Basic White Bread Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (2024)

Posted on Last updated:

79 Comments

Jump to Recipe

Recipe for a vegan Basic White Bread. Super soft, very versatile, delicious, quick and easy! You’ll only need 5 simple ingredients. You can use this recipe to make loaves, buns, even pizza crust, and flatbread. No need to buy bread anymore in the supermarket!

Basic White Bread Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (1)

I have been makingthis Basic White Bread literally foryears now. It’s the perfect base recipe for all of your bread adventures!

It’s delicious, fluffy and you can easily add special ingredients to it like olives (I love that one for grilling), caraway seeds, sunflower seeds, dried tomatoes…

It is perfect for sandwiches, bruschetta or to make some rolls (like these Seeded Burger Buns or these Pretzel Buns).

Usually, whenImake this bread, I double the recipe, make oneloaf with part of the dough and some rolls to use as burger buns. You can also sprinkle some sesame seeds, flax seeds or poppy seeds on top!

How to make a Basic White Bread Loaf

The ingredients

You’ll only need 5 simple ingredients for this Basic White Bread:

  • all-purpose flour (you could also use a mix of spelt or whole wheat flour with all-purpose flour to make it more nutritious and healthier)
  • active dry yeast
  • salt
  • olive oil
  • water

Sounds easy, right?! Well, it is!

Even if you have never baked your own bread, this is the perfect time for it! This is the perfect bread baking beginner recipe!

Tip: Just keep in mind that the yeast will need time to make the dough rise for about 1-2 hours depending on the room’s temperature (it needs less time in a warmer room e.g. in the summer). A good bread just needs a bit of time. But as long as you keep in mind to start early enough, you will be rewarded with delicious crispy white bread!

The basic steps

Basic White Bread Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (2)
Basic White Bread Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (3)
Basic White Bread Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (4)
Basic White Bread Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (6)
Basic White Bread Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (7)
Basic White Bread Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (8)

Serve the Basic White Bread with…

  • spreads (basic hummus, spinach hummus,potato cheese spread)
  • creamy soups (carrot ginger soup,broccoli soup)
  • stews (goulash,chili con carne)
  • tomato bruschetta

How to store bread…

Homemade bread is the best on the day it is baked. Store leftovers at room temperature – a breadbox would be best, or a paper bag or in a container with a not completely closed lid to allow airflow. I like to toast bread slices when I use bread that I have baked the day(s) before.

Basic White Bread Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (9)

Versatile Multi-Purpose Bread Dough

Basic White Bread Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (10)

What if I told you.. you could make all of this with the basic white bread recipe?! Well.. you can! This bread dough is the perfect base recipe for bread loaves, burger buns, breadsticks, even fluffy naan,and pizza crust! The possibilities are endless!

Bread FAQ

Vegan Bread? Isn’t all bread vegan?

Unfortunately not! Some breads contain milk or honey, sometimes the surface is brushed with egg whites. It’s always good to check the labels for non-vegan ingredients.

Is yeast vegan?

Yeast is classified as a fungus (just like mushrooms) and therefore vegan-friendly. So no worries, you can eat yeast as a vegan!

I hope you enjoy this simple recipe as much as I do! I’d love to hear what you’re making with the basic white bread recipe!

Cheers, Bianca

Basic White Bread Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (11)

Basic White Bread Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (12)

Basic White Bread

Elephantastic Vegan

You can use this basic white bread recipe for all kinds of breads: bread loaves, burger buns, flatbread, pizza crust, bagels, pretzels,… Anything is possible!

4.42 from 43 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Resting Time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course Basics, Bread

Cuisine Vegan

Servings 1 loaf

Calories 984 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon instant yeast
  • 1/3 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 2/3 cup lukewarm water

Instructions

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, instant yeast, and salt. Then add the olive oil and water and stir to combine, then knead with your hands (or use a kitchen machine with a dough hook) until it comes together in a smooth dough*.

  • Let it sit, covered with a clean kitchen towel, in a warm spot until it doubles in size (about 1 1/2-2 hours).

  • Preheat the oven to 200 °C or 400 °F.

  • Form a bread loaf andcarve the surface of the dough lightly with a knife (I’ve made one long cut across the bread).

  • Then bake the bread in the oven until the surface is golden**. You can knock on the bottom of the bread and when it sounds hollow it’s done!

Notes

*Adjusting the dough: If the dough is too crumbly, add a bit more water. If the dough is too sticky, add a bit more flour.

**Baking times: How long the bread needs to be in the oven depends on the form you’re making. Loaves need about 20-30 minutes, rolls 15-20 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1loafCalories: 984kcalCarbohydrates: 195gProtein: 30gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 794mgPotassium: 382mgFiber: 9gCalcium: 38mgIron: 11.9mg

Tried this recipe?Mention @elephantasticvegan or tag #elephantasticvegan!

More delicious Vegan Bread Recipes

Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn referral fees if you make a purchase through my link. While clicking these links won't cost you any extra money, they will help me keep this site up and running!

Basic White Bread Recipe | Elephantastic Vegan (2024)

FAQs

Is normal white bread vegan? ›

Is white bread vegan? Generally speaking, yes—most white sandwich breads don't contain animal products. But highly processed white sandwich breads like Wonder Classic White Bread and Sara Lee Classic White often contain dough conditioners and emulsifiers as well as dairy and eggs.

