White Bread: So Soft and Easy to Make at Home! Recipe
This homemade white bread recipe yields a soft, fluffy loaf that’s easy to make with simple pantry ingredients. Featuring a tender crumb and golden crust, it’s perfect for sandwiches, toast, or enjoying fresh from the oven.
- Author: Mick
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (approximately 12 slices) 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Dry Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
Wet Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- Activate the Yeast: In a large bowl, combine the warm water, sugar, and active dry yeast. Let it sit for about 5 minutes until the mixture becomes frothy, indicating the yeast is active and ready to use.
- Add Butter and Salt: Stir the melted unsalted butter and salt into the yeast mixture, creating a flavorful base for the dough.
- Mix the Dough: Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the wet mixture while stirring, until a rough dough begins to form.
- Knead the Dough: Transfer the dough onto a floured surface and knead it for about 10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic, which develops the gluten structure for a light bread.
- First Rise: Place the kneaded dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a damp cloth or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm area for about 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.
- Shape the Loaf: Punch down the risen dough to release air bubbles, then shape it into a loaf form suitable for your bread pan.
- Second Rise: Place the shaped dough into a greased bread pan and allow it to rise again for 30 minutes, ensuring it puffs up before baking.
- Bake the Bread: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake the loaf for 30-35 minutes, or until the crust turns golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped.
- Cool Before Slicing: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack before slicing to preserve its texture.
Notes
- Use warm water (about 110°F/43°C) to properly activate the yeast without killing it.
- Ensure the dough is kneaded well to develop gluten for a soft texture.
- Letting the dough rise fully impacts the bread’s lightness and flavor.
- Cool the bread completely before slicing to avoid a gummy texture.
- Store the bread in an airtight container to maintain freshness for up to 3 days.
Keywords: white bread, homemade bread, soft bread, easy bread recipe, baking bread