This recipe for homemade white bread is a timeless classic that fills your kitchen with the aroma of freshly baked goodness. With a few simple ingredients and a little patience, you can create a loaf of soft, fluffy bread that’s perfect for sandwiches, toast, or simply enjoying on its own.
Ingredients:
For the Bread:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| All-purpose flour | 4 cups |
| Instant yeast | 2 teaspoons |
| Salt | 2 teaspoons |
| Sugar | 2 tablespoons |
| Unsalted butter, softened | 2 tablespoons |
| Warm water | 1 ½ cups |
For the Topping (optional):
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Milk | 1 tablespoon |
| Unsalted butter, melted | 1 tablespoon |
Instructions:
- Activate the Yeast: Combine warm water, sugar, and yeast in a small bowl. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy.
- Mix the Dough: In a large bowl, mix flour, salt, softened butter, and activated yeast mixture. Knead on a floured surface for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours or until doubled in size.
- Shape the Loaf: Punch down dough, shape into a loaf, and place in a greased bread pan.
- Second Rise: Cover loaf and let rise for 30-45 minutes.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Bake the Bread: Brush loaf with optional milk and butter topping. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.
- Cool and Enjoy: Let cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Here’s an easy white bread recipe for you:
Ingredients:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 packet (2 ¼ teaspoons) active dry yeast
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 ½ cups warm water (about 110°F or 43°C)
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or melted butter
Instructions:
- Activate the Yeast: In a small bowl, mix the warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until it becomes frothy.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt.
- Combine: Once the yeast is frothy, add it to the dry ingredients along with the vegetable oil. Mix until a dough forms.
- Knead the Dough: Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a damp cloth or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1-2 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
- Shape the Loaf: Punch down the risen dough and shape it into a loaf. Place it in a greased loaf pan.
- Second Rise: Cover the loaf and let it rise again for about 30-45 minutes until it rises above the edge of the pan.
- Preheat Oven: While the dough is rising, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Bake: Bake the bread in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped.
- Cool: Let the bread cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
Enjoy your homemade white bread!