How to Make Homemade White Bread

Baking is one of my favorite pastimes. I enjoy baking cookies, cakes, breads, pies, muffins, cupcakes, and much more.

Warm and fresh homemade bread

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Bread is a staple food in many parts of the world. Bread-making started about 10,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent, the part of the Middle East that follows an imaginary line that curves, like a quarter-moon shape, from the Persian Gulf through modern-day southern Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, and northern Egypt. Ancient Egyptians usually get the credit for inventing the oven and discovering leavening, both of which are quintessential components of the bread-making process.

Basic Ingredients

Every loaf of bread begins with basic ingredients such as yeast, flour, liquid (water or milk), salt, sugar, butter, or shortening. For this recipe, I used bread flour, which has a higher protein content than all-purpose flour.

Bread-Making Is a Science

The bread-making process is like a science, which is something I enjoy very much. It starts when you combine the flour with the liquid. Then, you beat, mix, and knead the dough so that the gluten is worked into long elastic strands. It stretches and traps the bubbles of carbon dioxide gas that the yeast produces as it grows. It is these bubbles that cause the dough to rise and give the bread a light texture. The process can be done by using an electric mixer, or if you're up for a challenge, you can do it by hand.

My Homemade Bread

Baked goods are best when they're warm and fresh. There's nothing like the aroma of fresh homemade bread, hot from the oven. Of course it's easy to get store-bought bread, but making my own bread gives me satisfaction and comfort.

I hope you'll consider trying this recipe! I guarantee that after you've made it, you won't want to buy bread at the store anymore.

Cook Time

Prep Time: 3 hours (including proofing and resting time)

Total Time: 4 hours

Yield: 1 loaf bread

Ingredients

For the yeast mixture:

• 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm water
• 1 tablespoon sugar or honey

For the dough:

• 4 1/3 cups bread flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons sugar or honey
• 1 tablespoon cooking vinegar
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or melted unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup warm water

Directions

1. Make the yeast mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine warm water, active dry yeast, and sugar or honey. Gently stir with a spatula.
2. Allow the yeast mixture to sit in a warm place until it is activated and becomes frothy.
3. Combine the flour, salt, melted butter or oil, vinegar, and warm water into the yeast mixture.
4. Mix the ingredients with a spatula to form a rough dough.
5. Place the mixing bowl in the mixer with a kneading hook attachment. Mix at the low speed for about 5 minutes until the dough comes together to form a ball.
6. Increase the speed and continue kneading the dough for another 15 minutes or until it's smooth and elastic.
7. Remove the dough from the hook and transfer it to a mat or floured surface. Fold the dough over a few times by hand and transfer to a greased bowl. Cover with cling wrap. Let the dough proof for about 1 hour or until it has doubled in size.
8. Transfer the dough to a floured surface or kneading board. Gently press the dough by using your fingers to let the air out. Shape the dough into an even thick rectangle.
9. Roll the dough tightly starting from the short side. Make sure to press the edges of the dough as you're rolling up. Tuck in the edges underneath the dough to seal it.
10. Transfer the dough into the prepared loaf pan. Loosely cover with cling wrap and let it proof again for about 90 minutes in a warm place.
11. In the meantime, preheat the oven to 375ºF.
12. Place the loaf in the middle of the oven and bake for 45 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 195ºF.
13. Cool it on a wire rack. Brush the top with melted butter and honey. Let it cool completely before slicing.

Photo Guide

In a mixing bowl, combine warm water, active dry yeast, and sugar or honey.

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© 2020 Liza

Comments

Liza (author) from USA on July 30, 2020:

You're welcome. Hope you'll try it, Robert.

Robert Sacchi on July 30, 2020:

Thank you for posting.

Liza (author) from USA on June 22, 2020:

It'd be an honor to do that :) Thanks for commenting, Lovnish!

Lovnish Thakur from Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India on June 22, 2020:

Would love to have one baked by you

Liza (author) from USA on June 22, 2020:

@Umesh, thank you :)

Umesh Chandra Bhatt from Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, India on June 22, 2020:

Very nicely explained. Well done.

Liza (author) from USA on June 20, 2020:

Thank you, Rajan. The homemade bread recipe is simple and easy to follow. Yes, the aroma of the baked bread was amazing! I baked them twice in two weeks because my husband loved it so much!

Rajan Singh Jolly from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar, INDIA. on June 19, 2020:

The bread looks lovely and is simple to make. Nothing like baking your own bread. The wafting aroma is a delight as well. Thanks for sharing this recipe.

Liza (author) from USA on June 16, 2020:

Hi Robie, I had a few difficulties when I attempt to make bread at home too. So please don't give up :) I hope by following my recipe, you will get the best result this time. This white bread recipe is considerably simple and pretty easy to follow. So, I wish you the best of luck!

Robie Benve from Ohio on June 16, 2020:

Oh my, I tried making bread a few times during quarantine, then my family decided it was worth making a trip to the store to get some good one ahahah, that tells you something about my results, lol. I may give it another try following your recipe, you make it sound simple and easy. Thanks

Liza (author) from USA on June 14, 2020:

Thank you for your kind comment, Linda. It was nice to hear how a homemade bread brought back childhood memories. By the way, I love hearing when people sharing their stories. I hope you will try and let me know how it turns out for you. Have a great weekend!

Linda Crampton from British Columbia, Canada on June 13, 2020:

Your loaf of bread looks very attractive. I have to say something similar to Peggy. I've never made bread myself, but my mother used to. Your article has brought back memories of how much I liked it. It was delicious. Thank you for sharing the instructions, Liza. I think I'll be making my first loaf of bread soon!

Liza (author) from USA on June 13, 2020:

Peggy, I agree. Actually, bread is my weakness. However, the best part of making bread at home is we can choose the healthy elements that we want to add such as gluten-free flour, use honey instead of sugar, and there is no preservative added in homemade bread. I'm glad that the picture brought back the happy memories of yours. Thanks for sharing your story, Peggy. I really appreciate it :)

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on June 13, 2020:

My mother always made homemade bread when we were growing up. I have made it also, but not in some time, as we try and limit the amount of bread that we eat. The picture of your loaf of bread brought back happy memories. The scent of homemade bread is heavenly!

Liza (author) from USA on June 13, 2020:

Hi Lisha, thanks for commenting. You have to try this recipe whenever you have time :) I promised you don't have to buy a white bread at the store after trying this recipe.

Lisha C on June 13, 2020:

The bread looks delicious! Your step-by-step images are great. Thanks for the recipe.

Liza (author) from USA on June 13, 2020:

In the US, we had the same issue in early March. However, it's started getting better a few weeks ago, where a lot of food supplies are back in the store shelves. Homemade bread is the best! Thanks for commenting, Liz.

Liz Westwood from UK on June 12, 2020:

So many people have been baking bread during lockdown that flour and yeast have been in short supply in the UK. Your step by step guide is inspirational and very helpful.