Basic Homemade White Bread - Immaculate Bites

Fluffy, buttery, and super easy basic homemade white bread tastes way better than store-bought. Besides, nothing compares to that freshly baking bread aroma that fills the home.

The beautiful aroma of fresh bread wafting by grabs my attention every time. Whether I’m passing Panera or my local bakery, that intoxicating fragrance unfailingly draws me in. And when I make it at home, I usually devour at least half of the loaf by myself.

The Pandemic was rough on us, and I still deal with the trauma occasionally. Fortunately, cooking and baking were my therapy that kept me sane. Honestly, kneading bread is quite therapeutic.

Why Make Your Own Bread

Every time I’ve mentioned how much I love making bread, someone invariably says it’s too hard. Why? OK, the kneading part can seem challenging. However, it’s as easy as mixing, letting it rise, making it into a loaf, and baking it.

Now, let’s face reality. With the latest concern about the effects of eating ultra-processed foods, bread tops that list. Besides, you miss that addictive aroma that fills the home as it’s baking. Additionally, this basic recipe can be adapted with more flavor. Garlic, cinnamon, herbs, and cranberry orange are flavors that go well with this blank canvas.

How to Make Basic White Bread at Home

Make the Dough

1. Activate Yeast – Combine warm water and yeast in the stand mixer bowl and attach the dough hook. (If making it by hand, mix the water and yeast in a large mixing bowl. Let the yeast dissolve for about 5 minutes. (Photo 1)
2. Assembly – Pour in the milk, honey, butter, and salt, and stir. Gradually add the flour and continue mixing the dough on low speed, adding just enough flour to form a soft dough. (Photos 2-4)

1. Knead – If using a stand mixer, let the dough hook do its job until the dough forms a ball and no longer sticks to the side of the bowl. If mixing by hand, remove the dough and knead it on a lightly floured surface for 6-8 minutes.
2. Rise – Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning once to coat. Cover it loosely with a clean cloth and let rise in a warm place for 1½-2 hours or until doubled. Then punch the dough down. (Photos 5-6)

Form the Loaves

1. Form Loaves – Working on a lightly floured surface, divide the dough into two pieces. Flatten one half into a rectangle, then fold a third of the dough on top of itself. Quickly fold the bottom third down so that it overlaps the other layers to form a loaf shape. Pinch the dough to seal it where the layers meet to close it up. Repeat with the second half. (Photos 7-10)

1. Second Rise – Lift the loaves and place one each into two greased 9×5-inch loaf pans. Allow them to rise for 30 minutes or until the bread has risen to an inch above the rim of the loaf pans. (Photos 11-12)
2. Bake at 350℉ (175 ℃) for 30-40 minutes. If the bread browns too fast, tent it with foil. Check for doneness with an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center; it should read 195-210°F (90-98 ℃).
3. Brush with butter, allow it to cool, and enjoy!

Recipe Notes and Tips

• Add raisins or dried cranberries with a couple of tablespoons of sugar for a fruity bread.
• Half a cup of dried herbs like rosemary, basil, thyme, oregano, and garlic makes a great savory herbed bread.
• A cup of freshly grated cheese (cheddar, Colby, or Monterey Jack) provides a delicious cheese bread for all you cheese lovers out there.
• Bread flour is the preferred flour for bread due to its high gluten content. However, all-purpose flour will work fine if that’s what you have.

Storage and Leftover Makeovers

Wrap your bread in plastic or foil, and store it at room temperature (60-80℉/15-26 ℃) for 4-6 days. Freezing it is better than keeping it in the fridge if you need it to last longer. It should last 3-4 months if well wrapped.

Fabulous recipes for day-old bread are bread pudding, DIY breadcrumbs, and panzanella salad.

You could also make your own croutons by cutting the bread into cubes. Drizzle them with a little olive oil and sprinkle them with Italian herbs. Toss gently to season the bread cubes evenly.

Spread them out in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake at 350℉ (180 ℃) until golden, stirring once or twice so they brown all sides. Remove from oven, and let cool completely.  Use immediately, or store in an air-tight container for up to 1 week.

More Deliciously Sustaining Bread Recipes

Watch How to Make It

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This blog post was originally published in March 2020 and has been updated with additional tips, new photos, and a video.