Basic White Bread...

Morning lovelies! I've gotten a few requests for new bread recipes, specifically ones that do not require a bread maker. Last week I decided to try my hand at an old recipe. I hadn't made it in over a year. It is the basic white bread recipe that is printed in my KitchenAid manual, with a few changes. Since I've been trying to embrace my focus word for this year, I've had more time at home, which means more time for making homemade things. My family was very excited when they saw me making the dough. They knew some homemade goodness was on the horizon. 

This recipe was super easy to whip up. I was actually surprised that within 15 minutes I had my dough made and ready to rise in a greased bowl. I let it rise in that bowl for a few hours and then I put my loaves into loaf pans and let them rise again. Around dinner time they were ready for baking. Fresh baked bread is one of my favorite treats and I am thankful that this little peanut, who's been giving me a whole lot of morning sickness, got the memo and allowed me to have some yummy bread without a case of the queasies afterwards. It was a welcomed treat :)

Basic White Bread

1/2 cup milk (I used almond milk)

3 tbl sugar

2 tsp salt

3 tbl butter

2 packages of active dry yeast

1 1/2 cups warm water

5 to 6 cups flour

Place milk, sugar, salt, and butter in a sauce pan. Heat over low heat until butter melts and sugar dissolves. Cool to lukewarm.

Dissolve yeast in warm water in mixing bowl. Add lukewarm milk mixture and 4 1/2 cups of flour. Using your dough hook, mix for about 1 minute. Continue mixing, adding 1/2 cup flour at a time. Mix until dough clings to hook and cleans the sides of bowl. Knead for an additional 2 minutes. Dough will be slightly sticky to the touch. 

Place dough in a greased bowl. Cover with clear wrap. Let rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours or until doubled in size.

Punch dough down and divide in half. Shape each half into a loaf and place in a greased loaf pan. Cover with clear wrap. Allow to double in size. Once doubled, remove clear wrap and bake.

Bake at 350' for 30 minutes. Remover from oven and rub with cold butter. Remove from loaf pans and allow to cool on a cooling rack.

Enjoy friends!

XO Danielle