Recipe
Easy Homemade American Bread Loaf
This Homemade White Bread is soft, fluffy, and made with simple ingredients for a classic bakery-style loaf right from your own oven. With a tender crumb and golden crust, it’s perfect for sandwiches, toast, or enjoying warm with butter.
Scale
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- 1/2 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- Oil for greasing the bowl
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix the warm water, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 10 minutes until foamy.
- Add the flour and salt. Mix for about 1 minute, just until combined.
- Add the vegetable oil and continue mixing for 5–7 minutes until a smooth dough forms.
- Lightly oil the bowl and the dough, cover, and let it rise for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
- Once risen, remove the dough and spread it into a large rectangle. Roll it up tightly, then flatten again into a rectangle and roll it up once more. This helps create a nice crumb.
- Place the dough seam-side down into a 9x5 loaf pan. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let it rise for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until doubled in size.
- Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Place the loaf in the oven. Immediately toss a couple of ice cubes into the oven and close the door quickly. This creates steam for a better crust.
- Bake for 30–35 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool completely before slicing.
Connie’s notes
Use warm liquid, not hot. The liquid should feel comfortably warm to the touch so you don't kill the yeast.
Give the yeast time to activate. Wait until it becomes foamy before continuing.
Don't add too much flour. A slightly soft dough will give you a much softer loaf. Adding too much flour can make the bread dense and dry.
Knead the dough well. You want it smooth, elastic, and soft. This helps develop the gluten and gives the loaf its beautiful texture.
Let it rise until doubled. Don't rely only on the clock — the dough's size is the best indicator.
Shape the loaf tightly. Roll the dough firmly into a log and tuck the ends underneath before placing it in the loaf pan.
Brush the top with butter after baking. This gives the crust a beautiful shine and keeps it soft.
Let it cool before slicing. Allowing the loaf to cool helps the crumb set and gives you cleaner slices.
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