Homemade Italian Bread

5 from 9 votes

This Italian Bread is a cool rise bread. It can be made in advance and put in the refrigerator for anywhere from 2-24 hours. It's great to bake just before guests arrive!

Prep Time30

Cook Time20

Total Time50

Course: Bread

Cuisine: Italian

Servings: servings

Calories: 137kcal

Author: Julie Clark

Ingredients

1 tablespoon granulated sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2 packages Red Star Platinum Superior Baking Yeast
5 cups all-purpose flour (approximate)
1 tablespoon butter
1 3/4 cups water
2 tablespoons cornmeal (optional)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon water

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Start this recipe early in the day, or a day in advance of the day you need the bread.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the sugar, salt, yeast and two cups of flour.
In a microwave safe bowl, heat the butter and water until it is very warm, but not hot (about 120-130 degrees). The butter does not have to be completely melted.
With the mixer on low speed with the paddle attachment, gradually beat the liquid into dry ingredients until just blended. Increase the speed to medium and beat for two minutes, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary. Beat in the remaining flour to make a soft dough, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.
Switch to the dough hook attachment and knead the bread for 5-7 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Cut the dough in half; cover and let it rest for 20 minutes. Spray a large cookie sheet with non-stick spray and sprinkle with cornmeal (optional).
On a floured surface, roll one dough half into a 15x10" rectangle. Starting with the 15" side, tightly roll the dough jelly-roll style. Pinch the seam to seal. Repeat with the other half of the dough. Place the loaves, seam-side down on a cookie sheet and taper the ends. Brush with vegetable oil. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 to 24 hours.
To bake, preheat oven to 425 degrees. Remove the loaves from the refrigerator, uncover and let stand 10 minutes. Cut 3-4 diagonal slashes on top of each loaf. Bake for 20 minutes.
In a small bowl, beat egg white with 1 tablespoon water. Remove loaves from the oven. Brush with th egg mixture. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes.
Allow the bread to cool completely, then store in an airtight container.

Video

Notes

The calories shown are based on each loaf of bread being cut into 10 pieces, with 1 serving being 1 slice of bread. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate.

Nutrition