Traditional White Bread

The entire process of baking bread is very enjoyable. I think I have mentioned that a few times already. If you haven’t attempted to bake some homemade bread, I highly suggest that you do so. The flavor and texture of homemade bread is amazing compared to store bought bread.

This white bread is very delicious, very useful, and very easy to slice. The night I baked it, I had it with pasta. It was great with a bit of butter. The following day, I made a sandwich using two slices of bread. The day after, I used the leftover bread to make garlic toast for some more pasta. I wanted to make French toast with the bread, but the bread vanished before I could try it. I will be making this bread again!

Traditional White Bread (Printer Friendly PDF Version)

1 package dry active yeast

1/4 C warm water

1/4 t sugar

2 C warm milk

2 T sugar

1 t salt

2 T butter, softened

6 C flour

Proof the yeast in the warm water with the 1/4 teaspoon of sugar.

Place 5 cups of flour in a bowl with the warm milk, sugar, salt, butter, and proofed yeast.

Stir this together with a wooden spoon until all ingredients are combined. Start to mix with your hands while slowly adding flour until the dough isn’t sticky.

Knead for 10 minutes on a lightly floured surface. The kneading may make the dough sticky again, so have some flour on hand. Don’t add much more than the 6 cups total of flour!

Once the bread is kneaded, place it in a greased bowl. Be sure to flip the dough to coat the entire blob with oil or it may dry out and crack. Cover with a towel and let the dough rest and rise for an hour or until doubled in size.

Punch down the dough and fold the outer edges towards the middle. Flip the dough, recover with the towel, and let it rest for another hour or until doubled in size.

Break the dough into two pieces and place them into greased bread loaf pans (9x5x3inch). Cover the loaf pans with a towel and let the dough rise until doubled in size.

Bake the dough at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 to 30 minutes or until it turns into bread. The completely baked bread loaf will produce a hollow sound when tapped.

Cool before slicing.

Enjoy!