Soft, fluffy, bakery-style loaf
There’s nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked white bread filling your kitchen. This classic homemade white bread recipe is soft, fluffy, and perfect for sandwiches, toast, or slathering with butter while it’s still warm. Made with simple pantry staples, it’s ideal for beginners and busy home bakers who want reliable results every time. Whether you’re meal prepping for the week or baking for family comfort, this easy white bread recipe delivers that nostalgic bakery-style texture with minimal effort—and no preservatives.
⏱️ Time Breakdown
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Rise Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Bake Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: ~2 hours 15 minutes
- Servings: 1 loaf (about 12 slices)
📝 Ingredients List
- 1 cup warm milk (110°F / 43°C)
- 2¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp salt
- 3–3½ cups all-purpose flour
✨ Kitchen Tools You’ll Need
This recipe doesn’t require fancy gadgets, just a few reliable kitchen basics to keep everything simple and stress-free.
- Large mixing bowl
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Wooden spoon or dough whisk
- Clean kitchen towel
- Loaf pan (9×5 inch)
- Oven
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Beginner-Friendly Instructions
- Activate the yeast: In a large bowl, combine warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy 🫧
- Mix the dough: Stir in melted butter and salt. Add flour 1 cup at a time, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Knead: Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Dough should spring back when pressed 😊
- First rise: Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Shape: Punch down dough, shape into a loaf, and place into a greased loaf pan.
- Second rise: Cover and let rise again for 30 minutes until dough crowns above the pan.
- Bake: Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 30 minutes, until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped 🍞
- Cool: Remove from pan and cool completely before slicing.
💡 Pro Tips
- Extra soft bread: Brush the top with melted butter right after baking.
- Even slices: Let bread cool at least 30 minutes before cutting.
- Storage: Store at room temperature for 3 days or refrigerate up to 1 week.
- Freezing: Slice and freeze for up to 2 months—perfect for toast.