Soft and Airy White Bread Recipe for Everyday Baking
A cloud-soft, fluffy loaf of everyday bread made with just a few simple ingredients. Perfect for sandwiches, toast, or enjoying warm from the oven.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes (includes rise time)
- Yield: 1 loaf (10–12 slices) 1x
Ingredients
3 cups bread flour
1 cup warm whole milk
2 tbsp sugar
2 1/4 tsp instant yeast
1 tsp salt
2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened (optional)
Instructions
-
Warm the milk to 100–110°F.
-
In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, and yeast.
-
Add warm milk and mix into a shaggy dough.
-
Knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth. Add softened butter if using.
-
Cover and let rise 1–1.5 hours until doubled.
-
Punch down, shape into loaf, and place in greased 9×5 pan.
-
Let rise again 30–45 minutes until puffy.
-
Preheat oven to 350°F. Optional: brush top with egg wash.
-
Bake 28–32 minutes until golden and sounds hollow.
-
Cool before slicing.
Notes
Substitute all-purpose flour if needed. Use oat or soy milk for dairy-free. For soft crust, brush with melted butter after baking.