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Easy Homemade White Bread Recipe

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★★★★★

4.6 from 72 reviews

This Easy Homemade White Bread recipe yields a soft, fluffy, and golden loaf made from simple ingredients like flour, yeast, milk, butter, sugar, and salt. Perfect for beginners, this bread is great for sandwiches or to enjoy with butter and jam.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Wet Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups warm milk (about 110°F / 43°C)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

Instructions

  1. Prepare the dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until foamy, indicating the yeast is activated.
  2. Mix and knead the dough: Add the melted butter, salt, and gradually add the flour, mixing until a dough forms. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
  3. First rise: Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover it with a clean towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1.5 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
  4. Shape the loaf: Punch down the dough to release air, then shape it into a loaf and place it in a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan.
  5. Second rise: Cover the dough again and let it rise for another 30-45 minutes until it has risen about 1 inch above the rim of the pan.
  6. Bake the bread: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the bread for 30-35 minutes until the top is golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
  7. Cool the bread: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Notes

  • Use warm milk to activate the yeast properly; too hot or cold milk can kill or slow yeast.
  • For a softer crust, brush the loaf with melted butter right after baking.
  • This bread is best eaten fresh but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days or frozen for longer storage.
  • If you prefer a crustier loaf, bake on a baking sheet instead of a loaf pan, and add a pan of water in the oven to create steam.

Keywords: Homemade bread, white bread, easy bread recipe, soft bread, baking bread at home

Find it online: https://cookwithyana.com/easy-homemade-white-bread-recipe/