What do vegans use for bread? ›

A few types of bread that are commonly vegan include pita, ciabatta, and focaccia. Veganism refers to a way of living that attempts to minimize animal exploitation and cruelty. For this reason, vegans aim to exclude all foods containing meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, and honey from their diet ( 1 ).

What does adding milk instead of water do bread? ›

Milk changes bread recipes by producing a softer loaf, due to the milk fat content, which also gives bread a richer flavor. Bread made with milk browns more easily than bread made with water, as lactose or milk sugar will caramelize as it bakes.

What is the healthiest vegan bread? ›

Multigrain breads, whole grain breads, and breads that use sprouted grains, such as ezekiel bread are packed with health benefits and are great for a plant-based diet. Breads made from refined flours do not contain the fiber and protein that whole grain, multigrain, or sprouted grain breads offer.

What bread is naturally vegan? ›

The most common vegan bread types are sourdough, Ezekiel bread, ciabatta, focaccia and baguettes. Don't miss our recipe for homemade vegan banana bread!

Can I substitute oil for egg in bread? ›

For recipes which use eggs primarily as a leavening agent you can try a commercial egg replacement product (see above) or the following mixture: 1-1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil mixed with 1-1/2 tablespoons water and 1 teaspoon baking powder per egg.

Is it necessary to add egg in bread? ›

besides the nutritional benefits there are a few other good reasons to use egg in breadmaking. It makes the bread lighter and fluffier. The reason for that is the fat in the yolk that inhibits gluten formation just as any other fat would. This results in a looser dough that can expand and puff up more.

What can I use in baking if I have no eggs? ›

Egg replacers
  1. Vinegar & baking soda. Replace 1 egg with: 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 tablespoon vinegar. ...
  2. Unsweetened applesauce. Replace 1 egg with: 1/4 cup applesauce. ...
  3. Plain or vanilla soy yogurt. Replace 1 egg with: 1/4 cup yogurt. ...
  4. Silken tofu. ...
  5. Ripe banana. ...
  6. Ground flaxseed.

What do vegans use instead of butter on bread? ›

What are good vegan butter substitutes? In baking, you can use vegan butter, applesauce, dairy-free yogurt, coconut oil, coconut butter, olive oil, nut butter, mashed banana and mashed avocado. In cooking, you can use olive oil, coconut oil, vegetable stock, or avocado oil to replace butter.

What milk is vegan? ›

Vegan milk is any milk that is made from plant-only sources — an alternative that is just as suitable for all the same purposes of regular milk. The majority are sourced from beans and nuts including soy, almond, and macadamia, but can also be sourced from oats, coconuts, and even rice.

Can vegans eat peanut butter? ›

The bottom line. Most types of peanut butter are free of animal products and can be enjoyed as part of a vegan diet. However, some varieties are made in facilities that also process animal products or contain refined sugar that was produced using bone char or non-vegan ingredients like honey or fish oil.

Is it better to use butter or oil in bread dough? ›

The spongy texture and moist flavor that oil creates can be a boon to certain recipes. Not to mention oil is cheaper and easier to work with. Butter will always provide superior flavor and that melt-in-your-mouth texture. In many recipes, combining the two gives the best of both worlds.

Can you use oil instead of butter when making bread? ›

Depending on the type of oil, it can add complex flavor and welcome moisture to your baked goods. A good rule of thumb is to replace about 3/4 of the butter in a recipe with olive, canola, or vegetable oil. (If the recipe calls for 1 cup butter, use ¾ cup oil.)

Is white bread better with milk or water? ›

The fat and lactose in milk help with tenderizing the crumb of the bread making it softer and sweeter. The crust of the bread also gets more caramelization. Be aware that bread made with milk should not be baked at too high of a temperature to prevent it from browning too much too soon.

Does regular white bread have dairy? ›

White Bread is dairy free. White Bread does not contain milk and should be safe for those with a milk allergy. Fig's dietitian team reviewed this note on white bread. Check if other ingredients have dairy instantly with the Fig app.

What store-bought bread is vegan? ›

Arnold, Brownberry, and Oroweat

Regardless where you live, when looking for a vegan loaf, you can't go wrong with the breads from the brand's organic lineup. Find Organic Oatnut and Organic Whole Wheat loaves along with Organic 22 Grains & Seeds in both traditional and thin-sliced selections.

Is Pepperidge Farm white bread vegan? ›

Nearly all of these are made with no milk products whatsoever; It's against Jewish dietary law to mix milk with meat, and those manufacturer's don't want you to buy bread that you can't put pastrami on! If you like rye bread, you're in luck. Pepperidge Farms bread is not vegan, including their burger and hot dog buns.

Is all white flour vegan? ›

The vast majority of flours are vegan, from white to oat and everything in between. Still, it pays to read your labels carefully and look out for bone marrow, bone char, cricket flour, and any other animal products.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Terrell Hackett

Last Updated:

Views: 6253

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Terrell Hackett

Birthday: 1992-03-17

Address: Suite 453 459 Gibson Squares, East Adriane, AK 71925-5692

Phone: +21811810803470

Job: Chief Representative

Hobby: Board games, Rock climbing, Ghost hunting, Origami, Kabaddi, Mushroom hunting, Gaming

Introduction: My name is Terrell Hackett, I am a gleaming, brainy, courageous, helpful, healthy, cooperative, graceful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.