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Freshly baked homemade white sandwich bread loaf with a golden crust and one thick slice cut to reveal its soft, fluffy interior.

Soft White Bread Recipe

A soft and fluffy homemade white bread made with all-purpose flour, yeast, butter, and honey, baked until golden and brushed with melted butter for a tender crust.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Rising Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 16 slices
Course: bread
Cuisine: American
Calories: 155
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Video

Ingredients
  

  • 1⅔ cups lukewarm water divided (395 ml)
  • 2¼ teaspoons instant yeast or active dry yeast 7 g
  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar 4 g
  • 1 tablespoon honey 21 g, or additional sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt 6 g
  • 1½ tablespoons unsalted butter softened and cubed (21 g)
  • 4½ cups all-purpose flour divided (about 540 g)
  • 1½ tablespoons butter melted, for brushing (21 g)

Equipment

  • Large mixing bowl
  • Stand mixer with dough hook (optional)
  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Kitchen scale (optional)
  • Rubber spatula
  • Large loaf pan or two 8×4-inch loaf pans
  • Clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap
  • Pastry brush
  • Wire cooling rack

Method
 

  1. Add half of the lukewarm water, sugar, and yeast to a large mixing bowl. Stir and let stand for about 5–10 minutes, until foamy.
  2. Add the remaining water, honey, salt, softened butter, and about 4 cups of the flour.
  3. Mix until a soft dough forms.
  4. Knead with a dough hook for approximately 6–9 minutes, adding small amounts of the remaining flour only as necessary. The finished dough should be smooth, elastic, and soft.
  5. Transfer the dough to a lightly greased bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm place for approximately 45 minutes, or until doubled.
  6. Gently deflate the dough.
  7. For one large loaf, shape the full batch into a tight log and place seam-side down in a greased large loaf pan. For two standard loaves, divide the dough in half and shape each portion separately.
  8. Cover and let rise again for approximately 45 minutes, until visibly doubled and puffy.
  9. Preheat the oven to 390°F (200°C).
  10. Bake one large loaf for approximately 30–35 minutes, or two smaller loaves for 25–30 minutes, until deeply golden.
  11. Remove the bread from the pan and transfer to a wire rack.
  12. Brush the top and sides immediately with melted butter.
  13. Let cool completely before slicing.

Nutrition

Calories: 155kcalCarbohydrates: 28gProtein: 4gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1.5gSodium: 160mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1.5g

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