Soft, fluffy, and golden-brown homemade bread with a slightly crisp crust. Perfect for breakfast, sandwiches, toast, or snacks. Easy to make with simple ingredients, this bread is healthy, preservative-free, and loved by kids and adults alike.
Ingredients
- All-purpose flour / bread flour – 3 cups (360 g)
- Active dry yeast – 2 tsp (7 g)
- Sugar – 2 tbsp (25 g)
- Salt – 1 tsp (5 g)
- Warm milk – 1 cup (240 ml)
- Unsalted butter – 2 tbsp (30 g), melted
- Egg – 1 (optional, for richer bread)
- Water – 2–3 tbsp (if needed, to adjust dough consistency)
Preparation Steps
- Activate yeast:
- Mix warm milk and sugar, sprinkle yeast, and let it sit 10 minutes until frothy.
- Make the dough:
- Combine flour and salt. Add melted butter, egg, and yeast mixture. Mix into a soft dough. Add water if needed.
- Knead the dough:
- Knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- First rise:
- Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise 1–2 hours until doubled.
- Shape the loaf:
- Punch down dough, shape into a loaf, and place in a greased pan or tray.
- Second rise:
- Cover and let rise 30–45 minutes.
- Bake:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Brush top with milk or butter. Bake 25–30 minutes until golden and hollow-sounding.
- Cool and serve:
- Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack before slicing.
Health Benefits
- Provides good carbohydrates for energy.
- Contains proteins from milk and eggs.
- Homemade bread avoids preservatives and additives.
Variations
- Whole Wheat Bread: Replace half/all flour with whole wheat flour.
- Garlic Herb Bread: Add 1 tsp garlic powder and 1 tsp dried herbs.
- Milk-Free Bread: Use water instead of milk and oil instead of butter.