Ultimate Simple Dough Recipe

I actually reached out to my favorite brand of baker’s yeast, Red Star Yeast, to see if they’d like to partner with me to bring you today’s recipe, challenge, and giveaway. There’s so much fun inside this one post so be sure to read through it all so you don’t miss a thing.

Baking with yeast can be intimidating and confusing, which is I am obsessed with Red Star’s Platinum Yeast. Just take a look at these photos. Look how beautifully tall, fluffy, and wonderful everything looks! This yeast takes the worry out of baking homemade bread.

It’s made with dough enhancers that strengthen and improve your dough, and even increase oven spring (hello, cinnamon rolls that look like they’re from a professional bakery!). I find this gives you a little room to learn, experiment, and explore working with yeast without worrying about messing anything up.

There are a TON of tips, tricks, directions, and useful bread baking information in this post. But before we get to that I wanted to share the best part about this partnership with Red Star Yeast.

We’re challenging you to get into the kitchen and whip up a batch of this dough to make whatever your heart desires (instructions for various ways to use this dough are below). Even if you’ve never made bread before, or have only worked with yeast a few times, this recipe is basically foolproof! Promise.

How To Use This Recipe

Below I’ve outlined some basic and fun uses for this dough. The basic printable recipe is at the bottom of this post. It’s so incredibly versatile, so feel free to get creative!

That’s why I’m hosting a challenge to encourage you to have fun with this ultimate simple dough recipe!

Cinnamon Rolls

Make the dough through the first rise as stated in the recipe below.

Combine the following for the filling:

• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon fine salt
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

Roll the dough out into a 9 by 15-inch rectangle. Spread the filling mixture all over, leaving a ½-inch border at the far edge. Roll the dough up tightly then press the seam to seal. Use a sharp serrated knife to cut the ends off, and then slice 11 to 12 equal pieces. Place in two greased pie pans or a rectangular baking dish.

Loosely cover and allow to rise for 30 minutes to 1 hour, or until puffy. Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Combine 3 tablespoons heavy cream with 1 cup powdered sugar the drizzle all over the warm rolls. Serve!

Note: You could even use the same technique for the cinnamon rolls above, but with a savory filling of cream cheese, bacon, and green onions.

Sandwich Bread

After the dough has doubled in size for the first rise, turn it out onto a lightly floured work surface. Shape into an 8-inch log and place into a lightly greased 8 1/2 x 4 ½-inch loaf pan. Cover loosely with lightly greased plastic wrap, and allow the bread to rise for about 1 hour, until it’s domed about 1 inch above the edge of the pan.

Bake the bread in a 350°F oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until it’s light golden brown. Allow to cool completely.

Pizza

After the dough has doubled in size for the first rise, roll it out into about a 12-inch round on a lightly floured surface. Brush with olive oil before adding your sauce, cheese, and desired toppings. Bake on a preheated pizza stone, or on a flat baking tray, at 450°F for about 10 minutes, or until golden and bubbling.

Dinner Rolls

Spray a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. After the dough has risen for the first time, punch down. Divide the dough into 15 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a tight ball and place in the prepared pan. Brush with 1 tablespoon melted butter and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Lightly cover and let rise until puffy and doubled in size, about 30 minutes.

Bake in a 375°F oven for 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Brush with more melted butter, if desired. Serve warm. If you’d like to make beautifully shaped rolls, check out my post on 5 Ways to Shape Bread Rolls.

Note: I love to throw in shredded cheese, garlic, or herbs to the dough for extra flavor.

Make Ahead Options

Fridge

Option 1
Refrigerate the dough after kneading in a container wrapped in plastic wrap or in a ziptop bag. Leave room for the dough to rise (it will still happen even in the colder environment).

In this case, the overnight refrigeration is the first rise so once you’re ready to proceed with the recipe remove the dough from the fridge, punch it down, and allow it to rest and warm to room temperature before shaping, about 30 minutes. The final rise after shaping may be longer because the dough is still cool.

Option 2
Refrigerate the dough after it has risen for the first time and been shaped. Cover the loaves or rolls tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Loosen the plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature until an indentation made with your finger into the dough remains. Proceed with the recipe.

Freezer

Option 1 (Unbaked)
Wrap and freeze the dough after it has risen for the first time for up to 2 months.

Loosen the plastic wrap and defrost at room temperature before shaping.

Option 2 (Parbake)
Bake for half the specified baking time, or until the bread begins to hold its own shape. Remove from the oven, cool completely, then wrap well in plastic wrap and tin foil. Refrigerate overnight or store in the freezer for up to 1 month. Bring to room temperature then bake for the remaining time from the recipe in the oven (label the time and temperature on the bread before storing). Feel free to wrap and freeze bread rolls individually to bake off as many as needed.

Option 3 (Already baked)
Completely baked and cooled whole loaves or rolls can be frozen in airtight containers for up to 3 months. Defrost at room temperature, then refresh in a 350°F oven for 5 to 10 minutes.

4.85 from 19 votes

How to make

Ultimate Simple Dough Recipe

Yield: 1 loaf, 1 pizza, or 12 to 15 rolls

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

This foolproof Ultimate Simple Dough Recipe can be used for practically ANYTHING!

Ingredients

• 1 cup lukewarm milk
• 1/3 cup lukewarm water
• 1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) RED STAR Platinum yeast
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar OR honey
• 3 3/4 cups (476 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon fine salt

Directions

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, stir together the milk, water, and yeast. Let stand for 5 minutes, or until the yeast is foamy and dissolved. Add in the egg and sugar, stirring to combine.
2. Add in half the flour, stirring until absorbed. Add in the salt. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add in the remaining flour until combined. Increase speed to medium low and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 7 minutes.
3. Shape the dough into a ball and place inside a greased mixing bowl. Turn to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to rise until doubled in size, about 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
4. Punch the dough down. Now the dough is ready to be shaped and used as you wish. If making any rolls or loaves, allow the dough to rise again after being shaped until it’s puffy, about 30 minutes to 1 hour, before baking.

Course : Side Dish

Cuisine : American

Recipe by Tessa Arias

Photos by Constance Higley.

Author: Tessa Arias

I share trusted baking recipes your friends will LOVE alongside insights into the science of sweets. I'm a professionally trained chef, cookbook author, and cookie queen. I love to write about all things sweet, carb-y, and homemade. I live in Phoenix, Arizona (hence the blog name!)