Soft White Bread Loaf Recipe

Soft White Bread Loaf Recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 1 cup (240 ml) warm milk (about 110°F or 43°C)
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups (360 g) all-purpose flour (approximately)

Instructions:

1. Activate the yeast: In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the sugar in the warm milk. Sprinkle the yeast over the milk and let it sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy.
2. Mix the ingredients: Add the melted butter, salt, and half of the flour to the yeast mixture. Stir until smooth. Gradually add the remaining flour, mixing until a soft dough forms.
3. Knead the dough: Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. Add more flour if the dough is too sticky.
4. First rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 hour.
5. Shape the loaves: Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into three equal parts. Shape each part into a smooth ball, then roll out slightly to fit into your loaf pan.
6. Second rise: Place the shaped dough into a greased loaf pan. Cover and let rise for another 30-40 minutes, or until the dough has risen about 1 inch above the rim of the pan.
7. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) during the second rise.
8. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped.
9. Cool: Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Then, turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.