Best Kids Can Make Homemade Bread Recipes

KIDS CAN BAKE: APPLE BREAD

Steps:

• Work the apples, sugar and lemon zest together in a large bowl with your hands until the sugar feels like wet sand. Let the mixture sit, tossing occasionally, for 30 minutes (the sugar will have started to melt but will still be gritty).
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously coat a 10-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. Sift the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt together onto a large piece of parchment. Whisk together the oil, eggs and vanilla in a medium bowl.
• Once the apples are ready, add the flour mixture to them, and fold until combined. Pour in the oil mixture, and fold until just combined (it's OK if there are a few lumps). Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Tap the pan on the counter a few times to settle and even out the batter.
• Bake the bread until the top is golden brown and bounces back when pressed (if you insert a toothpick into the center, it's OK if there are a few crumbs), 55 to 60 minutes. Let cool in the pan on a cooling rack until cool enough to handle. Invert the bread out of the pan, and serve warm or at room temperature.

KIDS CAN MAKE: HOMEMADE BREAD

Steps:

• Put the milk, sugar, yeast and 1 cup of the flour in a large resealable plastic bag. Squeeze the air out of the bag and seal. Squish with your hands until well mixed. Let it rest for 10 minutes at room temperature; the mixture will begin to bubble.
• Add the melted butter, salt and remaining 3 1/2 cups flour to the bag, seal and squish again until well blended. Remove the dough from the bag and put it on a floured surface. Knead until smooth, about 5 minutes.
• Butter a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan and add the dough. Cover with a kitchen towel and put in a warm spot until the dough has just risen about 1 1/2 inches over the top of the pan, 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Brush the top of the dough lightly with warm water and bake until golden brown, about 35 minutes. Using oven mitts, remove the loaf from the pan and place in the center of the oven rack. Continue baking until the loaf sounds hollow when rapped lightly with your knuckles on the bottom and top, or an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center registers about 190 degrees F, about 30 minutes more. Transfer the loaf to a cooling rack and cool completely before slicing.

JEWISH CHOCOLATE CHIP MANDEL BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. In a large bowl, beat oil and 1/2 cup sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; gradually beat into oil mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours. , Shape dough into a 12x3-in. rectangle on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 20-25 minutes. Cool on pan on a wire rack until firm, 10-12 minutes. , Transfer baked rectangle to a cutting board. Using a serrated knife, cut crosswise into 1-in. slices. Place on baking sheet, cut side down. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar, Bake until golden brown, 4-5 minutes on each side. Remove from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Store between pieces of waxed paper in an airtight container.

PUMPKIN BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Combine first 8 ingredients. Whisk together eggs, pumpkin, oil and water; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in walnuts and, if desired, raisins. , Pour into a greased 9x5-in. loaf pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 65-70 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack.

KID-FRIENDLY WHEAT BREAD

Steps:

• Measure the water into a large bowl, or the bowl of a stand mixer and stir in 1 tablespoon of brown sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over the top and set aside until foamy, about 10 minutes.
• Add 1 cup of the all-purpose flour and 3 cups of whole wheat flour to the bowl along with the brown sugar, salt, vegetable oil and milk. Mix on low speed to blend ingredients. Continue to mix on medium speed, adding the rest of the flour 1/2 cup at a time, until the dough clings to the hook and cleans the sides of the bowl. You may not need to add all of the flour. Mix on medium speed for about 5 minutes. Oil the bowl and turn the dough to coat. Cover loosely and set aside to rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
• Punch down the dough and place on a floured surface. Divide into two equal portions and use a rolling pin to roll each one into a rectangle that is about 16x8 inches. Be sure to press out all of the air bubbles. Roll the rectangles into loaves and pinch the seam together.
• Place loaves seam side down into greased 9x5 inch loaf pans. Cut a few slits across the top of each loaf using a sharp serrated knife. Set aside to rise until your finger leaves a dimple when you press into a loaf, 30 to 45 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Bake the loaves for 15 minutes in the preheated oven, then reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake for an additional 30 minutes, or until loaves are deep brown. Remove from pans to cool on a wire rack.

BASIC HOMEMADE BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and 1/2 teaspoon sugar in warm water; let stand until bubbles form on surface. Whisk together remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, salt and 3 cups flour. Stir oil into yeast mixture; pour into flour mixture and beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 8-10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, 1-1/2 to 2 hours., Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide dough in half. Shape each into a loaf. Place in 2 greased 9x5-in. loaf pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, 1 to 1-1/2 hours., Bake at 375° until golden brown and bread sounds hollow when tapped or has reached an internal temperature of 200°, 30-35 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.