Today, I’m super excited to share with you my Dad’s FAMOUS White Bread Recipe. This isn’t just any bread; it’s a family treasure that we’ve been baking for over 30 years, especially during the holidays.
It’s so delicious that we’ve even had relatives sneakily stash away whole loaves just to keep them all to themselves! It’s a white bread recipe for the ages!
Making your own bread might sound tough, but this recipe is surprisingly simple and totally foolproof. Imagine pulling out a golden brown loaf from your oven, its warm, comforting aroma filling your kitchen.
This bread has a light and tender texture that makes it perfect for everything – from buttery toast in the morning to hearty sandwiches for lunch.
This bread is so light, tender, and tasty, you’ll want to dig into it the second it comes out of the oven and slather it with butter. No exaggeration!
The secret? A little ingredient called dry milk makes the bread super fluffy. Don’t skip this ingredient if you want your bread to have the absolute perfect texture!
You’re going to want to save this recipe card for later. I can’t even believe I’m sharing it with you! It’s the perfect white bread if there ever was one.
And the best part? You can use ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. So, let’s get baking with this amazing homemade white bread recipe!
Some of our other favorite bread recipes we have on our site include: Air Fryer Naan Bread Recipe (Garlic Flavor), Easy Sourdough Bread Recipe in Dutch Oven, and Beautiful Easy Nutella Braided Bread Recipe.
WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:
- Easy to Follow: The steps are straightforward, perfect for even beginners to make their very own loaves of bread. There is something so satisfying about bread making!
- Light and Fluffy Texture: Thanks to the dry milk, it’s softer than store-bought bread. Even the next day, this bread will have an amazing texture.
- Family Favorite: A tried and true recipe loved by generations of my family. I just know that it will become a tradition in your home after the first time you make it.
INGREDIENTS NEEDED (SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST FOR THE FULL RECIPE CARD):
- All-purpose flour
- Nonfat dry milk
- Granulated sugar
- Unsalted butter
- Active dry yeast
- Kosher salt
- Warm water
- Melted butter, optional
HOW TO MAKE WHITE BREAD RECIPE:
- Add 2 cups of the flour, dry milk, sugar, butter, yeast, and salt to the body of a stand mixer. With the dough hook attachment, mix it around just to combine for a few turns.
- Add the water and mix to combine.
- On slow speed, begin to add the flour a little at a time until you come to 5 cups of flour. Place the mixer on medium-high speed, the dough should clean the sides of the bowl after a couple of minutes. If it doesn’t, add a little flour at a time until it does, up to ½ cup more flour.
- Continue to mix/knead the dough on medium-high speed for 10 minutes. The dough will be smooth and elastic. Spray the dough with a little cooking spray and roll it around in the bowl, so it is lightly coated. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place in your house for about 1 hour.
- Take off the plastic wrap and punch the bread dough down in the bowl to release the air bubbles.
- Lightly flour a clean work surface. Knead the dough a few times by hand to get any additional air bubbles out, about 1 minute.
- Spray 2 9×5 loaf pans with cooking spray.
- Divide the dough into two even pieces. With your hands, roll them out into a log. Place each log into a prepared baking pan.
- No need to cover the dough again. Let them rise until doubled in size, about 30-45 minutes.
- While they are doing the second rise, preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Once doubled, make a slit down the center of the bread if desired. Place the loaves into the oven and immediately lower the temperature of the oven to 350°F. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.
- If desired, immediately brush the bread with the optional melted butter. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes.
- Take out of the pans and cool on a wire rack completely.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS RECIPE:
WHAT KIND OF FLOUR IS THE BEST TO USE?
While all-purpose flour works great (best results in my opinion), bread flour can make the bread even lighter.
Both types of flour are perfect for this recipe!
HOW LONG DOES THIS TAKE TO MAKE?
Including prep, rise, and cook time, it takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes to make this delicious bread.
Such a good thing cannot be rushed, haha!
WHAT KIND OF YEAST DO I USE?
Active dry yeast is ideal for this recipe. It helps the bread rise perfectly.
If you have good success with another type, be sure to let me know in the comments.
Truth be told, I haven’t tried anything else for fear of changing the great bread that I know and love. Sometimes it’s the basic steps that make all the difference, you know?
ANY ADDITIONS?
Sure thing! While it won’t be the bread I know and love anymore, feel free to change things up!
- Sprinkle sesame seeds on top before baking.
- Mix in some cinnamon and raisins for a sweet twist.
- Add garlic powder and herbs for savory garlic bread.
