Grandmaās Bread is simple and inexpensive to make. It uses no milk, eggs, or oil, and one batch makes two loaves.
The basic dough can also be used to make several different things, including desserts.
I originally found the recipe on the Chickens in the Road website, where it was called Grandmother Bread.
Over the years, I changed the way I make it, so this is my version.
I use a stand mixer with a dough hook, but if you donāt have one, a heavy spoon and your hands will work.
If you like an old-fashioned yeast flavor, let the sponge rise as directed. If you prefer a milder yeast flavor or are in a hurry, you can skip the sponge rise.
This is the chatty version.
The printable recipe card is shorter and easier to keep.
You’ll Need :
3 c warm water (not hot or it will kill the yeast and not rise)
1 TBS yeast
1 tsp salt
1 TBS – Ā¼ cup sugar (I use 1 TBS)
7 c all purpose flour
Step 1: In a large bowl, combine water, yeast, and sugar. Mix in 3 cups of flour and the salt.
This is called the sponge. Let it set for 30-45 minutes to rise and develop that old time yeasty flavor.
Step 2: Now add the rest of the flour 1 cup at a time, mixing between each cup. You want to add enough flour until the dough is kinda stiff. It may get too stiff to stir by hand. Itās time to knead it.
You may use all 7 cups of flour or you may not. It depends on the weather, your flour, etc.
Step 3: Now use a little flour on the counter and knead the dough. Again, I use a stand mixer set on the knead setting. When the dough is smooth and elastic, put your thumb in the middle of it. If most of the dough doesnāt stick to it when you pull it out, itās done.
That may take 8-10 minutes unless youāre working out some frustrations. Then it may get done sooner. Or later depending on how frustrated you are, haha. If using a stand mixer, it will pull away from the sides of the bowl a bit.
Step 4: Lightly coat the dough with oil or nonstick spray. Turn the dough over and spray the other side. Honestly, I just usually spray the top only. If you kneaded by hand, spray your bowl then put the dough back in and spray the top. Cover the bowl and let rise until doubled. If itās in a warm room it will usually take around an hour.
Step 5: Grease 2 regular loaf pans (9″x4″ or 9″x5″). Uncover the dough. You can use floured hands or wet your hands with a little water (whichever you prefer just so the dough doesnāt stick to you. Iāve even sprayed my hands with nonstick spray but usually wet them).
Punch the dough down and divide it in half. Shape each half into a loaf shape and place in your greased pans.
Thereās all kinds of ways to shape loaves. Iāve tried them all. Honestly, it works just as well to put the dough in the pan and then smooth it out so it’s pretty much even.
Let the dough rise in the pans in a warm spot. This may take another hour depending on how hot your kitchen is.
Most times I just slide the loaves into my oven so I donāt have to cover them again.
You want to bake them when the bread is barely domed over the top of the pan. They will rise more when baking.
Step 6: Youāre supposed to bake in a preheated oven, but if I let them rise in the oven, I turn the oven on to 350Ā° and bake. If you don’t have them in the oven yet, preheat your oven now to 350Ā°.
If you let them rise too much they may fall over the sides of the pan while baking. Theyāre usually nice and brown in about 20-25 minutes in a preheated oven. A few minutes more if you bake them starting with a cold oven.
Step 7: Hereās where I do like my Nanny didā¦when I remove from the oven, I cover with a slightly damp dish towel. Sometimes I use a dry towel.
It traps the steam in and makes the crust soft. I let it sit for 15 minutes or so. Then I use hot pads to hold the pan while I run a butter knife around the edge of the pan.
Dump out onto a cooling rack, cover and cool.
To cut, turn the loaf on its side and slice. An electric knife also does a good job of not smooshing it while slicing.
KellRae’s Kitchen Tips: Rub a stick of butter over the tops when the loaves come out of the oven. Cover and let sit as usual.
Until next time, take care of the people you love and don’t forget to make a few memories worth telling.
Grandma’s Bread Free Printable Recipe Card
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