Easy Homemade White Bread Recipe for Beginners
A soft, fluffy homemade white bread that’s perfect for beginners. This easy recipe uses simple pantry staples to create a classic loaf ideal for toast, sandwiches, or enjoying warm with butter.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (about 12 slices)
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 to 4 cups all-purpose or bread flour
- 1 1/4 cups warm water (110°F)
- 2 1/4 tsp active dry or instant yeast
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter or vegetable oil
- 1 tbsp melted butter, for brushing
Instructions
- In a bowl, dissolve sugar in warm water and sprinkle yeast over top. Let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy.
- Stir in salt and butter/oil. Gradually mix in flour, 1 cup at a time, to form a soft dough.
- Knead on a floured surface for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour until doubled in size.
- Punch down dough, shape into a loaf, and place in a greased 9×5-inch loaf pan.
- Cover and let rise again for 30–40 minutes until slightly above the pan edge.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake for 30–35 minutes until golden and hollow-sounding when tapped.
- Remove from pan, brush with melted butter, and let cool slightly before slicing.
Notes
- Use milk instead of water for a richer loaf.
- Add honey or swap sugar for flavor variation.
- Mix in herbs like rosemary for a savory version.
- Brush with egg wash for a firmer, glossy crust.
- Store at room temp or freeze slices for later.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 190mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 29g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
