Monday, February 1, 2016

Homemade White Bread, Recipe, Wintertime Comfort Food


Homemade White Bread, fresh from the oven

One of the easiest things to make if I know people are coming for a visit is homemade white bread. I haven't met many people yet who don't love a slice of bread fresh from the oven with REAL Wisconsin butter on it. And even though I usually eat gluten free, I cannot resist a crust of that bread, even if only a quarter of an inch thick, with melted butter. There's nothing like it.


And because it's so easy to make, I thought I'd post the recipe. I think I did this quite some time ago, but who wants to look back through the archives.

Homemade White Bread Recipe:

(Baked at 400 degrees for 24 minutes) I use four 4x8 loaf pans. I always make the recipe for four loaves because any more than that won't fit in my KitchenAid mixing bowl and do an adequate job of kneading.

6 T. real Wisconsin butter
4 c. whole milk
6 T. sugar
4 t. salt
4 pkts. dry yeast
10 1/2 c. flour (I use bread flour)

(So easy to memorize: All 6's and 4's, except for the flour)

For now: Preheat oven to 100 degrees. (Later you'll preheat it to 400, for baking)


Set mixing bowl in the oven to get it warm. (Mine is a stainless steel KitchenAid bowl.)

In a large saucepan on the stove, melt the butter. Stir in the quart of whole milk and keep on a low burner, stirring, until the milk is about 98 degrees, slightly warm. Stir in sugar and salt. Bring to temperature and sprinkle yeast on top of the milk mixture.

Remove warm mixing bowl from the oven. Take milk mixture off the stove and pour into the mixing bowl, stirring in about 3 cups of the flour.

Set mixing bowl on the mixer and use the dough hook on the Low setting to mix in the remaining flour, a little at a time, until the dough pulls from the sides of the mixing bowl and makes a nice elastic dough ball. It might take a little less than the total amount called or, or it might take slightly more. You don't want the dough to be tough or dry, but also not so moist that it sticks to your hands.

Knead with the dough hook on low for several minutes.

Turn out the dough ball onto the counter and knead by hand a few more minutes. I'm not sure that this is necessary, but it is nice and somewhat therapeutic to feel that lovely dough in your hands.

Grease a large stainless steel bowl and place the dough ball upside down in the bowl to get it greased, (Crisco shortening works great; butter will make it stick!) then turn it right side up, cover with a thin cloth, and place back in the 100 degree oven until the dough is about double in size. You could, of course, place it in any warm place out of drafts, rather than in the oven).

Punch dough ball to get the air out, then divide it into four equal parts, forming a loaf from each and placing the loaf into a well greased 4 x 8 bread pan. Set those four pans into the 100 degree oven to rise until dough is about 1/4" above the lip of the pan.



Gently remove unbaked loaves from the oven and gently place them on the counter while the oven preheats to 400 degrees.

When the oven is ready, space the loaves evenly in the oven on the middle rack and bake for 24 minutes. As soon as the timer goes off, turn the loaves out onto a baking rack and get out a stick of butter. We're talking REAL butter here, no artificial stuff. I like to butter the crust immediately so that it's tender and glistens.

Wait a little bit before slicing with a good bread knife. Plan on this stuff going fast to all the eager takers - which, in my experience, includes just about everyone.


Littlest grandson (and mom) approved

 
***


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Happy Baking, Everyone!

Judy

41 comments:

Sara - Villa Emilia said...

Warm bread and butter... sounds heavenly. :) Your bread also looks very beautiful.
Thank you for sharing and have a blessed new week!

MadSnapper said...

there is a verse in the Bible that says Man can not live by bread alone, but I can tell you Sandra could live by bread alone. it is my biggest downfall. i could eat one of those loaves in one sitting... they look wonderful..

Carlee said...

There is nothing better than fresh baked bread. This looks perfect!

eileeninmd said...

Good morning, I wish I could smell this bread as it was baking. YUM! It looks delicious. Thanks for sharing. Happy Monday!

Lynne said...

Oh my . . .
YUM!

Arlene G said...

I am a great Biscuit maker but yeast breads are hard for me Judy! Your loaves look absolutely fabulous and if I ever make it up to your neck of the woods, I want a slice!!

Linda Kay said...

Judy, reminds me of my grandmother, who baked bread all the time. Yum!

podso said...

Nothing like a slice of homemade bread. You loaves look perfect. I make mine all by hand, and the kneading is the part I enjoy the most. I say I work my problems out while I work the dough. LOL. But I did get a dough hook for Christmas especially for making bread (still by hand) and I'm anxious to try it. I would have to give some of the loaves away though, sigh, we should not consume all of them! :-)

Sunny Simple Life said...

Those loaves look perfect. I have to pin this for later. My family loves homemade bread.

Anonymous said...

it looks beautiful and I agree, nothi8ng better than homemade bread, I love your detailed photos,

Estelle's said...

