Yeast Dough

This Yeast Dough will be the only recipe you need for all your baked goods. Tender dough, deliciously fragrant and easy to make with easy to follow video instructions. Perfect for all your baking needs, from pizza to bread rolls. A family recipe straight from babushka.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Easy - anyone can make dough, and if you get stuck, follow along in the video instructions
• Multi-purpose - perfect for all savory recipes, you'll use this versatile dough again and again
• Foolproof - get perfect dough every time, building your confidence in your baking skills

Ingredients

• Instant Yeast - or substitute with Active Dry Yeast
• Sugar and Salt - to feed yeast and balance flavor
• Milk - lukewarm temperature to activate the yeast
• Flour - all purpose flour is all you need
• Egg - for a softer structure in dough
• Melted Butter - adds richness and taste

How to Make Yeast Dough

1. Proof Yeast - mix yeast with ½ lukewarm milk and sugar and salt. Whisk in 2 tablespoons of flour allow to activate for 15 minutes (you will see bubbles and foam).
2. Mix - in a large bowl, add remaining flour, milk with egg and melted butter. Pour in the activated yeast mixture and stir until it forms a shaggy ball.
3. Knead - on a floured surface knead for about 5 minutes until smooth and elastic
4. Rise - place in oiled bowl, cover with cling wrap and a kitchen towel. Place in warm spot. Takes about 1½ hours to rise. Punch down and gently knead before using.

Activating Yeast

Instant Yeast doesn't need activating, but I always recommend to active all yeasts. By following this method, you're guaranteed your yeast dough will rise. If after 15 minutes there are no bubbles and foam, the yeast isn't alive and you need to discard and use another live yeast.

Recipe Tips and FAQs

• Avoid Heat - when the temperature is too hot, the yeast will die. Be careful of using too hot of an oven, avoid temperatures higher than 120°F/50°C
• Too Cold - feel like Goldilocks yet? If room temperature is too cold, then your yeast will take a long time to rise, it will get there but maybe turn up the heat a bit
• High Altitude - if you live in high altitudes, you might need less yeast as the dough can explode
• High Protein Flour - better for baking as has more gluten, try Canadian Flour
• Whole Wheat Dough - substitute flour with whole wheat flour, or a mix of 50/50 for more nutrients

Instant Yeast or Active Yeast?

Active Yeast or Instant Yeast are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference. Active Yeast must be activated before using (but this recipe has you covered). If using Active Yeast for this recipe, suggest to add an extra ½ teaspoon of yeast as Instant Yeast is slightly stronger.

Can I Make Yeast Dough Ahead of Time?

• Fridge - after yeast dough rises, cover with cling wrap and place in the fridge. Use within 24 hours. Bring to room temperature before using.
• Freezer - tightly wrap the dough in cling wrap and place into a Ziploc bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in fridge before baking. Excellent way to use leftover dough (for bread rolls).

Why Didn't My Yeast Dough Rise?

• Dead Yeast - if yeast mixture didn't bubble and rise during initial activation, the yeast is likely dead.
• Liquid temperature - if liquids you add are too hot, then it will kill the yeast, too cold and the dough will not activate.
• Expired Yeast - air exposure of old yeast in the cupboard. Yeast doesn't live indefinitely, so check expiration date.

Baked Recipes You'll Love

• Potato Piroshki
• Salmon Kulebyaka
• Butterzopf - Swiss Bread
• German Plum Cake
• Old Country Blueberry Pie
• Cinnamon Buns
• Apricot Jam Pie
• Perogy Pizza
• Shanezhki Buns

Everyone needs 2 yeast dough recipes, one for savory baking and the other for sweet yeast dough baking. This yeast dough recipe is versatile and can be used for everything. Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!

©PetersFoodAdventures.com *originally posted September 2020, updated April 2023