This White Bread recipe is a classic you’ll want to keep on hand. So light, fluffy and incredibly soft. Everyone will think it came right from the bakery!
Is anyone out there a bread lover, just like me? I love a good slice of bread, and homemade fresh, soft white bread right out of the oven is my weakness.
We love using this bread recipe for Air Fryer Fried Chicken Sandwiches, as a dipper for Roasted Tomato Soup, or as an appetizer with our easy smoked salmon dip. Don’t forget it makes a great side dish too, especially when served alongside Chicken Mushroom Pasta.
This simple white bread recipe does not disappoint when it comes to quality and flavor. No matter what you use it for, whether its prepping school lunches, making yourself a snack, or serving it as your dinner side, you’ll be in sliced bread heaven.
No need to buy the low-grade store-bought loaves, or spend all your money on expensive bakery bread, you can make this recipe at home any time you want!
Tips and Tricks for Making White Bread
- 1 package of instant dry yeast usually contains 2 1/4 Tsp
- This recipe works with all-purpose and bread flour. The bread flour will give it a slightly chewier and a bit more elastic crumb.
- The second rise will be much faster than the first rise. Be careful not too overproof or the bread will not rise while baking and collapse.
- Don’t use an oil spray to grease your non-stick baking pans! Oils spray will ruin the surface of those pans, better use a paper towel or brush with some oil or butter.
- My house is pretty cold so I like to use the proof setting on my oven.
- The amount of flour you need depends on the moisture and temperature in your house. Some days you might need more, some days less!
- This recipe can be halved to make only one 8×4-inch loaf but it can also be doubled to make TWO large 9×5-inch loaves! Just use the little slider in the recipe card next to servings to double the recipe. Make sure your stand mixer can handle the amount of flour. I recommend using a KitchenAid Professional
Why Should I Make My Own White Bread?
Making your own bread is actually very simple, and not nearly as complex as you would think. In just over 2 hours you can have a fresh out of the oven loaf of white bread, and that’s with 1 hour and 30 minutes of just waiting for it to rise.
The time it takes to prepare is so worth the peace of mind you have knowing exactly what’s in the bread you are eating. When it’s made at home you don’t run the risk of any added preservatives, it’s like having bakery-fresh bread all the time.
It’s incredibly light and fluffy, and dare I say even better than any bread I’ve bought from the store. It’s the perfect texture you want for all of your bread needs.
What To Use Homemade Bread For
You can use your homemade white bread for anything and everything! Well, maybe not everything, but pretty close.
Use it to make your breakfast toast and nut butter, your turkey and cheese lunch sandwich, or mid-day snack avocado toast. Those are just a few of my favorite uses, but the options are really endless.
How To Store Homemade White Bread
Place in a Bread Box:
A bread box, while a little old school, is still very effective. If you have one or have the room for one, I suggest storing your loaf in there. It will give it the best odds of staying fresh as long as possible.
Wrap it in plastic wrap or foil:
If you want to just leave the white bread out on the counter, instead of in a bread box, you’ll need to cover the loaf with either plastic wrap or foil to prevent it from drying out.
Or a good hack would be to save an old store-bought bread sleeve and store your homemade loaf in there.
Freeze it:
To get more bang for my buck, I always make two loaves or even double the recipe to make two extra-large loaves, and immediately slice and freeze one to save for later. That way once I run out of the first loaf I already have another on hand and ready to eat
If you want a slice right out of the freezer, just pop it in the microwave for 20 seconds or toaster and you’ll be good to go. Or if you have the time, just let it thaw on the counter for a few hours.
Tools and Ingredients Used For Making This White Bread Recipe
For this recipe, you’ll want to pull out the big stand mixer you probably never use. Using a powerful stand mixer helps kneed the dough, allowing you to get that perfect end result.
I love a good metal, nonstick loaf pan, it’s so versatile and can be used for an infinite amount of recipes.
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White Bread
Ingredients
- 1 2/3 cups lukewarm water, divided
- 2 1/4 tsp instant yeast, or active dry yeast
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 Tbsp honey, (or more sugar)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter, cubed at room temperature
- 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 Tbsp butter, melted for brushing
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook combine the instant yeast, sugar, and half of the lukewarm water. Let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy (if using active dry yeast, let sit for 15 minutes).
- Add remaining water, honey, salt, cubed butter, and 4 cups flour to the bowl. Knead at low speed until the dough comes together and is soft but not sticky. Add a few more tablespoons flour if necessary. Continue to knead for 6-9 minutes until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and is soft and smooth.
- Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl and make sure that it is completely coated. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm and draft-free place for about 45 minutes or until doubled in size.
- Lightly flour your work surface and turn out the dough onto it. Divide it into two equally sized portions. Use your fingers to gently pat each half into an 8×12 inch rectangle while pressing it all over to remove any air pockets. Starting at the short end, roll up the rectangle into a tight roll and pinch the seams to seal. Tuck the ends of the roll slightly under the roll to create some tension on the surface and place each loaf into a greased 8×4 inch loaf pan tucked ends and seam side down. Cover with a greased piece of plastic wrap and let rise for about 45 minutes in a warm and draft-free place until doubled in size.
- Preheat oven to 390 degrees F and adjust oven rack to lower-middle position.
- Bake loaves for 25-30 minutes until golden brown (and the loaf registers 208 to 210 degrees).
- Invert bread onto a cooling rack. Reinvert loaves and brush tops and sides with melted butter. Let cool completely before slicing.
