Homemade Italian Bread is easier than you think! You'll be so proud when this delicious, crusty loaf comes out of your oven. Don't miss the video and step-by-step photos and check out all of my Italian Bread Recipes!
My goal today is to convince you to try this Homemade Italian Bread. It's so easy, crusty and delicious. I don't want you to miss out!
There's nothing like the sense of accomplishment that comes from baking your own bread, whether it be a loaf of Italian bread or Parmesan Focaccia with Rosemary.
"Did I do that?!!," you'll wonder, in your best Steve Urkel voice. Or maybe that's just me.
But, seriously. Why is it that as kids, we went to town with Play Doh and Silly Putty (now I'm aging myself), yet as adults, we shy away from making dough and shaping it into a simple loaf?
Yes, there's kneading involved. But if you have a stand mixer with dough hooks, all you need to do is throw in your ingredients and let the machine run for six minutes. By hand, you'll probably need a couple of minutes longer, but it's so therapeutic.
My son has been making this easy Italian bread for years, and kneads the dough by hand like a boss. I just use my KitchenAid (affiliate link).
Recipe ingredients
Yeast: Use instant or active yeast. If using instant yeast, you can just add it with all the other dough ingredients.
If using active yeast, you'll have to proof it first to activate it. Those instructions are included in the recipe card.
Flour: Use all-purpose flour or bread flour. I always use all-purpose, unbleached flour, since that's what I keep in the house.
Can you use whole wheat flour?
After being asked this question more than once, I recently tested this recipe with a 50-50 combination of all-purpose flour and white whole wheat flour. The dough had to be kneaded for at least 10 minutes in the stand mixer.
The half-whole-wheat version came out more dense than the loaves made with 100% all-purpose flour. The flavor was a little stronger, but it was a decent loaf, if you like whole wheat.
But I wouldn't recommend using only whole wheat flour for this bread. The flavor would be too strong, and the recipe would need to be adjusted in a few ways, such as adding more sugar and salt, and possibly adding vital wheat gluten.
So, although I use all whole wheat flour in recipes such as blueberry muffins, I recommend making white Italian bread with all-purpose flour. If you really want to incorporate whole wheat, you can use a 50-50 combination of flours.
How to know whether to add more flour
The only part of this recipe that requires thought is figuring out whether to add more flour. The humidity of your kitchen will be a factor.
Here's a ridiculously simple tip: If, after a couple of minutes of kneading, you touch the dough and realize it's stuck to your fingertips, you need to add more flour.
Start with an extra ¼ cup, knead it some more and see if the dough comes together. In a stand mixer, the dough should pull away from the insides of the bowl and form a ball in the center.
If you still see residue at the bottom of your bowl, add a little more flour and knead some more. Try touching the dough again.
Still sticky? Add another ¼ cup of flour.
It's not rocket science, I promise. You almost can't go wrong.
How to make Italian bread
See the card at the end of this post for the full recipe, but here's an overview.
- Mix the ingredients in bowl and knead in a stand mixer or on the counter. Add extra flour if the dough is sticky.
- The dough should come together in smooth ball. Place it in a greased bowl, covered, to rise for two hours. (You can leave your house!)
- After the first rise, the dough should have doubled in size.
- Gently punch it down. Let the dough rise again for 40 minutes, covered. (One time, I left to do errands and came back more than an hour later — no big deal.)
- After the second rise, the dough is ready.
- Shape it into a loaf (it takes about five seconds!) and place it on a lined or greased half-sheet pan (you don't need a special loaf pan!) Cut a vertical slit (or horizontal ones) in the loaf to allow it to vent and open as it bakes.
- Bake it on the center rack of your oven, with a metal pan of hot water below it.
Recipe tips
- Baking the shaped Italian bread dough with a pan of hot water below it will create steam. The steam produces a crispy crust.
- To test whether your bread is done: Wearing oven mitts, turn over the loaf of bread when it's out of the oven. With ungloved fingertips, tap the bottom of the loaf. If it sounds hollow, it's done.
How to serve it
When the bread cools...you'd better have some dipping oil ready.
It's perfect for entertaining, so I included it in this collection of 63 Italian Appetizers. And, you have to try this crusty Italian bread with some of our favorite Italian side dishes!
Of course, you can make slab sandwiches or enjoy Homemade Turkey Lunch Meat on sliced Italian bread. You haven't lived until you've had a "sangwich" with Pan-Fried Eggplant, Italian Chicken Cutlets, or Italian Peppers in Oil!
For breakfast, slice it into thick pieces and make Italian Bread French Toast.