- A handful of oats mixed into the dough for texture.
- Cheddar cheese for cheesy bread.
- Sunflower or pumpkin seeds for a crunchy addition.
- Mix in some whole wheat flour for a healthier variant.
- A bit of honey for a touch of sweetness.
- Include dried fruits like cranberries or apricots.
ANY SUBSTITUTIONS?
Here you go! Can’t do this without at least a few subs for you.
- Use honey instead of sugar for a natural sweetener.
- Whole wheat flour can replace some of the all-purpose flour for a healthier option.
- Olive oil can be used instead of butter for a different flavor.
- Dairy-free milk powder for those who are lactose intolerant.
- Salted butter, just reduce the added salt.
HOW TO STORE:
Room Temperature: Wrap in plastic wrap and store for up to 5 days. I’ll bet you anything that it doesn’t last that long before being devoured!
Freezer: Freeze bread loaves or sliced bread in airtight bags for up to 3 months. Any more than that and you’ll have major freezer burn.
DANA’S TIPS AND TRICKS:
- Make sure your water is warm, not hot, to activate the yeast mixture. Remember, yeast is a living thing!
- Don’t rush the rise times; letting that amazing dough rest is key for a perfect loaf.
- Knead the dough until it’s smooth and elastic for the best texture. Practice makes perfect when it comes to the texture of the bread.
- Use a kitchen towel or plastic wrap to cover the dough while it rises.
- If using melted butter on top of the loaf, brush it right after baking for a soft crust.
- Slice the bread after it has completely cooled for clean cuts. Then again, letting the bread cool before you dig in is rather difficult, haha!
This simple White Bread Recipe is a beloved family tradition, packed with memories and delicious flavors.
It’s perfect for anyone who loves the soft texture and rich taste of homemade bread.
Whether you’re a baking newbie or a seasoned pro, this recipe is sure to bring joy to your table and become one of your best bread recipes. Happy baking!
If you like this recipe, you might also like:
If you’ve tried this WHITE BREAD RECIPE, let me know how it turned out in the comments! You can follow me over on PINTEREST, INSTAGRAM OR FACEBOOK to find some more of our mouthwatering recipes!
No Fuss Easy Homemade White Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 & ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup nonfat dry milk
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 2 & ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 cups warm water 115°F
- 2 tablespoons melted butter optional
Instructions
- Add 2 cups of the flour, dry milk, sugar, butter, yeast, and salt to the body of a stand mixer. With the dough hook attachment, mix it around just to combine for a few turns.5 & ½ cups all-purpose flour, ¼ cup nonfat dry milk, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 & ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast, 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- Add the water and mix to combine.2 cups warm water
- On slow speed, begin to add the flour a little at a time until you come to 5 cups of flour. Place the mixer on medium-high speed, the dough should clean the sides of the bowl after a couple of minutes. If it doesn’t, add a little flour at a time until it does, up to ½ cup more flour.
- Continue to mix/knead the dough on medium-high speed for 10 minutes. The dough will be smooth and elastic. Spray the dough with a little cooking spray and roll it around in the bowl, so it is lightly coated. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place in your house for about 1 hour.
- Take off the plastic wrap and punch the bread dough down in the bowl to release the air bubbles.
- Lightly flour a clean work surface. Knead the dough a few times by hand to get any additional air bubbles out, about 1 minute.
- Spray 2 9×5 loaf pans with cooking spray.
- Divide the dough into two even pieces. With your hands, roll them out into a log. Place each log into a prepared baking pan.
- No need to cover the dough again. Let them rise until doubled in size, about 30-45 minutes.
- While they are doing the second rise, preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Once doubled, make a slit down the center of the bread if desired. Place the loaves into the oven and immediately lower the temperature of the oven to 350°F. Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.
- If desired, immediately brush the bread with the optional melted butter. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes.2 tablespoons melted butter
- Take out of the pans and cool on a wire rack completely.
Notes
- Make sure your water is warm, not hot, to activate the yeast mixture. Remember, yeast is a living thing!
- Don’t rush the rise times; letting that amazing dough rest is key for a perfect loaf.
- Knead the dough until it’s smooth and elastic for the best texture. Practice makes perfect when it comes to the texture of the bread.
- Use a kitchen towel or plastic wrap to cover the dough while it rises.
- If using melted butter on top of the loaf, brush it right after baking for a soft crust.
- Slice the bread after it has completely cooled for clean cuts. Then again, letting the bread cool before you dig in is rather difficult, haha!
Equipment
- stand mixer
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