Basic Easy White Bread Loaf

Have you ever wanted a piece of bread smothered in Nutella?

Have you ever wanted a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?

Have you ever wanted a piece of toast slathered in butter, sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar?

Have you ever needed a piece of bread to enjoy your afternoon snack to then discover you have not bread?

Well, don't feel lost. Don't give up. I am here to help you. I am here to hold your hand (figuratively) and guide you through this basic white bread making process, so you can enjoy your bread anyway your heart desires.

Bakes: 1 loaf

Takes About: 2-3 hours

Difficulty: 2 out of 5 (Just because it uses yeast and yeast is always a challenge)

Prep:

Nothing to prep at the moment, but make sure you read through the instructions to know when you'll have to turn on the oven. Hint: IT is step 6 and right before you put the bread in the oven.

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons active dried yeast

a small pinch of granulated sugar

6 tablespoons water - about 100 degrees F (38 degrees C)

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1/2 tablespoon salt

1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter (21 grams) - room temperature

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour + 1/2 cup for dusting

1 1/3 cup water - about 100 degrees F (38 degrees C)

2-3 tablespoons oil for the bowl and bread pan

2 tablespoons unsalted butter - melted

Instructions:

- Step 1 - Activate the Yeast

In a small bowl, using a small whisk or small fork, mix together the 2 teaspoons of yeast, the small pinch of granulated sugar, and the 6 tablespoons of water and set aside for about 5 minutes.

After the 5 minutes, the yeast will have started to puff up and bubble.

- Step 2 - Prep the Dough

In a large bowl, add 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar, 1/2 tablespoon of salt, 1 1/2 tablespoons of unsalted butter, 3 1/2 cups of all purpose flour, the 1 1/3 cup of water, and the yeast once it is ready.

Using a spatula, mix everything together until you start creating yourself a shaggy dough.

- Step 3 - Knead the Dough

Drop the dough onto a floured counter and knead until it comes together (about 4 minutes). If it feels extremely sticky add some of the reserved flour until it is only just slightly tacky.

The dough will not be super smooth, that is alright.

- Step 4 - Rise

Once the dough has been kneaded long enough, lightly oil a large bowl and place the dough in the middle. Lightly oil the top of the dough as well, cover with plastic wrap, and place in an area with no draft and at least room temperature for 1 hour or until the dough has almost doubled in size.

- Step 5 - Prep for Second Rise

Once the dough has risen, (set your plastic wrap aside not crumpled into a ball), and scoop the dough out onto a lightly floured counter.

Using your hands, press the dough out into a rectangle that is about the length of your bread pan.

Starting from the bottom, roll the dough up into a log and then fold the ends underneath.

Flip the dough onto its back, so that the seam is facing up and then pinch the seams closed.

Grease your bread pan well, all the way to the top, and then place the dough, seam side down, into the loaf pan.

Cover the dough with the cling wrap and set the dough aside for about 30 minutes or until fluffy.

- Step 6 - Prep To Bake

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees F) and place your baking sheet on the bottom rack.

As the oven is preheating, melt your 2 tablespoons of butter, if you have not yet done this, and using a brush, brush the top of your loaf until it is completely covered in butter. Your goal is not to use all the butter, but to just make sure the top is well covered.

- Step 7 - Bake

Once the dough has been prepped and the oven is preheated, pop the bread in the oven for a total of about 25 - 35 minutes, but half way through the bake, you'll turn the bread 180 degrees, to make sure the bread gets an even bake.

After the bread has baked, take it out of the oven, using the excess melted butter, brush it over the top of the baked bread and then set the bread aside until it is cooled completely.

Once the bread cools, enjoy every piece of this lovely white loaf with peanut butter, or jam, Nutella, or butter, or anything else your heart desires.

Even do what we did and make some Spicy Nashville Chicken with sauce and use the bread to catch all the delicious bits.

If you are interested in the Nashville Fried Chicken recipe that we made above, we used Joshua Weissman's Recreating Nashville Hot Chicken recipe, which you can find on YouTube.