White Bread
A simple and rewarding recipe for homemade white bread that yields soft, fluffy loaves with a golden brown crust, perfect for sandwiches, toast, or enjoying with butter.
Ingredients
Dough Ingredients
- 2 cups warm water Temperature should be warm to the touch.
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 5 cups flour Avoid adding extra flour while kneading.
- 2 tsp yeast Use fresh yeast; activate properly.
- 2 tsp salt
- 3 tbsp softened butter Rub into flour until crumbly.
Instructions
Preparation
- In a liquid measuring cup, combine 2 cups of warm water and 1/4 cup sugar. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
- Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of yeast over the water and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes.
- In a separate bowl, combine 5 cups of flour, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 3 tablespoons of softened butter. Mix well.
- Add the yeast water to the flour mixture and stir until a dough begins to form.
- Knead the dough for 8-10 minutes by hand (or 5-7 minutes with a stand mixer on medium speed).
First Rise
- Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm, dark place for 1-2 hours or until it doubles in size (35 minutes for rapid rise yeast).
Shaping
- Punch down the dough to release air bubbles and divide it into two equal portions.
- Shape each portion into a loaf and place in greased loaf pans.
- Let the dough rise again for 30-45 minutes, until it rises about 1 inch above the edges of the pans.
Baking
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the loaves for 25 minutes, until golden brown.
- Remove the loaves from the pans and cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
Notes
For variety, consider adding herbs or seeds. Ensure to use fresh ingredients for best results.