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White Bread Recipe
5 from 18 votes

White Bread Recipe

This white bread recipe uses warm water, instant yeast, honey, salt, butter, and all-purpose flour to create a soft, slightly sticky dough. After kneading and rising until doubled, the dough is divided, shaped, and baked into two loaves, optionally brushed with melted butter for a softer crust. The resulting bread has a tender crumb suitable for sandwiches and general use.

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
35 mins
Additional Time
1 hr 30 mins
Total Time
2 hrs 25 mins
Servings: 20 slices
Calories: 67 kcal
Course: Bread
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 ⅔ cups water 100-110F, warm
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast
  • 3 tablespoons honey
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons butter at room temperature
  • 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ tablespoons butter optional, melted

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook combine the water, yeast, and honey.
  2. Add salt, butter, and 3 cups flour to the bowl.
  3. Continue to add in flour ¼ cup at a time until it forms a soft, sticky dough. You may not need to use all of the flour.
  4. Knead on low for about 5 minutes, or until the dough clears the sides of the bowl and is soft and smooth. If the dough is too sticky, add the flour 1 tablespoon at time until it feels slightly sticky when you pinch it but doesn't come off on your fingers.
  5. Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise in a warm spot for about 45 minutes or until doubled in size.
  6. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface.
  7. Divide it into two equally sized portions.
  8. Gently pat each half into an 8×12 inch rectangle.
  9. Starting at the short end, roll up the rectangle into a tight roll and pinch the seams to seal.
  10. Tuck the ends of the roll slightly underneath and place each loaf into a greased 8×4 inch loaf pan seam side down.
  11. Cover with a greased piece of plastic wrap and let rise for about 45 minutes in a warm and spot until doubled in size.
  12. Toward the end of the rising time, preheat oven to 400 F and adjust oven rack to lower-middle position.
  13. Bake loaves for 20-25 minutes, or until until golden brown. They should sound hollow when thumped.
  14. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes, and then remove to a wire rack to finish cooling.
  15. Brush the loaves with melted butter, if desired.

Notes

  • Use water warmed between 100-110°F; hotter water can kill the yeast and prevent rising.
  • Active dry yeast can substitute instant yeast but needs to proof for 5-10 minutes until foamy before mixing.
  • Adjust flour quantity to achieve a soft, slightly sticky dough that doesn't cling to fingers when pinched.
  • Brushing melted butter on the baked loaves softens the crust and adds flavor.
  • Nutrition values are estimates.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1slice Calories 67kcal (3%) Carbohydrates 11g (4%) Protein 2g (4%) Fat 2g (3%) Saturated Fat 1g (5%) Cholesterol 5mg (2%) Sodium 193mg (8%) Potassium 34mg (1%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 5g (10%) Vitamin A 65IU (1%) Calcium 9mg (1%) Iron 1mg (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 20 slices

Amount Per Serving

Calories 67

% Daily Value*

Serving 1slice
Calories 67kcal 3%
Carbohydrates 11g 4%
Protein 2g 4%
Fat 2g 3%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 5mg 2%
Sodium 193mg 8%
Potassium 34mg 1%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 5g 10%
Vitamin A 65IU 1%
Calcium 9mg 1%
Iron 1mg 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.