How to Make the Best White Bread from Scratch Recipe
This recipe shows you how to make the best soft and fluffy homemade white bread from scratch using simple ingredients. The bread is perfect for sandwiches and toast, with a golden brown crust and a tender crumb. You’ll learn how to activate yeast, knead dough, let it rise twice, shape the loaves, and bake them to perfection in your oven. This beginner-friendly recipe yields two standard loaves full of fresh, preservative-free flavor.
- Prep Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 55 minutes
- Yield: 2 standard loaves 1x
- Category: Baked Goods
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 2 cups warm water
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 3 tbsp softened butter
Dry Ingredients
- 5 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp dry yeast (ensure fresh)
- 2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Activate the yeast: In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups warm water and 1/4 cup sugar. Stir until sugar dissolves. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of dry yeast over the surface and let sit for 5–10 minutes until bubbly and frothy, signaling active yeast.
- Mix the dough: In a separate bowl, combine 5 cups flour, 2 tsp salt, and 3 tbsp softened butter. Use your fingertips to rub the butter into the flour until crumbly. Then add the yeast mixture and stir until dough begins to form.
- Knead the dough: Knead the dough in the bowl by hand for 8–10 minutes until sticky but smooth. Avoid adding extra flour. Or use a stand mixer with dough hook on medium speed for 5–7 minutes.
- First rise: Cover the bowl with a clean towel or plastic wrap. Let the dough rise in a warm, dark place for 1–2 hours until doubled in size (about 35 minutes if using rapid rise yeast).
- Shape the loaves: Punch down the dough to release air bubbles and divide into two equal portions on a floured surface. Shape each portion into a loaf and place into well-greased loaf pans.
- Second rise: Let the loaves rise again for 30–45 minutes until dough rises about 1 inch above pan edges.
- Bake the bread: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the loaves for 25 minutes until golden brown on top.
- Cool and enjoy: Remove the loaves from pans and cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving. This ensures the best texture.
Notes
- Use fresh yeast for reliable rising. Expired yeast will fail to activate.
- Water temperature should be warm (not hot) to avoid killing yeast.
- Do not add extra flour while kneading to keep bread soft and fluffy.
- For rising, a slightly warm turned-off oven works well to maintain warmth.
- Store bread in airtight container at room temperature up to 4 days or freeze wrapped tightly for up to 3 months.
- Try variations by substituting half the flour with whole wheat, adding herbs, cinnamon swirl, or garlic for flavor twists.
Keywords: homemade white bread, scratch bread recipe, soft white bread, easy bread recipe, fluffy bread, bread for sandwiches, yeast bread
