Description
This Easy Homemade White Bread recipe guides you through making soft, fluffy, and delicious white bread from scratch using simple ingredients. Perfect for sandwiches, toast, or enjoying fresh out of the oven, this classic bread recipe requires minimal ingredients and delivers a satisfying homemade loaf with a golden crust.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 package (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a mixing bowl, combine warm water, active dry yeast, and sugar. Stir gently and let sit for 10 minutes until the mixture is frothy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Mix Ingredients: Gradually add salt and flour to the yeast mixture, one cup at a time, mixing well after each addition until a dough begins to form.
- Knead Dough: Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead it for 6–8 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic in texture.
- First Rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a clean towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.
- Shape Loaf: Punch down the risen dough to release air bubbles, then shape it into a loaf and place it into a greased loaf pan.
- Second Rise: Cover the loaf pan and allow the dough to rise again for 30–45 minutes, until doubled in size.
- Preheat Oven: Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking.
- Bake Bread: Bake the loaf for 30–35 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom, indicating it’s fully baked.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the bread from the oven, let it cool completely on a wire rack before slicing to ensure optimal texture and flavor.
Notes
- Use warm water (about 110°F/43°C) to properly activate the yeast without killing it.
- Make sure the dough rises in a warm, draft-free environment to help it double properly.
- For a crispier crust, you can place a pan of water in the oven while baking to create steam.
- Store leftover bread in an airtight container or bread box to maintain freshness.
- Adjust baking time slightly if using a different size loaf pan or bread type.
