Description

Bread in a Bag is a simple and fun homemade bread recipe perfect for beginners and kids. This low-mess method uses a resealable plastic bag to mix and knead the dough without a mixer or bowl. The dough is quickly prepared, left to rise, and then baked to a golden, fluffy loaf. You can customize it easily with your choice of mix-ins such as cinnamon, raisins, or shredded cheese.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour (divided)
1 packet (2 ¼ teaspoons) active dry yeast
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

1 cup warm water (about 110°F)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

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Instructions

Activate Yeast: In a large resealable plastic bag, combine 1 cup of flour, yeast, sugar, and warm water. Seal the bag and squish it with your hands until the mixture is well combined. Let the bag sit for 10 minutes at room temperature so the yeast can activate and start bubbling.
Add Ingredients and Mix: Add vegetable oil, salt, and another cup of flour to the bag. Seal and squish again until combined. Then add the final cup of flour, seal the bag, and knead until a dough forms and pulls away from the sides of the bag. If the dough is too stiff, remove it from the bag and knead on a floured surface for about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Shape and Rise: Shape the dough into a loaf and place it in a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan. Cover with a clean towel and let it rise in a warm place for 30 to 45 minutes or until doubled in size.
Bake: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the bread for 25 to 30 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
Cool: Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Notes

This recipe is very kid-friendly and great for beginners because it’s low mess and easy to follow.
You can customize your bread by adding mix-ins like cinnamon, raisins, or shredded cheese.
For a whole wheat version, swap 1 cup of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour.