Soft Homemade White Bread

Soft Homemade White Bread

Few things make a home feel warmer than a loaf of bread rising on the counter and baking in the oven.

This soft homemade white bread is made with A2 milk, honey, butter, and an egg. It rises beautifully, has a tender interior and golden crust, and works wonderfully for sandwiches, toast, grilled cheese, or serving warm with dinner.

The recipe makes one large loaf. Simply double every ingredient to make the two loaves shown in the photos.

Soft Homemade White Bread

Makes: 1 loaf
Pan: 9×5-inch loaf pan
Bake temperature: 350°F
Bake time: 28–33 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup warm A2 milk, about 105–110°F
  • 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 3 tablespoons melted butter
  • 1 egg
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3–3½ cups all-purpose flour
  • Melted butter for the top

Directions

  1. Mix the warm milk, honey, and yeast. Let the mixture sit for 5–10 minutes, until foamy.
  2. Stir in the melted butter, egg, and salt.
  3. Add 3 cups of flour, then knead for 7–8 minutes, adding just enough additional flour to create a soft, slightly tacky dough. Don’t make it stiff.
  4. Cover and let the dough rise for 45–60 minutes, until doubled.
  5. Shape the dough into a loaf and place it in a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan.
  6. Cover and rise again for 30–45 minutes, until the dough crowns approximately one inch above the pan.
  7. Bake at 350°F for 28–33 minutes.
  8. Brush the hot top with melted butter and let the bread cool before slicing.

Tips for a Soft, Tall Loaf

Begin with three cups of flour and only add more when the dough needs it. Adding too much flour can make the finished loaf dense or dry. The dough should remain soft and slightly tacky after kneading.

Allow the dough to determine the rising time. A cooler kitchen may require a little longer than the times listed.

Let the bread cool before slicing so the tender interior has time to finish setting. As tempting as warm bread may be, cutting it too early can compress the loaf or make the center seem gummy.

This is the kind of dependable, from-scratch recipe that makes an ordinary day at home feel a little more special.

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