The Best Italian Bread Recipe for Fluffy Homemade Bliss

Rustic Italian bread embodies the heart of mediterranean culinary traditions, bringing warmth and comfort to every kitchen.

Generations of families have perfected this simple yet soul-satisfying staple that connects people through shared meals.

Crisp crusts and soft interiors tell stories of regional techniques passed down through passionate home cooks.

Wheat’s golden essence reinvents into a canvas of texture and flavor that speaks directly to hunger and heritage.

Salt, yeast, and flour dance together in a timeless culinary ritual that transcends generations.

Skilled bakers understand the delicate balance of ingredients that create a perfect loaf, reinventing humble components into something magical.

This recipe promises an authentic experience that will transport you to sun-drenched Italian countryside kitchens.

What Makes Italian Bread So Classic

• Craft Homemade Comfort: This Italian bread brings warmth and love straight from your kitchen, creating a soul-satisfying experience that beats any store-bought loaf.
• Master Bakery-Level Technique: Despite seeming complex, the recipe offers an achievable method for home bakers to create professional-quality bread with simple steps and basic ingredients.
• Versatile Bread Perfection: These golden-brown loaves work wonderfully for sandwiches, toast, dipping in olive oil, or serving alongside pasta and soups, making them a kitchen staple for multiple meals.
• Quick and Rewarding Process: With just a few hours from start to finish, you'll transform basic ingredients into two beautiful, crusty loaves that smell incredible and taste even better, providing a delightful baking adventure.

Simple Ingredient List for Italian Bread

• Whole Milk: Adds richness and helps activate yeast for soft bread texture.
• Hot Water: Essential for hydrating flour and creating proper dough consistency.
• Olive Oil: Provides moisture, enhances flavor, and helps prevent dryness in bread.

• Active Dry Yeast: Crucial for bread rising and developing traditional bread structure.
• Granulated Sugar: Feeds yeast and helps with bread browning and flavor development.

• All-Purpose Flour: Core ingredient for bread structure, choose high-quality unbleached flour.
• Kosher Salt: Enhances overall bread flavor and controls yeast fermentation.
• Sesame Seeds: Optional topping that adds nutty flavor and visual appeal to bread crust.

Your Easy Guide to Baking Italian Bread

Step 1: Warm The Milk

Heat whole milk in a small saucepan or microwave until warm to touch. Aim for around 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 2: Activate The Yeast

• Active dry yeast
• Small amount of granulated sugar

Stir ingredients together and let sit until foamy.

Step 3: Prepare Dough Base

• Hot water
• Olive oil
• Remaining sugar
• Kosher salt

Step 4: Mix Flour

• Add all-purpose flour gradually
• Mix on low speed first
• Increase to medium speed
• Continue mixing until soft, sticky dough forms

Step 5: First Dough Rise

• Coat large bowl with olive oil
• Transfer dough to bowl
• Cover with plastic wrap
• Let rise in warm location
• Allow dough to double in size

Step 6: Shape The Loaves

• Transfer dough to floured surface
• Divide dough into two sections
• Stretch each section into rectangle
• Fold and roll into desired shape
• Optional: Sprinkle flour on top

Step 7: Final Rise

• Place loaves on baking sheets
• Optional: Brush with water
• Optional: Sprinkle sesame seeds
• Create diagonal slashes on top
• Cover with clean dish towel
• Let rise for additional time

Step 8: Bake The Bread

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
• Position oven racks
• Uncover loaves
• Bake for 15 minutes
• Rotate baking sheets
• Continue baking until golden brown
• Check doneness by tapping bottom of loaf

Step 9: Cool And Serve

• Remove bread from oven
• Let loaves cool slightly
• Slice and enjoy

Smart Tips to Perfect Your Italian Bread

• Warm Milk Precisely: Use a thermometer to ensure milk reaches exactly 110℉ for perfect yeast activation without killing the cultures.
• Handle Dough Gently: Avoid over-kneading by stopping when the dough becomes soft and slightly tacky, preventing tough bread texture.
• Create Ideal Rising Environment: Place dough in a warm, draft-free spot like a turned-off oven with the light on to help consistent rising.
• Master Shaping Technique: Stretch and fold dough carefully to develop gluten structure and create beautiful bread with nice air pockets.
• Check Bread Doneness Expertly: Listen for a hollow sound when tapping the bottom and look for deep golden-brown crust as signs of perfectly baked Italian bread.

Save and Reheat Italian Bread Without Losing Texture

• Refrigeration: Wrap cooled Italian bread tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days to maintain freshness and prevent drying out.
• Freezing: Seal bread in a freezer-safe bag, removing excess air. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature for best texture and flavor restoration.
• Reheating: Warm bread in a preheated oven at 350℉ for 5-10 minutes. Sprinkle water on the crust before heating to help restore moisture and create a crispy exterior.

