🥖 The Ultimate Homemade Italian Bread Recipe

Light, fluffy inside + golden crust = bakery-quality at home! 💥

✨ Why This Bread is Everything You’ve Been Dreaming Of

So you're craving that authentic Italian bread — crispy on the outside, soft and airy on the inside, with just a whisper of sweetness and that telltale golden crust? ✨

Well, you’re in luck, because this recipe brings together all the secret techniques and pro baker tips you need — using ingredients you already have (including that dusty jar of barley malt syrup in your pantry 👀).

🧪 Bread Science: The Power of Mixing Flours

Using both bread flour and all-purpose flour gives you the best of both crumb worlds:

Bread flour brings strength 💪. AP flour adds tenderness 💃. Together? Magic.

🔥 Proof Like a Pro (No Fancy Equipment Needed)

You're going to LOVE this trick:

• First rise? Use your Instant Pot’s Yogurt mode. It's warm, consistent, and faster than countertop proofing. 🕒

• Second rise? Pop it in your oven with just the light on. It’s like a cozy little bread spa. 💡

💡 Pro tip: Place a mug of hot water in the oven during proofing to boost humidity and prevent drying out.

✅ What Makes This Recipe SO GOOD?

This is not your average loaf. We’re talking:
✔ Balanced flour mix
✔ Barley malt syrup for flavor + crust 🍯
✔ Olive oil for richness
✔ Steam for bakery-style crust
✔ Real rise-and-proof technique

🌾 Ingredients You’ll Need

(Enough for 1 large loaf or 2 medium)

• 2 cups (240g) bread flour

• 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour

• 1½ tsp salt

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 tsp barley malt syrup (or 2 tsp for deeper flavor)

• 1 tbsp sugar (optional for sweeter dough)

• 2 tsp instant yeast (or active dry, bloomed in water)

• 1⅓ to 1½ cups (320–350g) warm water

🧑🍳 Let’s Bake It!

1. Mix the Dough 🌀

• Dissolve barley malt syrup (and sugar if using) in warm water.

• Combine flour, salt, and yeast in a bowl (keep salt and yeast on opposite sides before mixing).

• Add liquid + olive oil. Mix until shaggy.

• Knead 8–10 mins until smooth and elastic.

2. First Rise: Instant Pot 💨

• Lightly oil inner liner or place dough on parchment.

• Use Yogurt mode (LOW) for 60–90 mins until doubled.

3. Shape That Loaf 👐

• Gently deflate and shape into:

  • A rustic round boule

  • Or 2 mini baguettes

• Place on a parchment-lined tray or bread pan.

4. Second Rise: Oven Sauna 🌡️

• Pop loaf in oven with just the light on.

• Loosely cover and rise for 30–45 mins.

• Dough should look puffy and light.

5. Preheat & Slash 🔪

• Heat oven to 425°F (220°C).

• Place cast iron or metal pan on lower rack for steam.

• Score the top with a razor or sharp knife.

6. Bake with Steam 💦

• Place bread in the oven.

• Add ½ cup hot water to the pan on the bottom — steam party!

• Bake 25–30 mins until golden and sounds hollow when tapped.

• For ultra crust: remove from pan, bake 5 more mins directly on rack.

7. Cool it 😎

• Cool on wire rack for at least 30 minutes (don’t slice early — resist the urge! 🙅♀️).

🌟 Bonus Pro Tips!

👉 Want a crispier crust? Spritz the loaf with water before baking.
👉 Got a baking stone or steel? Use it for extra bottom crust magic.
👉 Making garlic herb butter? Brush a little on the crust after baking for an epic finish. 🧄🧈

🍽️ Perfect Pairings

This bread is heavenly with:

• 🥗 A zesty Italian salad

• 🍗 Herbed chicken or meatballs

• 🧄 Homemade garlic herb butter

• 🍝 Leftover pasta sauce to dip

Or... just tear off a hunk, dip it in olive oil + balsamic, and call it dinner. 🍷 (Well, sparkling juice maybe 😉)

📌 Final Thoughts

Bread baking doesn’t have to be intimidating. With the right flour mix, a little steam, and smart proofing, you can make bakery-level Italian bread in your own kitchen — even if your last loaf looked like a paperweight. 🪨😅

So roll up your sleeves, get flour on your shirt, and bake this loaf. Your house will smell amazing, your guests will swoon, and you will feel like a kitchen legend. ✨