And if you have some leftover bread that's drying you can make bread crumbs. You won't believe how delicious they taste!
Frequently asked questions
Store the Homemade Italian Bread at room temperature, wrapped in plastic and then placed in a brown bag. It's best eaten by the next day or so for freshness.
Yes! The best way to keep Italian bread fresh is to freeze it. Slice it into portions first, then place it in a sealed, zip-top bag in the freezer.
Just do it!
Friends, making this Homemade Italian Bread is easier than lots of things in life.
- It's easier than changing a tire.
- Easier than driving a stick shift.
- Easier than filling out back-to-school paperwork.
- Easier than mowing the lawn.
And many readers tell me this is the best Italian bread recipe they've tried.
So go for it!
More bread recipes
Be sure to try this Artisan Italian Bread, Homemade Pizza Dough with Beer and these Quick Hamburger Buns (ready in 40 minutes). And during the holidays, you can make panettone (Italian Christmas bread).
But, if you insist you're not ready for yeast breads and kneading dough, you can crank out this 5-Ingredient Beer Bread in under an hour. And don't forget quick breads like zucchini bread or banana bread!
Enjoy!
If you try this Homemade Italian Bread, be sure to leave a comment and rating!
Homemade Italian Bread
Ingredients
Dough
- 3 cups all-purpose flour (use up to four cups if needed; see notes)
- 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast (see notes if using active dry yeast)
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ¼ cups warm water
For Serving:
- olive oil (optional)
Instructions
- Add three cups of flour and the remaining dough ingredients to the bowl of a stand mixer, if you have one. Otherwise, use a large mixing bowl.
- If using a stand mixer with dough hooks, start the machine on "stir," then switch to a low speed to knead the dough for six minutes.
- If kneading by hand, stir with a spoon, then knead the dough on a clean, floured work surface for at least six minutes.
- After a couple minutes of kneading in your mixer or by hand, check to see if the dough is sticky. Touch it with your fingertips and pull them away.
- If there is dough residue on your fingertips, you need to add more flour. Add ¼ cup extra flour and knead some more.
- Check again to see if the dough is still sticky. If so, add more flour, ¼ cup at a time, until your dough comes together in a smooth ball and isn't sticky. It should pull away from the inside of the bowl of your stand mixer.
- When you are done kneading, grease your mixing bowl with cooking spray (you can use the same bowl without cleaning it first.) Place your ball of dough in the greased bowl and roll it around to coat it a bit with the oil.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise for two hours at room temperature.
- After two hours, peel back the plastic and gently punch down the dough. Cover the bowl again with the plastic wrap and let the dough rise for another 40 minutes.
- When your dough is almost done rising, preheat your oven to 425 degrees F. Make a steam bath so your crust will be crispier. Fill a 9x13 metal pan or cast iron pan halfway with hot water. (Avoid using a glass pan, if possible, because it could shatter.) Wearing oven mitts, place the pan with the hot water on the bottom rack of your oven.
- When the dough is risen, place it onto a half sheet pan lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. (If you have neither, you can lightly grease your pan with cooking spray.)
- Shape your dough into a loaf about 10 inches long and four inches wide. Use a straight-edged knife to score the dough (make a long vertical slit or horizontal slits along the surface of the dough) to allow venting. Place the pan with your dough on the middle rack of your oven.
- Bake initially for 10 minutes at 425 F.
- Lower your oven temperature to 400 degrees F, and bake your bread for 30-35 minutes more. Check if your bread is done by removing the pan from the oven. Wearing gloves, flip over the loaf. Take off one glove and tap the underside of the bread with your fingertips. If the bread sounds hollow, it is done. If not, bake it a little more.
- When the bread is done, let it cool on a wire rack until it's no longer hot. Slice the bread and serve with oil, salt and pepper for dipping, if you wish.
- Store the bread at room temperature, wrapped in plastic and then placed in a brown bag. It is best eaten by the next day or so for freshness. If you wish, you can slice the loaf and freeze it in a freezer bag.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
(Recipe Source: Adapted from my son's recipe, which he'd adapted after seeing it online years ago. Originally published on August 26, 2017 and updated now with process photos and additional text.)
Mike Olson
Would it be possible to bake one large loaf with this recipe? I like to make sandwiches on this bread but would like to have larger slices. I imagine the baking time would increase?
Mamma C
Hi Mike - That should work, if you increase the recipe by maybe 1 1/2. You probably would have to bake it a bit longer, if it's taller. I haven't tried it, so you'd have to experiment. See how it looks after the standard time, and then add from there.
