Description
This Super Soft Bread Recipe yields a delightfully fluffy and tender homemade bread perfect for sandwiches or as a side. Using simple ingredients like all-purpose flour, yeast, and warm milk, this bread combines a subtle sweetness and a soft crumb, making it ideal for everyday baking at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour (plus more as needed)
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F)
- ¼ cup warm water
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 large egg
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a small bowl, combine the warm water, yeast, and 1 tablespoon of sugar. Stir gently and let sit for 5–10 minutes until the mixture becomes foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl or stand mixer, add the warm milk, melted butter, remaining sugar, egg, and salt. Stir to combine these liquids thoroughly.
- Combine Dough: Stir in the activated yeast mixture into the wet ingredients. Gradually add flour one cup at a time while mixing until a soft, slightly sticky dough forms.
- Knead Dough: Knead the dough for 8–10 minutes by hand on a floured surface or using a dough hook attachment until it is smooth and elastic.
- First Rise: Place the dough into a greased bowl, cover with a clean towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 to 1½ hours until doubled in size.
- Shape Dough: Punch down the dough gently to release air. Shape it into a loaf or divide into rolls and place in a greased loaf pan or on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Second Rise: Cover the shaped dough and let it rise again for 30–45 minutes until it becomes puffy.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the bread for 25–30 minutes until golden brown and it sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
- Finish and Cool: Remove the bread from the oven and brush the top with melted butter to enhance softness. Allow it to cool slightly before slicing for the best texture.
Notes
- For extra richness, substitute whole milk and add a splash of cream to the dough.
- This dough is versatile and works well for soft dinner rolls or cinnamon rolls.
- Store the baked bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days to maintain freshness.
