Soft White Bread
This Soft White Bread is one of those recipes that quietly earns a permanent spot in your kitchen. When I want a loaf that feels classic, cozy, and truly homemade, I reach for this recipe every time. It bakes up soft with a tender crumb and slices beautifully, all without preservatives or unnecessary ingredients. Because of that, we honestly prefer this loaf over store bought bread and love knowing exactly what goes into every slice.
Most days, I lean toward making sourdough and enjoy the slower process that comes with it, especially our Soft Sourdough Loaves recipe. However, when time feels shorter and I still want fresh bread on the table, this Soft White Bread delivers. Active dry yeast helps the dough rise quickly while still giving us that fluffy texture and soft interior the whole family loves.
Even better, this loaf works perfectly for everyday meals. It makes incredible grilled cheese with a golden exterior and soft center, and it holds up well for any sandwich you are craving. In the end, this Soft White Bread proves that homemade bread can be simple, comforting, and far better than anything from the store.
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Ingredients
- All-purpose Flour
- Warm Water
- Instant Yeast or Active Dry Yeast
- Salt
- Honey
- Sugar
- Salted Butter
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a medium bowl, combine warm water, instant yeast, and sugar. Let the mixture rest for about 15 minutes until it turns foamy and bubbly on top.
- Step 2: Meanwhile, add salt, honey, melted butter, the yeast mixture, and flour to the bowl of a stand mixer. Knead on low speed until a soft dough forms. If the dough feels sticky, add more flour a little at a time. Continue kneading for about 10 minutes until smooth and fully combined.
- Step 3: Next, transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or a tea towel and place in a warm spot. Let the dough rise for about 1 hour until it doubles in size.
- Step 4: Once risen, move the dough to a lightly floured surface and divide it into two equal portions. Shape each portion into a loaf, pinching the seams and tucking the bottom underneath.
- Step 5: Then, place the loaves into lightly greased bread pans. Cover loosely with plastic wrap or a tea towel and let rise again for about 1 hour until doubled.
- Step 6: While the dough finishes rising, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Bake the loaves for 26 to 31 minutes until the tops turn golden brown and the bread cooks through.
- Step 7: Finally, transfer the loaves to a cooling rack. Brush the tops with butter if desired, then slice and enjoy!
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Stand mixer with dough hook
- Silicone spatula
- Plastic wrap or clean tea towel
- Bread pans
- Pastry brush for buttering tops
- Cooling rack
Storage
To store Soft White Bread, let the loaves cool completely before storing. Once cooled, keep the bread in an airtight bag or container at room temperature for up to 3 days to maintain its soft texture.
For longer storage, wrap the loaf tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer safe bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to use, thaw at room temperature and warm slices as needed.
Avoid refrigerating this bread, since the cold temperature dries it out faster and affects the texture.
FAQ
Yes, you can use instant yeast in this recipe. Skip the blooming step and mix the yeast directly with the dry ingredients, then continue with the recipe as written.
Dough can feel sticky depending on humidity and flour type. Add flour one tablespoon at a time while kneading until the dough feels soft and smooth but not dry.
Yes, you can knead the dough by hand. Mix the ingredients in a large bowl, then knead on a lightly floured surface for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
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📖 Recipe
Soft White Bread
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Stand mixer with dough hook
- Silicone spatula
- Plastic wrap or clean tea towel
- bread pans
- Pastry brush for buttering tops
- Cooling rack
Ingredients
- 4.5 cups All-purpose Flour
- 1 ⅔ cups Warm Water
- 1 packet Instant Yeast or Active Dry Yeast (2 ¼ teaspoon if in a jar)
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- 1 tablespoon Sugar
- 2 tablespoon Salted Butter melted
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine warm water, instant yeast, and sugar. Let the mixture rest for about 15 minutes until it turns foamy and bubbly on top.
- Meanwhile, add salt, honey, melted butter, the yeast mixture, and flour to the bowl of a stand mixer. Knead on low speed until a soft dough forms. If the dough feels sticky, add more flour a little at a time. Continue kneading for about 10 minutes until smooth and fully combined.
- Next, transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or a tea towel and place in a warm spot. Let the dough rise for about 1 hour until it doubles in size.
- Once risen, move the dough to a lightly floured surface and divide it into two equal portions. Shape each portion into a loaf, pinching the seams and tucking the bottom underneath.
- Then, place the loaves into lightly greased bread pans. Cover loosely with plastic wrap or a tea towel and let rise again for about 1 hour until doubled.
- While the dough finishes rising, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Bake the loaves for 26 to 31 minutes until the tops turn golden brown and the bread cooks through.
- Finally, transfer the loaves to a cooling rack. Brush the tops with butter if desired, then slice and enjoy!
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