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How to Make Homemade Bread & Pizza Dough the Simple Way

If you’ve ever thought about making homemade bread but decided it was too complicated, I want to show you how simple it can really be.

I was getting ready to make pizza dough one day and decided to turn on the camera and show you how I do it.

The funny thing is, I don’t really use a recipe.

I know—that probably sounds strange coming from someone writing an article about making bread!

But I don’t measure everything exactly. I go by the way things look, the way things feel, and the way things taste.

Once you get used to making bread dough, you can learn to do the same thing.

Watch Me Make It

Here’s the video where I show you exactly how I make my basic bread and pizza dough.

I keep it very simple, because that’s how I make it in my kitchen.

Start With Warm Water

I start with a bowl and some warm water.

The water needs to be warm enough to help activate the yeast, but you don’t want it too hot. Water that’s too hot can kill the yeast.

You don’t need to make this harder than it is.

Warm water.

Then I add butter.

You can use oil if that’s what you prefer, but I like butter.

I think life is better with butter.

Add the Yeast, Sweetener and Salt

Next comes the yeast.

I buy my yeast in bulk and keep it in a canning jar because I use quite a bit of it.

Then I add some sugar.

You can use another sweetener if you’d rather. Sometimes I use honey, especially when I’m making honey oat bread.

I also add a good pinch of salt.

So at this point, I’ve got:

• Warm water
• Butter or oil
• Yeast
• Sugar or another sweetener
• Salt

Then I start adding flour.

That’s really it.

Don’t Be Afraid of the Flour

This is where I think people sometimes get intimidated by making bread.

They see a recipe that calls for a very specific amount of flour and start worrying about getting everything exactly right.

That’s not how I do it.

I start adding flour and mixing it in.

As I go, I watch the dough.

When it starts getting thicker and firmer, I know I’m getting there.

Eventually, I put some flour on the counter, turn the dough out, and start kneading it.

And yes, I use my hands.

Get Your Hands In There

One of my favorite things about making bread is that you really don’t need a lot of equipment.

You don’t need a big mixer.

You don’t need a bread machine.

You don’t need a kitchen full of gadgets.

You need a bowl, a spoon and your hands.

That’s it.

When you’re making bread dough, you actually want to knead it. As you work the dough, it develops elasticity and starts to become smoother and more workable.

You’ll feel the difference.

At first, the dough can be sticky and messy.

Keep working it.

Add flour as needed.

Knead it.

Feel the dough.

Eventually, you’ll start to recognize when it’s coming together the way you want it to.

That’s something you learn by doing.

Pizza Dough and Bread Dough Start the Same Way

The basic dough I make can be used for much more than pizza.

I’ve used this same basic idea to make:

• Homemade pizza crust
• Homemade bread
• Fried dough
• Cinnamon rolls
• Cinnamon bread
• Other specialty breads

The ingredients and amounts can change depending on what I’m making, but the basic process is very similar.

That’s one of the reasons I love having a basic dough method instead of feeling like I need a completely different recipe for everything.

Pizza Doesn’t Need as Much Rising

There is one big difference between how I handle my pizza dough and my regular bread dough.

I don’t let my pizza crust rise quite as much.

When I’m making bread, I like to let the dough rise twice in the bowl and then once again in the pans.

Pizza dough doesn’t need all of that.

That makes homemade pizza a pretty simple option for supper.

You can make your dough, get everything ready for your pizza, and enjoy something homemade without making it an enormous project.

You Can Learn to Make Bread Without Being Perfect

If you’re new to making bread, I don’t want you to feel like you have to get everything perfect the first time.

You don’t.

Start simple.

Pay attention to your dough.

Look at it.

Feel it.

As you make it more often, you’ll start knowing when it needs a little more flour and when it’s ready to knead.

That’s how I learned.

And that’s why I don’t worry about exact measurements every time I make bread.

I know what I’m looking for.

Start With Pizza

If homemade bread still seems intimidating, try making pizza dough first.

It’s a great place to start.

You don’t have to worry about shaping the perfect loaf. You don’t have to make it beautiful. You just need some good dough and whatever toppings your family enjoys.

And once you’ve made pizza dough a few times, you may find yourself thinking:

If I can make pizza dough, I can make bread.

And you can.

Before long, you might be making cinnamon rolls or fried dough or trying your hand at a loaf of homemade bread.

Homemade Bread Makes a Thoughtful Gift

Homemade bread is also a wonderful gift from the kitchen.

A fresh loaf doesn’t have to be fancy to make someone feel special. Wrap it in parchment paper, a clean kitchen towel, or a simple gift bag and add a handwritten note.

You can do the same thing with homemade pizza dough. Put the dough together with a small jar of pizza sauce, some homemade seasoning, or a favorite pizza recipe, and you have the makings of an easy homemade dinner.

This is one of my favorite things about making food from scratch. Something as simple as a loaf of bread or a batch of pizza dough can become a thoughtful gift without spending a lot of money.

And during the holidays, those simple gifts from the kitchen can be especially meaningful.

Keep It Simple

I think sometimes we make cooking harder than it needs to be.

We see complicated recipes and long ingredient lists and decide that something isn’t worth making ourselves.

But bread doesn’t have to be complicated.

Some warm water, yeast, a little butter, a sweetener, salt and flour can turn into something your family can enjoy in so many different ways.

You don’t need fancy equipment.

You don’t need to be a professional baker.

And you don’t have to be afraid of getting your hands messy.

Start.

Learn what the dough feels like.

Once you get comfortable with it, you’ll be surprised at how easy it becomes.

And if you’d like to see exactly how I make my basic dough, watch my video above. I’m right there in my kitchen making pizza dough and showing you that homemade bread really can be this simple.

If you make your own bread, I’d love to know what you make. Leave me a comment and tell me about it!

Happy baking!

Want to see how I actually make it? Watch the video, then give it a try yourself!