Easy Homemade White Bread
Make the perfect homemade white bread with this easy, beginner-friendly recipe! This soft and fluffy loaf has a golden crust and is great for sandwiches, toast, or enjoying with butter. No special equipment is needed—just simple pantry ingredients and a loaf pan.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Rising Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 slices
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water (110°F/45°C)
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 3 cups all-purpose flour (plus extra for kneading)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until frothy.
- Stir in softened butter and salt.
- Gradually add flour, 1 cup at a time, mixing well to form a soft dough.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface for 6–8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour until doubled.
- Punch down the dough, shape into a loaf, and place in a greased 9x5-inch loaf pan.
- Cover and let rise for 30 minutes until it reaches the top of the pan.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake for 25–30 minutes until golden brown.
- Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For a softer crust, brush with melted butter after baking.
- For a whole wheat version, substitute half the flour with whole wheat flour.
- To freeze, wrap slices or the whole loaf in plastic wrap and store for up to 3 months.