I go through bread baking phases. Sometimes I'm awesome at it. Sometimes I suck at it. Seeing that I can't even remember the last time I made a good loaf of bread, I guess I'm currently in the second phase. That's why I'm posting this never-fail white bread recipe today - it's really more for me than it is for you.
This recipe is super-simple (something which I definitely need right now) and is never-fail (something else which I could certainly do with...)! I don't usually make 100% white flour bread, but when I set upon this recipe, I thought I would make an exception. I usually prefer the complex flavour and rough texture that whole wheat flour gives to bread - except when it comes to baguettes, fresh-from-the-oven white baguettes are the best thing in the world - but I have to admit, I quite enjoyed this loaf!
We were out of bread on Tuesday morning so I began making two 50-50 loaves from 8am. At 9am, I realised I didn't have any white flour...but I thought I'd go ahead with the recipe regardless and replace the white flour with more whole wheat. I knew that I'd have to allow more time for the dough to rise, so I waited and waited and waited... To summarise, I was making bread from 8am until 6pm and still somehow ended up with two loaves which resemble bricks. The texture isn't too bad, but they barely rose at all. Like I said, this recipe is more for me than it is for you...
📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups warm water
- 2 tablespoons warm milk
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons yeast
- 6 cups all-purpose white flour
- pinch salt
Instructions
- Pour the water and milk into a bowl and stir in the sugar .
- Sprinkle the yeast on top and leave to bloom for around 10 minutes, until foamy.
- Add the flour and salt into your stand mixer with the dough hook attached.
- Pour the yeast water into the mixer and knead until a dough begins to form. Continue mixing for an additional 7 minutes.
- Use your hand to work the dough into a ball and return it to the mixing bowl. Cover with a kitchen towel and leave to rise in a warm place for around 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Punch the dough down and divide it into two. Form each bit into the shape of a loaf and place into two greased pans.
- Cover with a kitchen towel and leave to rise again until doubled in size.
- Bake at 365F/180C for 27-30 or until slightly golden on top.
- Tip out onto a wire rack and leave to cool for at least 15 minutes before slicing.
Linda
Morning,
I only have skim milk, could I use that?
Thanks
Nicky
Hi Linda,
I used semi-skimmed milk, but I don't see why skimmed wouldn't work - go for it! 🙂
Steph
Awesome, I must try!
Honestmum
Fab loaf, my husband would love this! Do check out my food linky #tastytuesdays and join if you like: http://honestmum.com/spanakopitta/
Melanie @ Just Some Salt and Pepper
Thanks for the recipe. My bread baking skills are abysmal. I need something I can't screw up!
Kris, Neighbor Chick
Oh Nicky...this may just be what I've been looking for! Gotta try it. I'm tweeting and pinning! Have a lovely day!
Jamie @ Love Bakes Good Cakes
I enjoy making homemade bread - and my family enjoys eating it! LOL - I've pinned this and I'd like to invite you to link up at my party - http://www.lovebakesgoodcakes.com/2013/08/all-my-bloggy-friends-58.html
Linda
I'm sorry to say I've had one of those bread days before too. Wheat is tricky. Thanks for sharing the no fail bread.
Jessica H @mommyenvy
Looks amazing! Always looking to make bread making a little easier!
Jill
This looks amazing! I have been terrified of making bread for the reason that it will fail. I am going to have to try this recipe. Thanks so much for sharing with us at Thursday's Temptation. I am going to be featuring this at tonights link party!
Jill
Sarah
Super simple recipe, something I need to have on hand. Thanks for sharing.
Visiting you from Show & Share!
Sarah
Erika
Can this be done with a hand held mixer? Don't have a stand mixer yet 🙁
Nicky
Hey Erika!
If you have a dough hook on your hand mixer, go ahead and use that!
Otherwise I'd recommend kneading the bread by hand for about 5 minutes longer than in the recipe 🙂
Alison Bayne
Looks so delish! My whole family will like this loaf!
Thanks for joining us at the Creative Home and Garden hop. See you again tomorrow at http://mumtopia.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-creative-home-and-garden-hop-4.html
Ladawn steckman
Do you have a whole wheat one as well??
