months. During February this year, I wanted to make an easy loaf of bread and was happy that I remembered a recipe I clipped from the back of a bread flour bag way back when. It is called “Amish” bread; I am not sure what makes it Amish other than no electric tools are needed and the ingredients are simple things I always have on hand: flour, salt, yeast, oil, sugar, and water. Bada bing, bada boom.
This is one of those recipes that comes together so quickly! The bread rises the first time for an hour, a second time for a half hour and then bakes in just under a half hour. Start to finish, it is the quickest yeast bread I make, and it keeps well in a covered container or zip lock for up to three days.
I ended up taking the original cup measures and then weighing all my ingredients as this always yields a more uniform loaf and is easier to clean up.
Amish Bread
Makes One Loaf
Ingredients
- 215 grams water (about a cup)
- 7 grams yeast
- 28 grams granulated sugar
- 23 grams neutral oil (I use avocado oil but sunflower oil works too)
- 332 grams of bread flour, about 3 cups
- 5 grams of sea salt
Instructions
Stir together water, yeast, and sugar and let it sit for 5 minutes.
Add oil to the mixture.
Put all but about a cup of the bread flour into a bowl large enough to knead the bread. Add sea salt and make sure it is combined with the flour.
Pour the liquid ingredients into the flour and combine, adding the last cup of flour a little at a time. You’ll use all the flour.
Using a spatula then your hands, knead the dough until smooth, about 5 minutes. Place dough in an oiled large bowl, cover with saran and let it rise for an hour until doubled in bulk.
After an hour, remove the dough and punch it down. Knead again for 3 minutes, then shape into a loaf and place into an oiled 9” by 5” bread pan. Cover with oiled saran and let it rise for a half hour.
Just Before Baking
Meanwhile, preheat the oven at 350”. After the half hour is up for the bread rising, take scissors and make little slips over the top of the bread or use a very sharp knife to slash it 3-4 times on top. Bake for 28 minutes mid oven until it is golden brown and a thermometer registers at least 190 degrees. Remove from the pan and let it cool on a rack at least an hour before slicing.
This bread slices so easily and makes great sandwiches or toast–or have it fresh spread with butter.