Notes
- Pan Size: This recipe makes 2 regular loaves baked in two 8×4-inch pans or one large loaf baked in a 9×5-inch loaf pan. To make one large loaf don’t divide the dough into two and pat it into a 9×13-inch rectangle. Bake for 30-35 minutes. Some readers commented that their 9×5 loaf was too big, so I recommend using two 8×4 pans.
- No stand mixer: This bread can be kneaded by hand if you don’t have a stand mixer. Use a large bowl and knead the dough for 10 minutes.
- Bread Machine: I have successfully made this bread in my Oster Bread Machine using half the recipe. Depending on the size of your bread machine you can make one big loaf or half the recipe and make a smaller loaf. The bread won’t be as pretty but taste and texture will be the same.
- Butter: Salted butter will work too. I would still add the tsp of salt because the amount of butter is so small. You could reduce to 3/4 tsp salt if you are sensitive to salt. Vegan Butter or margarine can also be used.
- Fresh Yeast: You can also use fresh yeast for this recipe! 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast = 21 grams fresh yeast or 1 1/4 blocks (0.6-ounce size) or about 1/2 block (2-ounce size) fresh yeast.
- Rapid Rise Yeast: Rapid rise yeast is the same as instant yeast, so no changes are necessary.
- Flour: This recipe works with all-purpose and bread flour. You can use whichever you have on hand! Bread flour will give it a slightly chewier and a bit more elastic crumb which I really like, but most people don’t have bread flour in their pantry so I made sure this recipe works as well with all-purpose. I don’t recommend using self-rising flour.
- Lukewarm Water: Water should be warm, not hot. Between 95 F and 110 F is perfect.
- Baking Temperature: Yes, the temperature is correct!
Nutrition Information
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If you’ve tried this or any other of my recipes, don’t forget to rate the recipe and to leave me a comment. I love hearing from you!
Cissy says
I used half whole wheat flour and half regular white flour and the loaves turn out great… fluffy and soft. It is a keeper.
Heather Stott says
I agree, I live in the Pnw and breads can be tricky.. I am in the desert… gotta add moisture.. I love this recipe, great catalyst!!!
Kaila says
When making this in your bread machine do you just use the “white bread” setting and do all the steps in the machine? Thank you!
Julia Foerster says
Yes, that’s what I do. Depending on the capacity of your bread machine you might have to half the recipe.
Nancy says
Can i ad egg to the recipe.
Julia Foerster says
I wouldn’t recommend adding an egg to the recipe.
Kayla says
How much sugar would you add if you don’t want to do honey?
Trying to make this so my 10 month old can eat it too!
Thanks!
Julia Foerster says
I would add 1 Tbsp of sugar.
Cavet says
This is the only bread recipe I use , it is great! Thank you so much
Shelly says
This is by far the best tasting bread/buns I have ever made.
Laura says
I have been making bread for many years now and have to say this is the best bread by far. Made a loaf and buns yesterday, the bread is still so soft today and oh so tasty. Will use this recipe all the time now. Very easy recipe. Thanks.
Jason Casey says
This bread is poppin off!!!
Amber says
This is a great recipe I used to make homemade Stromboli w/ vegetable soup
Lauren says
I’ve made this twice. I don’t own 8×4 pans so I used the 9×5. I found that the dough comes out great but that the larger loaf needs a good 10-15 minutes longer in the oven to not come out underbaked. It’s delicious bread! I’m going to make it into dressing this Thanksgiving!
Gwen says
Why can’t we have the recipe in cups and metric? I’m in UK and don’t know cups
Julia Foerster says
You can easily switch to metric in the recipe card using the buttons below the ingredient header.
Pat C says
Thanks so much for the recipe and tips ..I justed received as a gift …my first stand mixer🎉..I usually use a bread machine…I used the stand mixer with your recipe…was very easy and all your tips help me a lot 👌..I made half in the pan and one as a french style ..we love it!!! I wish I can send you pictures..thx again
christy says
I am new to bread making and made this last weekend, and I am so excited to make it again this weekend. It’s going to be a staple in our house for sure. Question: can this recipe be used to make buns?
Cia says
Can I use bread flour, instead of all purpose flour?
Julia Foerster says
Yes, see recipe tips.
Toril Frost says
LOVE this bread recipe! Thank you for posting the recipe and including all of the helpful hints. Baking bread is a fairly new thing for me. I made one loaf in a 9 x 5 loaf pan, and it was perfect! My husband said that it’s just like his Grandma’s bread. That in itself is a fabulous compliment to this recipe. I will definitely make this bread again! Thanks!!
Bridget says
Thanks making it today 😊
Bridget says
I was wondering if the 390 was a error is it 390 or 350
Julia Foerster says
No, the 390 degrees F is not an error.
Heather says
Hi again! I have another question. I let the second proof rise in the over for protection and warmth. Is there a way to bake this without preheating the oven? I’d love to leave it in the oven, all risen, and turn it on to bake. (Right now, when I take the pan out to preheat the oven, the rise collapses.) Thanks!
Julia Foerster says
If the bread collapses after the second rise, the rise was too long. The second rise takes a lot less time than the first because the yeast is already super active. So you should take it out of the cold oven sooner, this way it won’t collapse. I haven’t tried putting in in the oven while it is preheating so I can’t say for sure if that will work or not. You could definitely give it a try and start preheating the oven with the bread inside after the second rise is about halfway done. Let me know how it goes if you give it a try!
Lanna Case says
After the first rise can this be made into monkey bread?
Julia Foerster says
I haven’t tried it myself so I’m not 100% sure.
Judy Sawchuk says
This recipe turned out perfect, will keep it as my go to bread recipe for sure. Thanks for sharing!