Ingredients
– 1 cup lukewarm water (216 grams)
– 1 package active dry yeast (7 grams)
– 3 tablespoons sugar (50 grams)
– 1 large egg
– 2 tablespoons flavorless oil (20 grams)
– 3 1/2 cups bread flour (470 grams)
– 1 teaspoon fine sea salt (6 grams)
– Additional flour for dusting (a couple tablespoons, plus up to 1/3 cup total during kneading)
– Oil for greasing bowl
– Butter for brushing crust (optional, after baking)
Instructions
1-Let’s dive into making this Amish White Bread, where the real magic happens in the kitchen. Start by activating the yeast in a large bowl with lukewarm water at about 110°F; stir gently and let it sit for 5-15 minutes until you see foam, which means your yeast is ready to go. Once that’s bubbly, add the sugar, oil, and egg, breaking up the egg with a fork to mix everything smoothly.
2-Next, stir in the bread flour and salt to form a shaggy dough, then use your hands to shape it into a ball this part is fun and gets you right into the action. For the first rise, drizzle a little oil over the dough, pat it evenly, and cover the bowl with a damp towel or greased plastic wrap; let it rise in a warm spot until it’s doubled in size, about an hour.
3-After rising, sprinkle your counter with a couple tablespoons of flour and transfer the dough using closed fingers to keep it from sticking. Knead for 10-15 minutes, adding no more than 1/3 cup extra flour total, until it’s stretchy and passes the windowpane test that’s when you can stretch it thin without it tearing. Let the dough rest for 5 minutes, then shape it into a rectangle about as wide as your loaf pan, roll it up tightly, and pinch the seam closed.
4-Place the loaf seam-side down in a greased loaf pan lined with parchment paper and let it rise uncovered until the dough crowns about 1 to 1.5 inches above the rim, which takes 45 minutes to an hour. About 15-20 minutes before baking, preheat your oven to 400°F. Bake on the center rack for 25-30 minutes; if the crust browns too fast in the last 10 minutes, loosely tent it with foil. Once it’s done, check that the internal temperature hits 190°F, then let it cool in the pan for 5 minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack.
5-Brush the top with butter if you want a softer crust, and let it cool completely before slicing. This process, with prep time of 20 minutes, rise time of about 2 hours, bake time of 30 minutes, and total time around 2 hours and 50 minutes, makes for a rewarding baking session. For more ideas on using fresh bread, check out healthy breakfast bakes that pair perfectly with it.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Notes
🌡 Use water around 110°F for yeast activation and keep ingredients at room temperature to ensure proper rising.
🤲 Handle dough gently with closed fingers during transfer and kneading to minimize stickiness.
❌ Avoid adding too much flour while kneading (max 1/3 cup) to prevent heavy or crumbly bread.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Rise time: Approximately 2 hours (First rise ~1 hour + Second rise ~45-60 minutes)
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 331
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 295mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 59g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 9g
