Description
This homemade white bread recipe yields a soft, fluffy loaf that’s easy to make from scratch. Using simple ingredients like all-purpose flour, yeast, and butter, this bread is perfect for sandwiches or toast and requires basic kneading and baking techniques ideal for beginner bakers.
Ingredients
Scale
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
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a large bowl, combine warm water, sugar, and active dry yeast. Let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes or until it becomes frothy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Add Butter and Salt: Stir in the melted unsalted butter and salt into the yeast-water mixture to ensure even distribution.
- Mix Flour: Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the wet ingredients while mixing until a cohesive dough forms.
- Knead Dough: Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead it for approximately 10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic, which helps develop gluten for a good texture.
- First Rise: Place the kneaded dough into a greased bowl, cover it with a cloth or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm area for about 1 hour or until it doubles in size.
- Punch Down and Shape: Gently punch down the risen dough to release air, then shape it into a loaf suitable for your bread pan.
- Second Rise: Transfer the dough loaf into a greased bread pan, cover again, and allow it to rise for an additional 30 minutes until puffed up.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the bread for 30 to 35 minutes until the crust turns golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
- Cool and Slice: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool completely before slicing to ensure the crumb sets and slicing is easy.
Notes
- Ensure water is warm, not hot, to avoid killing the yeast—ideal temperature is around 110°F (43°C).
- Kneading is crucial for a soft texture; do not skip or shorten this step.
- Allow bread to cool completely before slicing to prevent a gummy texture.
- You can substitute melted butter with olive oil for a slightly different flavor profile.
- Store leftover bread in an airtight container to maintain freshness for 2-3 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: white bread, homemade bread, soft bread, easy bread recipe, baking bread at home