What gorgeous and yummy looking bread! Beautiful!!!! I'll bet your house smelled divine....and with all that butter...oh my goodness!!!

Cheryl said...

If you can stop at a small slice of crust, then you are in the Major League as far as discipline is concerned. (Me? Minor League at best. Maybe even a backyard player...)

Yum!! If I had whole milk in the house, I'd get started right now. Thank you for sharing your recipe.

Preppy Empty Nester said...

Wish I could have a piece of that delicious bread right now. Enjoy your week.

Tired Teacher said...

It's hard to beat the smell and taste of freshly baked bread!

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

I don't think there is much that comes close to homemade bread with butter! I make bread all the time as I have a growing grandson that consumes much of it. Your recipe is one I should try. I just wish I had some homemade Wisconsin butter! ♥

Joanne Noragon said...

Wonderful bread! I used to make all the bread for my family, my mother and my brother. He had three bottomless boys. We knew it was to die for. I didn't meet up with Wisconsin butter until fifteen years ago. If I had only known, I would have upped sticks to Wisconsin.

Unknown said...

Wow I would love to make that. No reason for me not to but being diabetic I don't eat much bread. I know this would be delicious. I can smell it through the computer.LOL
Thanks for your visit.

Terri D said...

Oh my, how I love fresh baked bread and that wonderful smell of yeast and homemade goodness!

TexWisGirl said...

yum! my mom made homemade bread. love...

Nancy's Notes said...

OH my, you've inspired me to bake bread! It looks scrumptious! I'm in trouble!

Deb said...

If I'm ever sent off to an island and can only bring one thing to eat it may have to be that bread.

Jenn Jilks said...

Yummy! My hubby cannot have yeast, eggs or dairy. I make bread for me in the machine!
(ツ) from Cottage Country Ontario , ON, Canada!

Stephanie said...

You are right, there aren't many who will say no to a piece of homemade bread :) Yours looks divine, my friend. It's been ages since I've made homemade....I think I need to change that SOON :) Hugs!

Brenda @ Its A Beautiful Life said...

Now doesn't that look simply scrumptious! Homemade bread, the crust, and lovely butter melted into the slice. Oh yes, I'll be right over!

I've been hankering to make some homemade bread, so thanks for sharing your recipe.
It'll be a real treat.

Wishing you a beautiful February...
Brenda
xox

Dicky Bird said...

oh yum! That is true - a "heel" of bread with 1/4" Wisconsin butter - nothing beats it!

Christine @ Rustic-Refined said...

Do you send those out federal express? Cuz no I need some fresh bread....Boy does that look wonderful!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

MMMMmmmm..there is hardly anythig better than homemade bread right out of the oven! Your loafs look beautiful!

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

Your kitchen must have smelled divine! There really is nothing better than homemade bread!

Amy at love made my home said...

I am sure that your homemade bread must make a wonderful welcome to your home! xx

Tomoko said...

Wow, your bread looks delicious! Nice smell is coming to me away from your kitchen! I love homemade bread! Such a pretty grandson!

Hootin Anni said...

I couldn't be MORE SERIOUS here....when I say you have me drooling!!!!
There is nothing in this world compared to warm, fresh, right out of the oven....bread!!! Oh....I feel like 'oinking' here!! YUM!!!!!

Vee said...

What a lovely lot of bread that recipe yields! You are so right...nothing finer than delicious homemade bread and a really nice butter. We like Cabot butter from Vermont. I'm sure that Wisconsin butter is delicious; I'll take your word for it!

Marilyn @ MountainTopSpice said...

Oh my! Nothing is better than homemade bread! My mother made her homemade bread (12 loaves at a time!) with milk too. I need to see if your recipes are similar! Yours look divine, and I certainly agree that indulging with real butter is a necessity, bread and butter go hand in hand! So happy to have met you today :)

Debby@Just Breathe said...

Yum, thanks for the recipe. It looks so good!

carrie@northwoods scrapbook said...

This sounds absolutely heavenly Judy!! Thanks for sharing dear Gal. I love that it's so easy for me to find good WI butter (wink wink). Lol

Blessings and can't wait to try this one!! xoxo

Deborah Montgomery said...

My mother made homemade white bread every Saturday, and growing up I loved it toasted during the week with butter and cinnamon sugar. Except it was margarine back then, when everyone thought that was better for you. I rarely make bread now; it's just too tempting. But a thick slice of it with real butter -- yum!

Unknown said...

This sounds SO delicious! I've pinned it! :)

Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!

Denise said...

yummy recipe

Anonymous said...

What a delicious post! I think I will bake this weekend!

Anonymous said...

Nothing compares to the aroma of freshly-baked bread!

lorraines resources and rewards said...

love the smell of bread in the morning will definitely try your recipe thanks for sharing visiting from freedom fridays have a great weekend

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