Description
This homemade white bread recipe yields a classic, soft, and fluffy loaf with a golden crust, perfect for sandwiches or toast. Made from simple pantry ingredients like flour, yeast, and butter, it involves kneading, proofing, and baking to achieve a delightful texture and rich flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Yeast Mixture
- 1 cup warm water (110°F / 43°C)
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Dough
- 3 cups all-purpose flour (or bread flour)
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup warm milk
Instructions
- Activate the Yeast: In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water, active dry yeast, and sugar. Let the mixture sit for 5 to 10 minutes until it becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active and proofed.
- Mix the Dough: Add the all-purpose flour, salt, softened butter, and warm milk to the yeast mixture. Stir thoroughly until the ingredients start to form a cohesive dough.
- Knead the Dough: Knead the dough either by hand or with a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook for 8 to 10 minutes. The dough should become smooth, elastic, and no longer sticky.
- First Rise: Place the kneaded dough in a greased bowl and cover with a damp cloth. Leave it in a warm place to rise for about 1 hour, or until it doubles in size.
- Shape & Second Rise: Gently punch down the risen dough to release air bubbles, then shape it into a loaf. Place the dough into a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan. Cover and let it rise again for 30 minutes until it puffs up.
- Bake the Bread: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the loaf for 30 to 35 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and sounding hollow when tapped.
- Cool & Serve: Remove the bread from the pan and let it cool completely on a wire rack before slicing for best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Use warm water and milk for optimal yeast activation but ensure the temperature does not exceed 110°F (43°C) to avoid killing the yeast.
- Kneading by hand may take slightly longer but provides great dough texture.
- Allow the bread to cool completely to prevent a gummy crumb when sliced.
- For a softer crust, brush the loaf with melted butter immediately after baking.
- Store bread in an airtight container or bread box to maintain freshness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
