My Weekly Bread Recipe

Introduction

There’s nothing quite like the aroma of freshly baked bread wafting through your home. This Weekly Bread Recipe is the ultimate in baking simplicity—delicious, reliable, and adaptable for everything from toast at breakfast to hearty sandwiches at lunch. Perfect for meal preppers and busy families alike, making a loaf (or two) on the weekend sets you up for effortless, wholesome meals all week long.

Why This Weekly Bread Recipe Belongs in Your Routine

A homemade loaf trumps store-bought every time, delivering fuller flavor, a tender crumb, and a fresher bite. Its easy, foolproof method means you’ll get consistent results, giving you the confidence to bake ahead and eliminate unnecessary midweek grocery runs. With minimal ingredients, it’s budget-friendly and entirely customizable—toss in seeds, dried herbs, or a touch of honey for variety.

The Secret to an Irresistibly Soft and Flavorful Crumb

This bread recipe uses a long, slow proof to develop flavor and achieve that satisfying balance of softness and structure. Kneading by hand or mixer helps form the gluten, while proper fermentation brings out those subtle, nutty notes only fresh bread can offer. If desired, swap in part whole wheat or rye flour to up the nutrition.

Baking and Storing Your Weekly Bread

Once the dough is shaped and risen, a hot, steamy oven ensures a beautiful crust. Let your loaf cool completely before slicing to lock in moisture. Store your bread in a cloth bag or bread box for up to five days, or slice and freeze in portions to preserve freshness week-round.

Serving Suggestions for Every Meal

Start your day with a generous slice toasted and topped with nut butter or jam. Use thick slices for sandwich stacks at lunch or serve alongside weeknight soups and salads. Dice leftovers and toast to make homemade croutons, or use as the foundation for savory bread pudding.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

One standard loaf yields about 12 slices. Each slice (based on a classic white sandwich loaf) provides roughly 120-130 calories, 2g of protein, 24g carbs, and less than 2g fat. Choose whole grain options or mix-ins to increase nutritional value and fiber.

My Weekly Bread Recipe (Recap)

This recipe is your answer to homemade, versatile, and dependable bread—simple to make, delightful to eat, and perfect for planning hearty meals all week. Baking bread weekly is a small ritual that yields big rewards in flavor, nutrition, and convenience.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to CookifyAI for instant smart shopping lists with ingredients organized by store section—making bread baking and meal planning easier than ever!

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, whisk together warm water, yeast, and sugar (or honey). Let stand for 5-10 minutes, until foamy.
2. Add olive oil (or melted butter), salt, and flour. Stir until a rough dough forms.
3. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Knead by hand for 8-10 minutes (or use a stand mixer dough hook for 5 minutes) until smooth and elastic.
4. Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot for 1-2 hours, or until doubled in size.
5. Punch down dough, then shape into a loaf. Place in a greased 8×4-inch bread pan, or shape free-form on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
6. Cover loosely and let rise again for 30-45 minutes, until puffed.
7. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
8. For a crispier crust, lightly mist the loaf with water or place a small pan of water in the oven bottom.
9. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until golden and loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
10. Remove from pan and cool completely on a rack before slicing.

Weekly Meal Planning

Baking your bread each weekend is a game-changing move for meal prep. Save and schedule this recipe with CookifyAI to seamlessly plan breakfast, lunch, and dinners that utilize your fresh bread and automatically generate an optimized shopping list with everything you need for the week.

Planning Benefits:

• Aggregates bread ingredients with your other recipes for efficient shopping
• Keeps track of pantry staples, so you never buy more than you need
• Simplifies batch cooking and prevents midweek kitchen emergencies
• Makes it easy to see when to bake your loaf so you have fresh bread right when you need it

Pro Tip: When scheduling your weekly meals, CookifyAI ensures all bread-related and shared ingredients—like flour, eggs, or olive oil—are calculated in total for a more accurate grocery plan, reducing food waste and saving time.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus rise times)
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes (including rising and cooling)