Amish Bread is so simple to make
When it comes to simple, classic soft and tender bread, this is Amish white bread is my favorite, go-to recipe. I have been using this easy homemade sandwich bread recipe for years with only slight modifications to the original version that was probably shared with me by a college roommate or someone. I wish I could remember who! But this is the recipe that really taught me how to make bread. It’s so simple and forgiving and easy to work with and you will get two perfectly beautiful, rounded loaves that have a golden brown crust and a soft, white interior. It’s perfect for grilled cheese, PB&J, ham & cheese, you name it. You are absolutely going to love it. If you are anything like me and enjoy making homemade bread, be sure to try my Sweet Molasses Brown Bread, Homemade French Bread, and Easy Rosemary Focaccia Bread next!
Why this White Bread Recipe works
As far as yeast breads go, this Amish white bread recipe is straight forward and fairly quickto make. Sure there is rising, but the actual active work time where you mixing and kneading the bread and then shaping it into loaves is more like 15 minutes. It’s great for beginners. You get two perfect loaves. Which can mean one for sharing with a neighbor, or one to devour immediately while it’s hot and the next to enjoy for sandwiches and toast the next day. What is better on a cold day than a bowl of soup and a slice of homemade bread? Nothing, that’s what. Okay, maybe chocolate chip cookies, but nothing else.
Amish White Bread ingredients
Honey: One of the changes I made to the original version of this recipe was to decrease the sugar and replace some of it with two tablespoons of honey. It gives the bread a subtle sweetness and just a hint of honey flavor. Yeast: This recipe calls for active dry yeast, which requires proofing in warm water with a little sugar to “proof” it. If the yeast doesn’t get foamy within 5-10 minutes, chances are either that your water was too warm and you killed it, or the yeast is old and you should get new yeast. You could also just use instant yeast and skip the proofing step, if you prefer. Flour: Don’t be intimidated by this recipe calling for bread flour! I have made this Amish white bread dozens of times with all-purpose flour and it turns out excellent. Bread flour just gives a slightly chewier quality to the texture of the bread and is my preference when I have it on hand. Warm water: The key here is that the water should be warm, but not scalding hot. Technically it should be around 110°F but I never actually measure it. I always just get it from the tap where it feels pleasantly warm running over my hand.
How to make White Bread
How to serve Amish White Bread
Sandwiches – This is one of my favorite bread sandwiches! Fill it with your favorite meats and cheeses or butter and grill it with cheese in the middle for the best grilled cheese of your life! Toast – There is nothing better than homemade bread when it is toasted and buttered. Bonus points for serving it with your favorite homemade jam! Mine’s peach freezer jam. Simple bread & butter – The best dinner side ever. Bread & milk – Maybe this is just my family, but my grandpa used to tear up slices of homemade bread in a bowl, sprinkle it with a little sugar, and pour milk over it. It was never my cup of tea, but he loved it and I remember him eating that every night whenever there was homemade bread around!
Amish White Bread Recipe storage
Wrap your warm loaves in a clean tea towel or dish cloth until they have cooled completely to keep them soft, then store in an airtight container for 4-5 days.
Freezing
You can certainly freeze a loaf to half on hand. Just let it cool completely, then wrap in a couple of layers of plastic wrap and stick the bread in a gallon-size Ziploc freezer bag for 2-3 months. Thaw before using.
White Bread Recipe tips
Soft, buttery tops: Rubbing the top of each loaf with a cold stick of butter right when they come out of the oven makes it so, so good and keeps the crust nice and tender. Rise in a warm spot: I like to let my bread dough rise in a sunny window or on the counter by the stove where it’s warm. But I have heard of using your instant pot on the yogurt setting to rise the bread in half the time. And if your house is really cold, you could set an empty oven to 200°F for 10 minutes, then turn it off and set your bread in there to rise. Just don’t forget it’s in there and start preheating the oven for something else.
More Homemade Bread Recipes You’ll Love
Sweet Molasses Brown Bread Homemade French Bread Easy Homemade Rye Bread Homemade Potato Bread Recipe
This post was originally published in November, 2016. The photos and content were updated in January, 2022. Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.
