This recipe yields a soft, fluffy loaf of classic white bread perfect for sandwiches, toast, or enjoying on its own.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup warm water (105-115°F)
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- 1 large egg
Instructions:
- Activate the yeast: In a large bowl, combine warm water, yeast, and sugar. Let stand for 5-10 minutes, or until the yeast is foamy.
- Combine ingredients: Add flour and salt to the yeast mixture. Stir until a shaggy dough forms.
- Knead the dough: Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes, or until smooth and elastic.
- First rise: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning to coat all sides. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
- Shape the loaf: Punch down the dough and shape it into a loaf. Place the loaf in a greased loaf pan.
- Second rise: Cover the loaf pan loosely with plastic wrap and let rise for another 30-45 minutes, or until doubled in size again.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the bread for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.
- Cool: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Tips & Variations:
- For extra flavor, add 1-2 tablespoons of milk powder to the flour.
- To make a sweeter bread, increase the sugar to 2 tablespoons.
- For a richer flavor, use milk instead of water.
- Add herbs and spices to the dough for flavorful variations (e.g., garlic powder, onion powder, dried herbs).
- For a crusty loaf, bake uncovered.
Enjoy your homemade fluffy white bread!