Dishes That Match Well with Italian Bread

• Savor Rustic Italian Wine Pairing: Complement the hearty, crusty Italian bread with a bold Chianti or Sangiovese red wine. These robust wines highlight the bread's rich, yeasty flavors and provide a perfect balance of acidity and depth.
• Create Olive Oil Dipping Experience: Elevate the bread's taste by serving it with a high-quality extra virgin olive oil infused with herbs like rosemary or garlic. This classic Italian appetizer approach transforms the bread into a delightful sensory experience.
• Match with Creamy Mediterranean Spreads: Pair the fresh bread with traditional spreads like smooth hummus, tangy tzatziki, or rich baba ganoush. These Mediterranean-inspired dips bring out the bread's soft interior and crispy crust, creating a delicious flavor harmony.
• Design Cheese and Charcuterie Accompaniment: Serve alongside a selection of aged pecorino, creamy mozzarella, and cured meats like prosciutto. The bread's neutral base allows these rich, salty flavors to shine, making for an irresistible appetizer or light meal.

Flavor Variants for Traditional Italian Bread

• Herbal Infusion Bread: Incorporate fresh rosemary, thyme, or basil into the dough for an aromatic Mediterranean-inspired version. Chop herbs finely and mix directly into the flour before combining with wet ingredients.
• Whole Wheat Adventure: Replace half the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for a heartier, more nutritious bread. This variation adds a nutty flavor and increases fiber content while maintaining the classic Italian bread texture.
• Garlic Parmesan Blast: Knead minced garlic and grated Parmesan cheese into the dough before the first rise. Sprinkle additional Parmesan on top before baking for an extra cheesy, savory experience.
• Olive and Sun-Dried Tomato Fusion: Fold chopped kalamata olives and diced sun-dried tomatoes into the dough during the final mixing stage. These ingredients will create pockets of intense Mediterranean flavor throughout the bread.

Italian Bread Recipe

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• Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Rustic Italian bread brings Mediterranean warmth to your kitchen with its golden crust and tender crumb. Kneaded with simple ingredients and baked to perfection, this authentic loaf invites you to savor classic Italian baking traditions.

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Ingredients

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Flour and Yeast:

• 6 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting and baking sheets
• 2 (¼-ounce) packets active dry yeast (4 ½ teaspoons)

Liquids and Fats:

• 2 cups hot water
• ½ cup whole milk
• ¼ cup olive oil, plus more for the bowl

Seasonings and Other Ingredients:

• ½ teaspoon plus 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 4 tablespoons sesame seeds, divided (optional)

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Instructions

1. Gently warm milk in a saucepan or microwave until lukewarm, ensuring it reaches approximately 110℉.
2. Pour warmed milk into a stand mixer bowl, sprinkle yeast and a pinch of sugar, then allow mixture to become frothy and activate, roughly 6-7 minutes.
3. Heat water in microwave until comfortably hot but not boiling, around 130℉.
4. Add hot water, olive oil, remaining sugar, and salt to the yeast mixture, creating a foundational liquid base.
5. Incorporate flour gradually using a dough hook, mixing on low speed until a rough, shaggy texture develops.
6. Increase mixer speed to medium, continuing to add flour incrementally until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms.
7. Transfer dough to an olive oil-coated bowl, ensuring complete surface coverage, and allow to rise in a warm environment until volume doubles.
8. Prepare baking sheets by lining with parchment and dusting lightly with flour.
9. Deflate dough and place on a floured workspace, handling gently to maintain softness.
10. Divide dough into two equal portions, stretching each into a rectangular shape approximately 12 inches long.
11. Create loaf shapes by folding long edges toward center, then rolling lengthwise into elongated forms or rounded boules.
12. Dust loaves with additional flour if not using sesame seeds.
13. Position loaves seam-side down on prepared baking sheets.
14. For sesame seed variation, brush loaves with water and generously sprinkle seeds.
15. Using a sharp knife, score diagonal cuts across loaf surfaces to promote even rising.
16. Cover loaves with a clean towel and allow brief secondary rise for approximately 30 minutes.
17. Preheat oven to 400℉, positioning racks to divide oven into thirds.
18. Bake loaves for initial 15 minutes, then rotate sheets between racks and front-to-back.
19. Continue baking until crusts achieve deep golden-brown coloration, approximately 10 additional minutes.
20. Verify doneness by tapping loaf bottom – a hollow sound indicates perfectly baked bread.
21. Allow loaves to cool slightly before slicing to maintain structural integrity.

Notes

• Crafting this rustic Italian bread requires patience and love, transforming simple ingredients into a mouthwatering masterpiece.
• Precise temperature control matters when activating yeast, ensuring a soft, pillowy texture that melts in your mouth.
• Kneading develops gluten, creating that signature chewy interior and crisp golden crust that defines authentic homemade bread.

• Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Appetizer
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 180
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 4.5 g
• Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 32 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 5 mg