Homemade Bread: The Simple Swap That Started It All

In the first post of this series, I shared why I began choosing homemade on purpose. Not to be perfect, not to do everything from scratch, but to create a slower, more intentional home.

Bread was the very first swap I made.

If I’m honest, it started more as a memory I hoped to create for my husband than a big lifestyle decision. There’s something about fresh bread baking that feels comforting and familiar. I wanted that warmth in our home.

But bread also made sense practically. It’s something we use almost daily: toast in the morning, sandwiches for lunch, or a simple side with dinner. It felt like a meaningful place to start because it wasn’t a “sometimes” item. It was already part of our rhythm.

And when I looked at the ingredients, I realized how simple it really was. Flour. Water. Salt. Yeast. A little oil or sugar. Besides the yeast, I already had everything sitting in my pantry. No specialty ingredients. No complicated steps. No fancy mixer required. Just a bowl, my hands, and a little time.

It felt doable. Not overwhelming.

And that first loaf changed more than I expected.

This was my beginning

The Real Difference: Taste, Cost & Simplicity

When I made my first loaf of bread, it didn’t turn out perfect, but the aroma filling the house was incredible. I could hardly wait for it to cool before slicing into it.

As I stood there with a warm slice in my hand, I remembered a scene from Little House on the Prairie when Charles says, “It’s always the best right out of the oven.”

He was absolutely right.

That first bite was soft, warm, and comforting in a way store-bought bread never is. And much to my surprise, it was more filling too. When I make a sandwich with store-bought bread, I use two slices and still feel hungry. When I use my homemade bread made the exact same way, I’m full. Sometimes I can’t even finish it.

There’s something about simple, real ingredients that satisfies differently.

Most homemade bread recipes use just a few pantry staples: flour, yeast, eggs, water, maybe a little oil or sugar. No preservatives. No ingredient list you need a dictionary to decode.

The cost difference surprised me too. At my local store, those basic ingredients can make around ten loaves of bread for roughly $1.40 per loaf, compared to $2 or more per loaf for store-bought. Depending on your family’s needs, that can add up quickly.

One thing that has helped even more on busy weeks is batch-making the dough. I’ll prepare several loaves at once and freeze the dough after the first rise. Then each week, I thaw a loaf, let it finish rising, and bake it fresh. It gives me the best of both worlds. Homemade bread without starting from scratch every time.

Simple ingredients. Better flavor. More filling. Lower cost.

That’s when I realized this wasn’t just about bread anymore.

Some say I’m “weird”

Kneading the dough is by far my favorite of making bread from scratch.

The Unexpected Benefits

One thing I didn’t expect was how therapeutic making bread would be.

There’s something about mixing and kneading the dough by hand that forces you to slow down. In the middle of a busy homeschool day or a full week, it gives me a reason to pause, to be present, and to remember why I’m choosing this slower, more intentional way of living.

Kneading isn’t rushed. It can’t be. It requires patience. And somehow, that patience spills into the rest of the day.

Then there’s the waiting. As the dough rises, there’s a quiet anticipation. You check on it. You watch it grow. You know something good is coming, but you can’t hurry it along.

And when it finally bakes? The aroma fills the entire kitchen, sometimes the whole house. It creates a feeling of warmth and accomplishment that’s hard to explain unless you’ve experienced it. It feels cozy. It feels capable.

With each loaf, my confidence has grown. What I once believed was one of the hardest things to make in the kitchen turned out to be surprisingly simple. Yes, it’s a skill, but it’s a skill you build. And every loaf gets a little better.

That confidence doesn’t just stay with bread. It carries into other areas of homemaking and homeschooling too.

John Kanell from Preppy Kitchen has become one of my favorite YouTubers when it comes to homemade baking. Everything we’ve tried from his videos have been fantastic.

Homeschool Lessons Hidden in Bread

One of my favorite parts of this simple swap has been the learning that happens without anyone announcing, “Okay, it’s time for school.”

• Measuring flour and water? That’s math.

• Following a recipe step-by-step? Reading comprehension.

• Watching the yeast activate and the dough rise? Science in real time.

• Waiting patiently for it to bake? Life skills.

It’s simple, everyday learning without adding extra curriculum or worksheets.

I love that we’re bringing home economics back into our education. Not in an outdated way, but in a practical and empowering way. Our daughter isn’t just learning how to bake bread. She’s learning how to follow through, observe change, create something from basic ingredients, and contribute to our home.

These are lessons that stick.

And the best part? They don’t feel forced. They feel natural.

Start Small (Your Turn)

If this feels inspiring but also a little intimidating, let me encourage you: you don’t have to replace every loaf of bread in your house starting tomorrow.

Just try one.

Find a simple recipe. Make it once. See how it feels. See how it tastes. Notice how your home feels while it’s baking.

This isn’t about becoming a perfect from-scratch homemaker overnight. It’s about choosing one intentional step at a time.

Homemade on purpose isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence.

Final Thoughts

Homemade bread may seem like a small thing, but for me, it became something much bigger.

It started as a simple swap, something practical we use almost every day. Just a few pantry ingredients. No fancy equipment. Nothing overwhelming. But what I didn’t expect was how much it would change the rhythm of our home. The slower pace. The confidence built in the kitchen. The natural homeschool lessons woven into everyday life. The warmth that fills the house when it bakes.

It reminded me that homemade on purpose isn’t about doing everything from scratch. It’s about choosing one meaningful step at a time.

One loaf.

One lesson.

One intentional decision.

And sometimes, that’s all it takes to begin. 💛