Wendy Williams
Wow finally a easy and great bread recipe 🙂 all week I have tried versions of bread recipes and they have not risen like expected even with letting it rise in the pans for a hour and half.. thank you so much for sharing this!
Darla
It failed. Errr fell. 🙁
Nakia
Can I use coconut milk instead of cow's milk?
Nicola Quinn
Hi Nakia.
I've got no experience replacing the cow's milk with coconut milk myself, but I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work! 🙂
Cecile - My Yellow Farmhouse
I 'Pinned' this recipe not too long ago and the pin has been 're-pinned' a bunch of times.
I've been making bread for more years than I'd like to admit (I'm 65!!) but I've never made white bread using brown sugar, so I'm looking forward to making bread this way. And I LOVE how high your loaves of bread have risen!!!
It's cold and damn here today, so I'm going to use the old trick of letting the bread rise in the oven. I put a 10" x 13" pan half-full of hot water on the bottom rack and allow the covered dough to rise in there. I repeat the process once the loaves are made for the 2nd rising. It always works like a charm!!
Cecile - My Yellow Farmhouse
Question - the recipe calls for 2 Tbs. of yeast? Is this correct? As I said above, I've been baking bread for sooo long, so I can't figure out what went wrong. My bread, based on this recipe, just came out of the oven but and the dough didn't hold it's shape and the finished product is heavy and smells very strongly of fermented yeast. So strong in fact that I threw the bread away.
I found this information...
"The more yeast in a recipe initially, the quicker it produces CO2, alcohol, and organic acids. Alcohol, being acidic, weakens the gluten in the dough, and eventually the dough becomes “porous,” and won't rise; or won't rise very well." (My dough initially rose beautifully but, for the second rising, not so much....)
"By starting with a smaller amount of yeast, you slow down the amount of CO2, alcohol, and organic acids being released into the dough, thus ensuring the gluten remains strong and the bread rises well—from its initial rise in the bowl, to its final rise in the oven."
If this recipe does, indeed, call for 2 Tbs. of yeast... then I'm totally confused at to why this recipe didn't work for me.
Last thing.,,, 180C is actually 356F - not 365F. (I don't mean to be a know-it-all... just sayin'.)
Cecile - My Yellow Farmhouse
Me again! I've been thinking and thinking... trying to figure out why the bread I made from this recipe didn't come out. I have two possible explanations. Do you possibly live in Canada? While living in Quebec i learned that Canadian flour is different from flour sold in the U. S. - and for that reason it's recommended that Americans use 'bread' flour.... OR... perhaps my yeast is too old. It expires next month but I have heard yeast should be replaced after six months.
Sorry about these overly-long comments... I'm just confused - and your bread looks SO amazing. I'm not giving up though. Gonna give it another try!! ; o )
Nicola
Hi Cecile - sorry my recipe seems to have caused you so much trouble!
I can confirm that it is indeed 2 tablespoons of active yeast in the recipe - I know it sounds like a lot, but you really do need it all.
And nope - I don't live in Canada. I live in the Canary Islands and we have a subtropical climate - maybe the high temperatures could have something to do with the difference in results? I'm really not sure what to say - maybe try reducing the amount of yeast if it's really not working for you and give it another try 🙂
Sandra
I put all my yeast in the freezer when I buy it. It lasts long time
Missy
Trying this recipe for the first time! Waiting on the second rise now. I added rolled oats and flax seed to the top of the one pan...can't wait to try it out!
Jeff
Just wow! I’ve been fighting with a recipe from King Author to no avail. This recipe is double in liquid and actually tells me to give the yeast 10 minutes to get going. First try - AMAZING!!!! Thank you!
Nicola
Thanks so much, Jeff! I'm so happy my recipe worked out well for you! 🙂
LeeAnn
My dough stayed gooey. It didn't form into a ball. Is this supposed to happen?
Shiela
It would be so helpful If you told us what size baking pan is best to use. Does anyone know?
Kimberley
I did it!! This is a hearty bread so so good 👍👍👍