The Curious Kitchen — Homemade Food Recipes, Experiments & Stories

There’s something special about baking bread at home, especially when the smell starts spreading around the house. In a Nigerian kitchen, homemade bread is not about perfection — it’s about comfort, simplicity, and making the most of what you have.

This soft homemade bread is easy to make, uses basic ingredients, and is perfect for breakfast, tea time, or as sandwich bread.

Why You’ll Love This Bread

• Soft and fluffy, just the way we like it
• Made with simple ingredients found in Nigerian kitchens
• No mixer needed — your hands are enough
• Perfect for beginners

Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons instant yeast
• 50g vanilla powder
• 2 cups warm water or water at room temperature
• 2 eggs (optional)
• ½ cup vegetable oil or melted margarine

How to Make Homemade Bread

1. In a big bowl, add the flour, sugar, salt, vanilla powder and yeast. Mix well. Pour in the water, oil or melted butter and egg if using. Then mix until a soft dough forms.

2. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5–10 minutes until smooth and stretchy.

3. Put the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a clean kitchen cloth, and leave it to rise for about 1 hour or until it doubles in size.

4. Punch down the dough gently, shape it, and place it in a greased bread pan.

5. Cover again and allow it to rise for another 30 minutes.

6. Bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for 30–35 minutes until golden brown.

7. Remove from the oven and allow to cool before slicing.

8. Once cooled, slice the bread evenly.

9. Optionally, serve with butter or your favorite spread.

Simple Homemade Bread Recipe

Recipe by ClaretCourse: Main, SidesCuisine: Nigerian, Breakfast

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

2

hours 

Calories

300

kcal

Total time

2

hours 

15

minutes

Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose flour

• ¼ cup sugar

• ½ teaspoon salt

• 2 tablespoons instant yeast

• 50g vanilla powder

• 2 cups warm water or water at room temperature

• 2 eggs (optional)

• ½ cup vegetable oil or melted margarine

Directions

• Mix all dry ingredients.
• Add water, butter or oil and egg if using, then knead.
• Let rise until doubled.
• Shape, rise again, and bake at 180°C for 30–35 minutes.

Tips

• Water should be warm, not hot — if it’s too hot, the yeast won’t work

• Knead well so the bread will be soft, not dense
• Let the bread cool before cutting so it doesn’t become sticky inside

Serving Suggestions

This homemade bread goes well with:

• Butter and hot tea
• Fried eggs or egg sauce
• Tea and akara in the morning
• As sandwich bread for school or work

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can I use room-temperature water instead of warm water?

Yes, you can. Room-temperature water works just fine, especially in hot weather. The dough may take a little longer to rise, but your bread will still come out soft.