Easy White Bread

The best easy white bread recipe that delivers soft, fluffy and absolutely delicious bread every time. 5 ingredients and minimal prep are all that’s needed.

Making homemade bread is so much easier than you think and is so much better than any store-bought bread. Using only a handful of pantry staple ingredients means you can whip up a loaf any time. This homemade white bread recipe delivers a perfectly soft and fluffy loaf, every time.

Ingredients Needed

• Instant yeast. 
• Sugar. 
• Warm water. When you put your finger in the water, it should feel like nothing. This is called blood temperature. (98.6°F or 37°C) If the water is too warm, it will kill the yeast.
• Flour. Any type of flour will work for this bread. All purpose flour gives a very soft loaf while bread flour will need a little extra time while proofing. 00-flour will also work perfectly. Whole wheat flour can be used but will need longer proofing time.
• Salt.
• Butter. I used salted butter but unsalted butter can be substituted.

How to make soft and fluffy white bread

1. Make the dough: Combine warm water with instant yeast and sugar.  Allow this mixture to stand for approximately 10 minutes until frothy. Place the dry ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment. You can absolutely make this recipe by hand using a large bowl, a mixer just makes it a little easier. With the mixer running, pour the water into the bowl and allow the dough to come together. Add the room temperature butter and allow the dough to knead until the butter is incorporated. If the dough looks greasy or the butter isn’t incorporating properly, add the rest of the flour one third cup at a time and allow to mix in. You might not need all the flour. Allow to knead until the dough comes away from the sides of the bowl. The dough will be soft and smooth.
2. Proof the dough: Cover the bowl with plastic or a damp tea towel and let the dough rise in a warm spot in your kitchen until doubled in size (approximately 1 hour). Transfer the proofed dough to a lightly floured surface. Pat it into a rectangle the same width as your loaf pan. Roll the dough onto its self, pinch the seam and transfer to a lightly greased loaf pan, seam side down. Cover loosely then allow to rise for 30 minutes while you preheat the oven.
3. Bake the bread: Place the bread into the oven and allow to bake for 35-45 minutes until the loaf is golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
4. Allow to cool: Remove the bread from the oven, tip the bread out onto a wire cooling rack. For a softer crust, brush the outside of the loaf with melted butter. Allow to cool for at least 30 minutes. If you slice into the bread too quickly, the interior can be gummy instead of soft and fluffy.

Can I make this ahead?

1. Make ahead: The dough can be made up to 24 hours ahead and kept covered in the fridge before baking. Allow to come to room temperature before placing in the loaf pan and following baking directions. Baked bread will last for up to 3 days if kept covered.
2. Freezing: Freeze slices of bread in a single layer on a sheetpan then transfer to a freezer bag and freeze for up to 6 months. This is a great way to preserve fresh bread and makes delicious toast.

Serving Suggestions

This white bread recipe is perfect to make sandwiches with but we also love it used in French Toast or toasted and slathered with butter.

• Lemon French toast with fresh strawberries
• Garlic Bread Grilled Cheese
• Easy Pizza Toast

FAQ

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