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Bread in a Bag is going to become your new favorite family activity! Little kids and big kids alike will love making their own loaf of bread.
Bread in a Bag Recipe
School is officially out here in Portland and summer vacation has started. When I had kids at home, one of my favorite things to do in the summer was hold cooking lessons. One of our favorite things to make was bread.
Making Bread in a Bag is the perfect way to introduce your children to bread making. It’s quick, easy and delicious!
Tips for Cooking with Kids
- Make sure recipe is readable and accessible. I covered my table with parchment paper and then wrote the ingredients on the paper so the kids could easily see it.
- Have all the ingredients out and easy to reach.
- Take time to teach them how to measure properly. I prefer the scoop and level method for flour.
- Don’t expect perfection. The important thing is that the kids have fun. Their loaves won’t be perfectly shaped but it doesn’t matter They still tasted the same!
- Embrace the mess. Kids will be messy and you will end up with flour all over the table and floor but they are going to have fun and so will you! The mess will clean up quickly but the memories will last a long time!!
Science Lesson
While making bread with the kids it is fun to share a little bit of science with them.
What makes bread rise?
Bread rises because of yeast which is a leavening agent. The yeast gives off carbon dioxide which creates bubbles in the bread dough and causes the bread to rise. The heat of the oven causes the carbon dioxide to expand even more so the bread rises even taller while baking.
What is yeast?
Yeast is a living organism and it needs food, warmth, and moisture to grow and thrive. It converts sugar and starch into carbon dioxide. This process is called fermentation. It’s the carbon dioxide that makes baked goods rise.
I have a full post on how to proof yeast you can check out.
Bread in a Bag Ingredients
- All Purpose flour
- Sugar
- Rapid Rise Yeast or Instant. Yeast. This does not need to be proofed in water first.
- Water
- Olive Oil or Vegetable Oil
- Salt
- Zippered food storage bag
How to Make Bread in a Bag
Place one cup of flour into a gallon size plastic bag.
Add yeast, sugar and warm water.
- Zip up the bag and smoosh it all together until the flour is all mixed in.
- Let it rest for 10 minutes so the yeast will activate.
- Add in olive oil, salt and remaining flour into the bag.
- Smoosh some more until dough forms.
- Take dough out of bag and place onto a lightly floured table
- Knead bread until smooth, add extra flour as needed.
- Grease mini loaf pans . Form dough into two bread loaves and place in loaf pans sprayed with cooking spray. You will get two small loaves out of one batch.
- Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and let dough rise for 20-30 minutes in a warm place. Since we are using rapid rise yeast, it won’t take long.
- Bake at 375 degrees F for 25-30 minutes for mini loaves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make one big loaf instead of two small loaves?
Absolutely, you will just need to bake the bread for about 40 minutes.
Can I use whole wheat flour?
You can use whole wheat flour. I would recommend using half whole wheat and half white.
Can I divide the recipe in half?
You can divide it in half and have two children each make one mini loaf.
Can I make this gluten free?
Yes, just use your favorite gluten free flour. I like Bob Red Mill’s Cup for Cup gluten free flour.
What size mini loaf pan do you use?
The ones I use measure 5.75 x 3.25 inches.
For more fun recipes and activities for kids try these:
Be sure and follow me over on YouTube for weekly cooking demos.
Bread in a Bag
Ingredients
- 3 cups all purpose flour divided
- 3 Tbsp white sugar
- 1 .25 package rapid rise yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
- 1 cup warm water
- 3 Tbsp olive oil or vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- In a resealable plastic bag place 1 C flour, sugar and yeast and add in warm water. Water should be 105-110 degrees F.
- Squeeze air out of the bag and seal.
- Squish with your hands until well mixed together.
- Let it rest for 10 minutes at room temperature. Bubbles will form.
- Open bag and put in 1 C of flour, oil and salt.
- Seal bag again and squish until well blended.
- Add last cup of flour and continue mixing in the same manner until well blended.
- Remove dough from bag and put onto a lightly floured surface.
- Knead for 5-10 minutes or until smooth.
- Divide dough in half and place each half into a greasedmini loaf pan. Or make one large loaf
- Cover with a towel and allow to rise for about 30 minutes.
- Bake in a 375 degree oven for 25-30 minutes or until bread is golden brown.
Tips & Notes:
- have fun. Their loaves won’t be perfectly shaped but it doesn’t matter They still tasted the same!
- Embrace the mess. Kids will be messy and you will end up with flour all over the table and floor but they are going to have fun and so will you! The mess will clean up quickly but the memories will last a long time!!
Nutrition Facts:
Hazel Yeager says
What temp for the water ? Thanks…going to do this
Leigh Anne says
105-110 degrees F.
Nana Nancy says
I also just came upon your recipe for making bread with children and I am going to try this with my grandchildren. Great instructions and messy for oh, so fun to do together. Thanks and Happy 4th of July!
Leigh Anne says
Glad you found the recipe – have fun doing it with your grandchildren.
Pauline says
Glad I found your recipe (even if it`s for kids),My sister had a bread maker awhile back, and she made some of the best and different breads I have tasted, I wanted to get one, but just couldn`t see spending money on something I would use just once in awhile, so when I came across your recipe, I thought that`s what I needed, as I don`t eat that much bread and this would be just what I needed.
My question is this: when you put the towel over the bread to help it rise, does it need to be damp?
My mother and grandma used to make bread years ago, and they would put a damp towel over the bread and set it by our house heaters to help it rise.
Thank you as I am new to this site. I also got the recipe for ice cream in a bag.
Leigh Anne says
Glad you found the recipe too. I do not use a damp towel, I just use a cotton towel. Enjoy!
ruth simmons says
yes . mom used to place a damp towel on the loaf of bread to keep it from drying out while rising .
Linda M. says
I am going to send this to my daughter for her and her daughter to do together I know my granddaughter will love it i also printed it out for when she comes to visit us
joyce (Granny) says
Thanks Leigh: I am a widow cooking for 1. This bread in a bag was just what I needed. Can put one in freezer and eat the other with meals. I was a farm person raising my 3 sons with the profound savings of canning and freezing and drying for the winter months. I do miss it but with only myself to cook for less means less. Again Thank You.Granny r.
Leigh Anne says
Joyce, I am so glad you found the recipe and it is perfect for you!!
Norma says
Just found your site. Two grandkids that love bread (so does grandma…lol) Will the four mini loaves make only 1 regular size loaf or 2?
Leigh Anne says
The recipe makes two mini loaves or one size regular loaf.