Fluffy Homemade White Bread Recipe

Best fluffy homemade white bread recipe you’ll want to make over and over again! Easy sandwich bread you can make even if you’ve never baked bread before.

How to Make Homemade Bread

Ok so you may be new to this, I was too a while back so we are going to go step by step to walk you thru this whole process. Then you can have success and want to do it over and over again. When baking bread at home you’ll need a few things ready and at your fingertips.

Equipment needed

• A stand mixer with a dough hook
• Active dry yeast
  • or instant yeast
• 9×5 inch loaf pans
• A lightly floured surface

Ingredients

• Bread flour, NOT all purpose flour as used with our easy dinner rolls recipe
• Evaporated milk
• Sugar and butter
• Butter flavored Crisco

Yes you’re right, this bread recipe with bread flour does not use all purpose. That helps make it uber fluffy! You’ll want some Huckleberry jam when it’s done too.

Why is homemade bread so good?

Well anything you make yourself typically surpasses the flavor of anything you would buy in the store. Let’s be honest about that! When you make your own homemade bread, you also know EXACTLY what ingredients are in it.

You can choose to make a healthy bread by using 100 percent whole wheat flour that has more fiber and nutrients than refined white flour types. If you’re not so sure right now, try it!! I bet you’ll become a believer after your first slice!

Fluffy Homemade White Bread Recipe

• First, let’s gather all the ingredients and supplies you’ll need on the table
• In a small but tall container combine 1/2 Tbs sugar and yeast
• Pour 2 cups of warm water (a little hotter than baby bath water) over your dry yeast mixture
• Stir slightly and place in sunlight for 15 minutes. Bubbles will start to form, and mixture will rise. The more bubbles appear the better
• In a mixer with a bread hook attacked, combine the rest of the sugar, melted butter, evaporated milk, and salt.
• Place 7 cups of BREAD flour in a separate bowl.
• Start by adding 3 cups of flour to the wet ingredients, mix on low.
• Gradually add ½ cups of flour at a time until the mixture pulls away from the sides of the mixing bowl. 
• It will start to wrap itself around the hook at this time. Appearance will be smooth and elastic.
  • Hint– Use a little Crisco on your fingers to remove the dough from the bread hook.

What is the best way to proof homemade bread dough?

• Using your hands, grease the inside of a large bowl.
• With the remaining grease on your fingers to lightly grease the dough ball before placing it into the grease bowl.
• Cover the dough with a clean towel and place in a warm sunny environment to rise for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Do not disturb it during this time.
  • Tip– If you place the bowl on a heated electric blanket on low it will help the dough rise even better! The dough should at least double in size.
  • You can even proof dough in an Instant Pot too.

Is it necessary to punch down bread dough?

Yes! Punching down is a technique in bread baking that is essential to almost every style you bake.  When you punch down dough, it deflates it and releases the air so that you can knead it and form it into loaves. It is very easy, there is a very good reason why it is required, and it takes less than a minute to do.

Let your kiddos get involved in this process, they’ll love it! If you love doing new holiday activities with each other each year, this might be it! Kids love being able to say “I made that”. It also encourages them to try new foods (if they make it themselves, they’ll likely eat it). Give it a whirl this year with your kids.

• After the first rise, remove the towel and punch the dough in the middle causing it to deflate.
• Flour your workspace to prevent the dough from sticking and start kneading the dough for 2-3 minutes.
• A countertop or cutting board can be used for this. 

How to roll out a loaf of dough

• Using a knife cut the dough into two equal parts.
• Flour a rolling pin and roll out the dough ball into a large rectangle.
• Pushing the dough in all directions with the rolling pin to remove any air bubbles.
  • Tip – you will be able to see and hear the bubbles pop.
  • Sounds like little birds chirping!
• With your hands start to roll up the large rectangle until a dough log is created. 
• Tuck under each end of the dough and pinch dough together to seal the layers. Seen below.
• Grease with Crisco 2 loaf pans (glass is best) and place a dough log into the middle of each.
• Cover with a clean towel and place the loaf pans into a sunny warm environment for at least an hour
  • During this time the dough needs to rise above the sides and spread out to fill the loaf pans. Do not let dough rise for more than 90 minutes.

Can you let bread rise too long?

You can. If you let the bread dough rise for too long the taste and texture of your loves will likely suffer. This is because the dough is fermenting during both rises. If the process goes on for too long, the finished loaf of bread may have a sour, unpleasant taste. 

• You can see what they should look like at this time below for your reference.
• Now it is time to bake bread at home!

How long to bake homemade white bread at 375

Once the dough has risen in the loaf pans place them onto the middle rack of a preheat oven set to 375 degrees for 34 minutes. The tops will turn golden in color. Remove and turn the loaves out onto a cooling rack. Butter the tops slightly while hot.

How long does it take for homemade bread to cool?

Slice when cooled. Cooling may take a total of 45 minutes but it will slice more cleanly when they’re no longer hot. Place in bread bags to prevent loaves from drying out. Enjoy!

Why is my homemade bread so heavy?

If your loaves are baked and they seem abnormally dense or heavy it may be the results of not kneading the dough mix enough.

What happens if you over knead bread dough?

If you think you have kneaded your dough, then try letting it rise a little longer before you shape it. You can’t really undo over worked gluten, but if you allow it to rise longer, you can get the dough to relax a little.

Other bread recipes you’ll love

Or try one of our other homemade bread recipes with yeast you’ll love. Loaves made with over kneaded dough usually ends up with a harder crust and a dry interior you won’t love.

After this try making honey wheat bread in a bag or our easy Easter egg bread using ready made frozen dough with yeast. Your kids will love these! If you have any leftovers do not slice them. Instead save and cut them right when you’re ready to make air fryer croutons. Slices should be thick for this and day old is best anyway.