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+ slices

Big, Soft Italian Loaf

A very soft and tender Italian loaf, perfect for slicing and serving with any meal.
Prep Time:20 minutes
Total Time:3 hours

Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ¼ cups of water
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons dry powdered milk
  • 1 ¼ teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 teaspoons instant yeast

Instructions

  • Mix the ingredients. In a large mixing bowl or the bucket of a bread machine, combine all the dough ingredients. Mix until fully combined and the dough is smooth. If the dough is too sticky, add more flour; if it's too dry, add more water. The dough should be soft but not sticky. Allow the dough to rise in a warm place until it has doubled in size, about 1 hour.
  • Knead the dough. Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic, which should take about 10 minutes with a stand mixer or 15-20 minutes by hand. If using a bread machine, let the dough cycle complete this step.
  • Shape the loaf. Shape the entire batch of dough into a single large log, slightly tapered at the ends to mimic the shape of a baguette to make a uniform bake and create the classic, slightly elongated loaf shape.
  • First rise. Place the shaped loaf on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or lightly greased to prevent sticking. Cover the loaf with greased plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until nearly doubled in size.
  • Bake. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Once the loaf has risen, use a sharp knife to make several diagonal slashes across the top to allow the bread to expand during baking. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the loaf is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
  • Cool. Remove the loaf from the oven and transfer it to a wire rack to cool before slicing to allow the interior to finish setting and prevent the crust from becoming soggy.

Nutrition

Calories: 178kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 300mg | Potassium: 83mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 14IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 2mg
Servings: 10 slices
Calories: 178kcal
Author: Katie