There’s something magical about the aroma of fresh bread baking in the oven. It fills the home with warmth and anticipation, making it impossible to resist a slice. This homemade bread recipe is simple, quick, and yields a wonderfully soft, fluffy loaf. With a few basic ingredients, you can create a perfect loaf that pairs wonderfully with butter, cheese, or just as is. Whether you’re new to baking or a seasoned pro, this recipe guarantees success every time. Let’s dive into why this bread recipe works, what you need, and how to make it!
Why This Recipe Works
Baking bread might seem intimidating, but this recipe simplifies the process without compromising on flavor or texture. The combination of warm milk, melted butter, and yeast creates a rich, flavorful dough that’s both soft and light. The milk activates the yeast, helping the dough rise beautifully, while the butter adds a rich, tender crumb. The dough is kneaded and allowed to rise twice, ensuring a light, airy texture once baked.
The two rising stages in this recipe give the bread its signature fluffiness. The first rise allows the yeast to ferment and expand, making the dough airy. The second rise helps the dough to continue growing, allowing it to rise even more once placed in the oven, resulting in a loaf that’s perfectly light and soft.
What You’ll Need For This Recipe
To make this soft and fluffy homemade bread, you’ll need just a handful of ingredients and a bit of patience. Here’s everything you’ll need:
For the Dough:
- 80 grams of melted butter: Adds richness and moisture, helping create a tender loaf.
- 400 milliliters of warm milk: The warmth helps activate the yeast, and the milk gives the bread a slight sweetness and softness.
- 10 grams of dry yeast (about 1 tablespoon): The key ingredient for leavening the bread.
- 10 grams of sugar (about 1 tablespoon): Helps feed the yeast, encouraging it to rise.
- 2 eggs: Adds structure and richness to the dough.
- 850 grams of common wheat flour: This is the main ingredient for the bread, providing the structure and texture.
- 6 grams of salt (about 1 teaspoon): Balances the flavor of the bread and controls yeast activity.
For the Egg Wash:
- 1 egg yolk: Helps to create a golden-brown crust.
- 1 teaspoon of milk: When combined with the egg yolk, it makes for a smooth, shiny finish to the bread.
How To Make This Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Wet Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, warm milk, dry yeast, sugar, and eggs. Stir the ingredients together well until everything is fully combined. The warm milk helps to activate the yeast, while the butter and eggs provide richness and flavor. Make sure the milk isn’t too hot, as that could kill the yeast, which is essential for the dough to rise.
Step 2: Add the Dry Ingredients
Gradually add the wheat flour in two parts. Start with half, mixing it until there are no dry spots left. Then add the remaining flour and the salt, continuing to mix until it forms a shaggy dough. The flour and salt create the structure of the bread, while the salt controls the yeast’s activity to prevent it from over-rising.
Step 3: Knead the Dough
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead it for about 5 to 7 minutes. You want the dough to be smooth, elastic, and slightly tacky to the touch. If it feels too sticky, add a bit more flour, but be careful not to add too much, as that can make the bread dense.
Kneading is a crucial step in developing the gluten network, which gives the bread its chewy and airy texture. After kneading, shape the dough into a ball.
Step 4: First Rise
Place the dough into a lightly greased bowl, cover it with a damp towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour. The dough should double in size. During this rise, the yeast ferments the sugars, producing gases that cause the dough to expand and become light.
Step 5: Punch Down the Dough and Shape
After the first rise, punch down the dough to release the air trapped inside. This helps to prevent large air bubbles from forming in the bread. Divide the dough into two equal portions, stretching each part into a rectangular shape. Then, roll them up tightly into loaf shapes. The rolling process helps to create layers in the bread, ensuring a soft crumb.
Step 6: Second Rise
Grease two loaf pans and place the rolled dough inside. Cover the pans with a towel and allow the dough to rise for an additional 30 minutes, or until it has tripled in size. This second rise gives the bread even more lightness, making it fluffy and tender.
Step 7: Egg Wash and Baking
Preheat your oven to 200°C (392°F). In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolk and milk to create the egg wash. Brush this mixture over the top of the risen dough for a glossy, golden-brown crust.
Place the loaf pans in the preheated oven and bake the bread for 25 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. The high baking temperature creates a crispy crust while keeping the inside soft and fluffy.
Step 8: Cooling and Serving
Once the bread is baked, remove it from the oven and let it cool in the pans for about 10 minutes. Then, transfer the bread to a wire rack to cool completely. It’s important to let the bread cool before slicing, as this allows the texture to set properly.
Tips + Tricks & More For Recipe Success
- Use Warm Milk: The milk needs to be warm but not too hot. If it’s too hot, it can kill the yeast, preventing your dough from rising. Aim for a temperature around 110°F (43°C), or just warm to the touch.
- Kneading Is Key: Be sure to knead the dough long enough to develop the gluten. The dough should be elastic and slightly tacky to the touch. If it sticks to your hands too much, lightly flour your hands, but avoid adding too much flour to the dough.
- Proper Rising Time: The first rise should take about 1 hour, but if you’re in a cooler environment, it may take a bit longer. Make sure the dough has doubled in size. The second rise is quicker, around 30 minutes, and ensures a light loaf.
- Don’t Overwork the Dough: Once the dough has risen, handle it gently. Punching down the dough releases air, but excessive handling can result in dense bread.
- Check for Doneness: To check if the bread is done, tap the bottom of the loaf. If it sounds hollow, it’s ready to come out of the oven. If not, bake for a few more minutes.
- Add Flavor Variations: For added flavor, you can sprinkle some seeds (like sesame or sunflower seeds) on top of the loaf before baking. You can also add herbs or garlic for a savory twist.
How to Serve This Homemade Bread
This homemade bread is incredibly versatile. Here are a few ways to serve it:
- Classic Bread and Butter: Warm up a slice of this freshly baked bread, spread with a generous pat of butter. The bread’s soft, fluffy texture pairs perfectly with the richness of the butter.
- Grilled Cheese Sandwich: Make a delicious grilled cheese by spreading butter on both sides of two slices of bread and grilling with cheese in between. The soft texture of this bread makes for an indulgent sandwich.
- Toast with Jam: Serve slices of the bread toasted with a spread of your favorite jam, honey, or nut butter. It makes for a wonderful breakfast or afternoon snack.
- Soup or Stew Side: This bread is the perfect side to pair with hearty soups and stews. Its soft crumb will soak up the delicious broth.
Serving Suggestions
This homemade bread is great for any occasion. It’s perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or even as a gift for friends and loved ones. For a more festive touch, you can slice it into individual rolls for a dinner party, or serve it as part of a bread basket with a selection of spreads and cheeses.
Time Breakdown
- Preparation Time: 10 minutes
- Rising Time (First Rise): 1 hour
- Shaping and Second Rise: 30 minutes
- Baking Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
Nutritional Information (Approximate Per Slice)
- Calories: 200 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fat: 8g
- Protein: 5g
- Sugar: 2g
This homemade bread recipe is not only delicious but also incredibly satisfying to make. It’s a perfect addition to any meal, whether you’re enjoying a warm slice with butter or serving it alongside a hearty soup. Give this recipe a try, and you’ll soon be baking your own fresh loaves on a regular basis!