Description
Once you try this soft, buttery homemade bread, you’ll never buy a store-bought loaf again. With a rich, tender crumb and golden crust, this recipe transforms simple ingredients into bakery-quality bread right in your kitchen. Perfect for toast, sandwiches, or served warm with a pat of butter, this is the kind of bread you’ll want to bake on repeat.
Ingredients
Scale
- 400 ml warm water
- 200 ml warm milk
- 30 ml vegetable oil
- 8 g dried yeast
- 10 g sugar
- 850 g all-purpose or bread flour
- 150 g soft butter
- 1.5 teaspoons salt
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine warm water, warm milk, sugar, and dried yeast. Stir and let sit for 10–15 minutes until foamy.
- Add vegetable oil, salt, and half the flour. Stir until a rough dough forms.
- Gradually add the rest of the flour while kneading until the dough becomes soft and only slightly sticky.
- Slowly incorporate the soft butter in portions, kneading until fully absorbed and the dough becomes smooth and elastic (about 8–10 minutes).
- Cover the dough with a cloth and let it rise in a warm spot for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Punch down the dough and shape into loaves or rolls as desired. Place into greased loaf pans or on a baking sheet.
- Cover again and let rise for 30–40 minutes until puffy.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake for 25–30 minutes or until the tops are golden and the loaves sound hollow when tapped.
- Let cool completely on a wire rack before slicing. Optionally, brush the tops with melted butter for a soft, glossy finish.
Notes
- For a slightly richer flavor, use whole milk instead of low-fat or skim.
- Bread can be made into rolls, braided loaves, or baked in a Dutch oven for variation.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months.
- For added flavor, fold in herbs, cheese, or garlic during the final knead.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- 1 hour 30 minutes:
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: International