Mike Olson
Awesome! A couple other questions Mamma C, Do you knead the dough after the second rest (before forming into loaves)? The reason that I ask is that my loaves don't come out as nice looking as others do. Would it hurt to do so, in order to get a good smooth loaf?
Mamma C
Hi Mike - No, I don't knead it a second time, but you could, just a little, to get the air out. Also, when you shape it for the loaves, you can smooth out the dough by stretching it to the side edges and tucking it underneath, then pinching the seam closed on the bottom.
Gelfling 545
I was looking for a good crusty bread for a special dinner. I tried this yesterday and it is the first Italian bread recipe, and I have tried several, that has come out truly crusty snd with a good texture. The bread was perfect. Thanks.
Mamma C
I'm so happy to hear that! Thanks for letting me know.
Chris
I haven’t tried this recipe yet, but your writing is SO enjoyable, I’m going to give it a go this week!
You sound like someone I’d like to have as a neighbor.
Mamma C
Hi Chris - I truly appreciate your comment, because I'm a writer and editor first and foremost. I hope you enjoy the bread and my other posts!
DONNA DRAKE
I MADE HOMEMADE ITALIAN BEEF AND NEEDED JUST THE RIGHT BREAD. THIS IS IT!! I COULD HARDLY WAIT TO IT. IN TEXAS THER IS NOTHING HERE LIKE IT
Mamma C
I'm so glad to hear that, Donna! We love this Italian bread too. Thanks for letting me know.
Spencer Sanders
So, while it came out DELICIOUS! However, it also came out a little bit dense. I don’t have any plastic wrap so I covered the dough with a warm damp towel to let it rise. Do you think that had to do with it being damp?
Spence
And also, instead of instant yeast, I used regular active dry yeast. Would that make a difference?
Mamma C
Hmmm...Did you let the active dry yeast proof first? It can't just be mixed in with the other ingredients like an instant yeast.
Spencer
No I did not let proof first. I mixed it straight into the mixture. Perhaps that explains my bread being more dense than expected!
Also, suppose I run out of olive oil. Can canola oil be used as a substitute?
Mamma C
Mystery solved! I added a note to the recipe for anyone else using active dry yeast. For the oil, you can substitute canola.
Mamma C
Hi Spencer - It's hard to diagnose from here, but was your yeast fresh enough? It's also possible you added too much flour. I'm not sure about whether the damp towel would result in a dense loaf.
Kurt Burchianti
My daughter (age 9) and I love this bread. Every weekend when she comes over she makes this bread and brings it home to her mother. She gets so proud of herself and im proud of her too!
Thank you for this recipie, its a real bonding experience.
Mamma C
Hi Kurt - Your beautiful comment brought tears to my eyes. Please tell your daughter I'm proud of her too. When I was her age, I couldn't make anything, let alone homemade bread!
Mad Margaret
I love your website and my sister and I LOVE this bread. It was so easy. I'm going to try some of your others and will let you know how they come out.
Mamma C
Hi Margaret - Oh my gosh, when I saw I had a message from "Mad Margaret," I thought you were mad at me, LOL! I'm so relieved to see it's the opposite. I'm glad you love my website and this recipe! I hope you enjoy the others as well. I test my recipes until they're fantastic.
Tee
Came out wonderful! Dipped in home made red sauce with fresh sausage. I didn't have pasta, just the warm fresh bread. Yummy! So easy to make, tastes fantastic, never buy Italian bread again!
My loaf was done with 13 minutes left on timer, so keep watching.
Thanks for great recipe!
Mamma C
Yay! I'm thrilled to hear that, Tee! Thanks for your comment.
Lisa
Yummy! This was excellent! I used my Italian bread pans with the little holes, I did the cast iron pan with water and my convection oven. Enough for us and I shared 1/2 with the neighbors. I think I baked the second time for about 20 minutes. Some how the timer wasn't working, but I came in just in time.
Mamma C
Hi Lisa - Lucky neighbors! I'm thrilled to hear you enjoyed this bread so much. Thanks for letting me know!
Jerry Miller
Forgot to buy Italian bread, so I went looking for a recipe and found yours. Very easy with the Kitchen Aid. I think I took it out too early, it was a little chewy. Can the dough be frozen? I don't have time during the week for the whole process.
Mamma C
I'm glad you found this to be easy, Jerry. It's helpful to tap the bottom of the loaf to test whether it's done. If you get the hollow sound, it should be good. As for freezing the dough, I haven't tried it with this recipe, but you should be able to freeze it after the first rise. Try adding a little extra yeast when making the dough, to compensate for what will be lost during freezing time. Shape into a loaf after the first rise, and freeze it. When you want to use it, let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then let it rise at room temperature again before baking it.