White Bread Recipe

Get ready to fall in love with homemade White Bread! There’s truly nothing like the aroma of freshly baked bread wafting through your kitchen, and this recipe delivers a simple, classic loaf with the perfect tender crumb. This White Bread is delightfully soft, just a touch sweet, with a golden buttery crust — absolutely perfect for sandwiches, toast, or simply slathered with more butter. If you’ve ever wanted to make bread from scratch but felt intimidated, this is the recipe that turns you into a baking hero, one delicious slice at a time!

Ingredients You’ll Need

Each ingredient in this White Bread recipe may seem straightforward, but every one works its magic to ensure you get a loaf that’s cloud-soft inside and irresistible on the outside. Let’s break down how these pantry staples come together for bread that rivals your favorite bakery.

• Water: Lukewarm water activates the yeast just right — not too hot, not too cold — for the perfect rise every time.
• Instant yeast (or active dry yeast): This ingredient is the powerhouse that makes your White Bread wonderfully airy and full of beautiful bubbles.
• Sugar: A small amount of sugar wakes up the yeast and gives your bread just a subtle hint of sweetness.
• Honey (or more sugar): Honey brings a richer sweetness and helps keep your loaves perfectly moist!
• Salt: Never skip salt! It rounds out the flavor and keeps your bread from tasting flat or bland.
• Unsalted butter (cubed at room temperature): Butter adds tenderness and a hint of richness, making your White Bread feel extra special.
• All-purpose flour: The humble hero that gives your bread its signature texture and soft chew.
• Butter (melted for brushing): A buttery finish on top is pure magic and creates that crave-worthy golden, glossy crust.

How to Make White Bread

Step 1: Activate the Yeast

Start by combining your instant yeast, sugar, and half the lukewarm water in the bowl of your stand mixer. Let this mixture sit until it gets nice and foamy — about 5 to 10 minutes. If you’re using active dry yeast, give it about 15 minutes for that bubbly, frothy magic to happen. This little pause ensures your yeast is alive and ready to make your bread rise sky-high.

Step 2: Mix the Dough

Add the rest of the water, honey, salt, cubed butter, and 4 cups of flour to your bowl. Beat everything at low speed with the dough hook, just until the dough comes together and is soft but not sticky. If you notice it’s still a bit wet, sprinkle in a few more tablespoons of the remaining flour. Keep kneading for 6 to 9 minutes until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and feels really smooth and supple — think a soft baby’s cheek!

Step 3: First Rise

Next, transfer your dough to a lightly greased bowl. Roll it around so every inch is coated to help prevent it from drying out. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a cozy spot — somewhere warm and draft-free works best. In about 45 minutes, your dough should puff up to double its size, practically begging to be shaped!

Step 4: Shape the Loaves

Dust your work surface lightly with flour, then gently turn out the dough. Split it into two equal pieces. Flatten each half into an 8×12 inch rectangle, gently pressing out any air pockets (this makes for uniform slices later!). Starting at the short end, roll up tightly, pinch to seal, and tuck the ends under. Place each loaf into a greased 8×4 inch pan, seam side down. Cover again with greased plastic wrap and let rise for around 45 minutes — the dough should almost reach the top of the pans.

Step 5: Preheat and Bake

While your loaves are plumping up, preheat your oven to 390 degrees F and move your oven rack to the lower-middle position for even heat. Bake the loaves for 25 to 30 minutes until they’re gloriously golden and, if you have a thermometer, register between 208 and 210 degrees. Your kitchen will smell absolutely heavenly!

Step 6: Cool and Butter the Crust

Carefully invert your freshly baked White Bread onto a cooling rack. Flip the loaves upright and brush the tops and sides with melted butter while still warm, creating that signature soft and shiny crust. Now, the hardest part: let your bread cool completely before slicing so it stays tender and doesn’t squish beneath your knife.

How to Serve White Bread

Garnishes

When it comes to White Bread, a glossy finish of melted butter is a must for that tempting first impression. For a little extra flair, sprinkle warm loaves with a touch of flaky sea salt or even a hint of crushed herbs. This adds a delicious pop of flavor and makes every slice extra inviting.

Side Dishes

White Bread is a true companion to so many meals. Serve thick slices alongside a hearty soup, your favorite pasta, or a vibrant salad to help mop up every last drop of dressing. This bread is also a star at breakfast, paired with scrambled eggs or simply toasted with jam for a morning treat.

Creative Ways to Present

Don’t be afraid to let your creativity shine! Turn cubes of White Bread into golden homemade croutons, or use thick slices for decadent French toast. Try shaping smaller rolls for a brunch spread or serve warm with a trio of flavored butters for a fun dinner-party twist.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

To keep your White Bread soft and fresh, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or store in an airtight bread box. It’ll stay delicious at room temperature for up to three days. Avoid refrigerating, as that can dry out the crumb more quickly than you’d think.

Freezing

Planning ahead is easy with this loaf! Once completely cool, wrap your White Bread tightly in plastic and then foil, or tuck into a sealable freezer bag. It’ll keep its flavor and texture for up to three months. When you’re ready, let it thaw at room temperature; it’ll taste just like the day it was baked.

Reheating

To reclaim that irresistible just-baked aroma, pop slices in the toaster or oven for a few minutes until warmed through. If you froze the whole loaf, wrap it in foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 10-15 minutes to refresh and soften it up — no one will guess it wasn’t baked today!

FAQs

Can I use bread flour instead of all-purpose flour for this White Bread?

Absolutely! Bread flour will give your White Bread an even chewier texture and slightly taller rise. If you love a more substantial crumb, go for bread flour. But honestly, all-purpose flour makes a perfectly soft, classic loaf every time.

What if I don’t have a stand mixer for this recipe?

No worries at all! You can mix and knead the dough by hand. It’ll take a little more elbow grease and about 10-12 minutes of kneading, but you’ll get the same wonderful results and perhaps a little bonus workout.

How do I know when my dough has risen enough?

Look for your dough to double in size, which takes about 45 minutes for each rise if your kitchen is warm. A gentle poke should leave an indentation that springs back slowly—this means your White Bread dough is ready for the next step!

My bread crust turned out too dark. What did I do wrong?

If your White Bread browned too quickly, your oven might run hot or the rack may be too high. Try tenting the bread loosely with foil during the last 10 minutes of baking to protect the crust without affecting the flavor.

Can I add other flavors or ingredients to this bread?

Definitely! White Bread is a great blank slate. Try mixing in seeds, shredded cheese, chopped herbs, or even a handful of dried fruit for a fun twist. Just keep additions modest so the dough still rises beautifully.

Final Thoughts

Baking homemade White Bread is such a satisfying experience, and the reward is a loaf that truly outshines anything store-bought. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or new to making your own bread, give this recipe a try — your kitchen will smell like a dream, and your tastebuds will thank you for every soft, buttery bite!

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