Monks Bread Recipe: Easy Homemade Bread to Try Today

Monks bread is a wonderfully soft, slightly sweet bread with a rich history, originally crafted by monks seeking to create a simple yet delicious loaf to accompany their daily meals. This bread boasts a tender crumb and a golden crust, making it perfect for sandwiches, toast, or simply enjoyed with butter and jam.

Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a beginner looking to try your hand at homemade bread, this recipe is approachable and rewarding.

What makes monks bread truly special is its subtle sweetness balanced with a hint of yeastiness, creating a flavor profile that’s comforting and nostalgic. The dough is enriched with a bit of milk and butter, giving it a soft texture that melts in your mouth.

In this post, I’ll guide you through every step of making monks bread from scratch, share tips to ensure perfect results, and suggest delightful ways to enjoy your freshly baked loaf.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This monks bread recipe is perfect for anyone who appreciates a soft, slightly sweet bread that’s versatile and easy to make. It uses simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry, and the dough is forgiving enough for new bakers.

The aroma that fills your kitchen as it bakes is heavenly, and the resulting bread is perfect for everything from breakfast toast to hearty sandwiches.

Additionally, this recipe yields a loaf that stays fresh for several days, thanks to its soft crumb and moist texture. You can customize it with herbs, seeds, or even dried fruits if you want to experiment.

Best of all, it’s a rewarding baking project that connects you to centuries of culinary tradition.

Ingredients

• 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
• 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F)
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 large egg
• Extra butter for brushing (optional)

Equipment

• Large mixing bowl
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Stand mixer with dough hook (optional but helpful)
• Loaf pan (8 ½ x 4 ½ inches)
• Kitchen towel or plastic wrap
• Cooling rack
• Small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl (for melting butter)

Instructions

1. Activate the yeast: In a small bowl, combine the warm milk and sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over the top and gently stir. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until foamy and bubbly, indicating the yeast is active.
2. Mix dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and salt until evenly combined.
3. Combine wet ingredients: Add the melted butter and egg to the yeast mixture and whisk lightly to combine.
4. Form the dough: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir with a wooden spoon or use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook on low speed. Mix until the dough begins to come together.
5. Knead the dough: Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. If using a stand mixer, knead on medium speed for about 6-7 minutes. Add a little flour if the dough is too sticky, but be careful not to add too much.
6. First rise: Lightly oil a clean bowl and place the dough inside. Cover with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1 ½ hours, or until doubled in size.
7. Shape the loaf: Punch down the risen dough to release air. Turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and shape it into a loaf. Place it in the greased loaf pan, seam side down.
8. Second rise: Cover the loaf pan loosely with a towel or plastic wrap. Let the dough rise again for 30-45 minutes until it has risen just above the top of the pan.
9. Preheat the oven: While the dough is rising, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
10. Bake: Place the loaf pan in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes until the bread is golden brown on top and sounds hollow when tapped.
11. Cool and serve: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then transfer it to a cooling rack. For a shiny crust, brush the top with melted butter while still warm.

Tips & Variations

For a softer crust, brush the bread with melted butter right after baking.

If you want a richer flavor, substitute half the all-purpose flour for bread flour.

Try adding 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and ¼ cup of raisins to the dough for a sweet twist.

Use a stand mixer for easier kneading, but hand-kneading works just as well.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Suggestions

Monks bread is incredibly versatile and pairs wonderfully with a variety of dishes. For a simple breakfast, toast a slice and spread with butter and honey or your favorite jam.

It also makes an excellent base for sandwiches—try it with roasted turkey, lettuce, and cranberry sauce for a festive lunch.

Additionally, monks bread is perfect alongside hearty soups and stews. Its soft texture soaks up broths beautifully, making every bite flavorful.

For a comforting snack, slice and lightly butter, then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar before warming in the oven briefly.

Conclusion

Making monks bread at home is a gratifying experience that combines simplicity with delicious results. The soft, slightly sweet loaf is perfect for a wide range of uses, from breakfast toast to sandwich bread, and its tender crumb will impress family and friends alike.

With just a handful of basic ingredients and some patience during rising times, you can create a loaf that feels both traditional and special.

Whether you’re baking bread for the first time or adding a new recipe to your baking repertoire, monks bread offers a wonderful balance of flavor, texture, and ease. Give it a try and enjoy the comforting aroma and taste that only homemade bread can deliver.

For more baking inspiration, check out our Classic Cinnamon Rolls, Homemade Banana Bread, and Soft Dinner Rolls recipes!

{“@context”: “https://schema.org/”, “@type”: “Recipe”, “name”: “Monks Bread”, “image”: [], “author”: {“@type”: “Organization”, “name”: “GluttonLv”}, “description”: “A simple, hearty bread traditionally made by monks using basic ingredients. This recipe yields a soft, rustic loaf perfect for any meal.”, “prepTime”: “PT20M”, “cookTime”: “PT40M”, “totalTime”: “PT60M”, “recipeYield”: “1 loaf (8 servings)”, “recipeIngredient”: [“3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour”, “1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) active dry yeast”, “1 1/4 cups warm water (110\u00b0F/45\u00b0C)”, “2 tablespoons honey”, “1 teaspoon salt”, “2 tablespoons olive oil”, “1/4 cup whole wheat flour (optional)”, “1 tablespoon dry milk powder (optional)”], “recipeInstructions”: [{“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water and let sit for 5 minutes.”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “In a large bowl, combine flour, whole wheat flour, dry milk powder, and salt.”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Add honey and olive oil to the yeast mixture.”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix until a dough forms.”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Knead dough on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes until smooth.”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Place dough in an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled.”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Punch down dough and shape into a loaf.”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Place loaf on a greased baking pan and let rise for 30 minutes.”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Preheat oven to 375\u00b0F (190\u00b0C).”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Bake for 35-40 minutes until golden brown and hollow sounding when tapped.”}, {“@type”: “HowToStep”, “text”: “Cool on a wire rack before slicing.”}], “nutrition”: {“calories”: “180”, “proteinContent”: “5g”, “fatContent”: “3g”, “carbohydrateContent”: “33g”}}