Rachel's Sunday Bread
The Bread I’ve Been Making Almost Every Week for Years
If you follow me over at @JustSimply.Rach on Instagram, you know I love baking bread.
It’s something I’ve done almost every week for years.
No matter what state I’ve lived in, what season of life I’ve been in, or how busy life gets — making bread has been one of the traditions that has stayed constant.
There’s something grounding about it.
Mixing the dough.
Letting it rest.
Watching it rise.
And then pulling warm loaves out of the oven that make the whole house smell like home.
Bread has a beautiful way of creating a feeling of home — no matter where home currently is.
Over the years I’ve had so many of you ask for the recipe I use, so today I’m finally sharing it here.
Fair warning:
once you make it, your family will ask for it every week.
This beloved recipe was shared with me by my friend and originally comes from her Aunt JuJu. I’m so grateful they passed it along — it has become a weekly tradition in our home.
RACHEL'S SUNDAY BREAD TRADITION
This recipe makes 6 medium loaves and is incredibly simple.
Ingredients
• 8½ cups bread flour
• 2 tsp salt
• 5 tsp Fast Rising instant yeast
• ½ cup sugar
• ¼ cup softened salted butter
• 3½ cups warm/hot tap water
Instructions
1. Mix Ingredients
In your mixer bowl combine:
• bread flour
• salt
• yeast
• sugar
• butter
Begin mixing.
Add 3½ cups warm tap water.
Mix with a bread hook for about 10 minutes until a smooth dough forms.
(Or mix with a wooden spoon and your hands)
(Here is a great mixer if you don't have one yet!)
2. Let Rise
Remove dough and form it into a ball.
Lightly spray the bowl (I use this glass bowl) and place the dough back inside.
Cover the bowl. *I use simple shower caps to cover my bowls — linking the ones I love here.)
Rising tips:
Cold weather:
Preheat oven to 170-175°F, place the bowl inside, then turn the oven off.
Warm weather:
Place the bowl near a sunny window or warm spot.
Let dough rise for 25 minutes.
3. Shape the Loaves
Punch the dough down and remove from bowl.
Spray your bread pans. *I use the cheap aluminum bread pans they work perfectly every time!
Divide dough into 3-4 equal portions and shape into loaves.
Place loaves into the pans.
4. Final Rise
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Let the dough rise in the pans on your counter while the oven heats up.
5. Bake
Bake for 27–29 minutes until golden brown. *You may have to adjust based on your altitude/loaction.
Remove from oven and immediately spread butter over the warm tops.
This is non-negotiable.
Trust me.
Final Step
Slice a warm piece.
Add butter.
Remember:
Calories don’t count when you eat bread hot.
One Warning
Prepare yourself.
Once you start making this, your family will probably request it every single week.
At least that’s what happened at our house.
A Little Sunday Tradition
For years now, bread making has become part of our weekly rhythm.
It reminds me to slow down.
To rest.
To let good things take time.
Dough doesn’t start as bread.
It rests.
It grows.
Then it goes through heat before it becomes something completely new.
Life feels a lot like that sometimes. Growth happens when we allow ourselves to rest after hard work...and our trials help shape us into something bigger, better, a more whole version of ourselves.
If you try the recipe, tag me on Instagram @JustSimply.Rach — I love seeing your loaves come out of the oven.
While you're here…
If you love simple routines that make life easier, check out my Cozy Curlband — the easiest way to wake up with curls without heat styling.
Keep life simple with the easiest bread — and effortlessly gorgeous curls!
xoxo, Rachel
