Homemade Wonderful Bread Recipes

WONDERFUL WHITE BREAD

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, heat the milk with butter over low heat just until the butter melts. Remove from heat and add to the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a dough hook. Proof the yeast by adding it to the warm milk and butter. Add the sugar and stir gently to dissolve. Let stand 3 minutes until foam appears. This indicates the yeast is active. Turn mixer on low and gradually add the flour. When the dough starts to come together, increase the speed to medium and add the salt and 1 egg white. Stop the machine periodically to scrape the dough off the hook. Mix until the dough is no longer sticky, about 10 minutes.
• Turn the dough onto the work surface and knead for a minute or so by hand. Knead by folding the dough over itself and pushing out with the heel of your hands, not down. Rotate the dough and repeat. The dough is properly kneaded when you can pull it and it stretches without breaking. Form the dough into a round and place in an oiled bowl, turn to coat the entire ball with oil. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let rise over a gas pilot light on the stovetop or in another warm place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes. Test the dough by pressing 2 fingers into it. If indents remain, the dough is adequately risen.
• Once the dough is doubled and domed, turn it out onto the counter. The act of turning out the dough naturally deflates the gas, so there is no need to aggressively punch it down. Handle the dough gently, overworking the gluten at this point will produce a dense loaf that is difficult to shape. *To form a loaf, pat the dough into a rectangle, fold the long sides to the middle then fold under the ends. Pinch the seams closed and place in a greased 9 by 5-inch loaf pan, seam side down. Make sure the dough touches all sides of the pan. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise a second time for 20 minutes or until the top of the dough is nearly level with the top of the loaf pan. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F, place a large pan on the bottom rack of the oven. Bring 3 cups water to a boil on the stove. Pour the hot water into the preheated pan to create a steam bath for the bread. This will make a crisp crust.
• Slash dough down the middle of the loaf with a sharp knife to allow the steam to escape during baking. Brush the top with remaining beaten egg white and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake the bread for 30 to 40 minutes until crust is golden and internal temperature reads 195 degrees F when checked with an instant read thermometer. The bottom of the loaf should sound hollow when tapped. Immediately remove the bread from the pan and cool completely on a rack.
• * Variation: To make Cinnamon-Raisin Swirl Bread: after the first rise, press the dough out to a rectangle, sprinkle surface with cinnamon and raisins to cover. Roll up like a jellyroll, pinch the seams closed and continue as directed in the recipe.

FABULOUS HOMEMADE BREAD

Steps:

• In the mixing bowl of an electric mixer, stir together 1/2 cup warm water, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1/4 cup bread flour, and yeast. Let grow for about 5 minutes. It will bubble almost immediately.
• Measure oats, 4 1/2 cups warm water, whole wheat flour, salt, 2/3 cup sugar, and 2/3 cup oil into the mixing bowl. Mix on low speed with a dough hook for 1 to 2 minutes. Increase speed slightly, and begin adding bread flour 1/2 to 1 cup at a time until dough pulls away from sides of bowl. Humidity determines how much flour you need before the bread pulls away from the edge of the bowl. It is normal for the dough to be sticky.
• Place dough in an oiled bowl, and turn to coat the surface. Cover with a damp cloth. Let rise in a warm spot for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
• Divide dough into 6 pieces. Shape loaves, and place in greased 8 x 4 inch pans. Let rise until dough is 1 inch above rim of pans, usually 1 hour.
• Bake at 350 degrees F ( 175 degrees C) for 35 minutes, or until tops are browned. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes, and then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.

WONDERFUL WHITE BREAD

Steps:

• Heat the milk with the butter in small sauce pan just until the butter melts.
• Remove from heat and add to the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with a dough hook.
• When the milk is warm (not hot) add the yeast and sugar (or honey).
• Stir gently to dissolve yeast, and let stand for 3 minutes.
• If the yeast is active, it will foam.
• Turn mixer on low and gradually add the flour.
• When the flour is incorporated increase the speed to medium, add the salt and 1 egg white.
• Mix about 10 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides (if necessary) and remove the dough from the hook, until the dough is no longer sticky.
• Turn the dough onto a work surface and knead it (folding dough over and pushing away) for about a minute, or until it stretches without breaking.
• Form the dough into a ball and place into an oiled bowl, turning to coat the entire dough ball with oil.
• Cover with plastic wrap, or a damp towel and let rise in a warm place (over a pilot light, or in a sunny spot, etc.) until doubled in size- 45 to 60 minutes.
• When two fingers are pressed into the dough ball, and the indentations remain after removing fingers- it's ready.
• Turn out the dough onto the work surface.
• It isn't necessary to punch it down- it will deflate on it's own.
• Handle very gently at this point!
• Work the dough into a rectangle, folding long sides under to the middle, and pinch ends closed.
• Place in 9 X 5 greased loaf pan with seam down.
• Make sure dough touches all sides of the pan.
• Cover with plastic wrap and let rise again until the top of the loaf is nearly level with the top of the pan.
• Preheat oven to 350.
• Place a large pan on the bottom rack of the oven.
• Pour 3 cups boiling water into the large pan.
• When dough has risen, make several perpendicular slashes with a sharp knife across the top of the loaf.
• Brush the top with slightly beaten egg white and sprinkle oats (or sesame seeds) over the top of the loaf.
• Place loaf pan on the top shelf of the oven (over the pan of water).
• Bake 30- 40 minutes, until thermometer inserted into the loaf registers 195 degrees, and the top is golden brown.
• Remove from loaf pan immediately, and cool on rack.
• Note: for cinnamon/raison swirl bread, sprinkle cinnamon and raisons on the rectangle and roll into loaf shape before the second rising.

BASIC HOMEMADE BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast and 1/2 teaspoon sugar in warm water; let stand until bubbles form on surface. Whisk together remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, salt and 3 cups flour. Stir oil into yeast mixture; pour into flour mixture and beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, to form a soft dough. , Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 8-10 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, 1-1/2 to 2 hours., Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; divide dough in half. Shape each into a loaf. Place in 2 greased 9x5-in. loaf pans. Cover and let rise until doubled, 1 to 1-1/2 hours., Bake at 375° until golden brown and bread sounds hollow when tapped or has reached an internal temperature of 200°, 30-35 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

HOMEMADE WONDER BREAD

Steps:

• Whisk together the yeast, 1/4 cup warm water and sugar.
• Allow to sit for 15 minutes.
• Add ingredients in the order suggested by your manufacturer, including the yeast mixture.
• Select the basic and light crust setting.
• A white bread recipe without a strong yeast flavor.
• Proofing the yeast first eliminates some of the yeast taste from the final product.
• Makes 2 lb loaf.

WONDERFUL WHITE BREAD

Steps:

• In a bread machine pan, place all ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer. Select basic bread setting. Choose crust color and loaf size if available. Bake according to bread machine directions (check dough after 5 minutes of mixing; add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water or flour if needed).

HOMEMADE WONDERFUL BREAD

Steps:

• Whisk together the yeast, 1/4 cup warm water and sugar. Allow to sit for 15 minutes.
• Add ingredients in the order suggested by your manufacturer, including the yeast mixture. Select the basic and light crust setting.

VERSATILE BREAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. Lightly grease two baking sheets.
• In a large bowl, combine the yeast mixture with the sugar, salt, oil and 1 cup of flour; stir well to combine. Stir in the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and supple, about 8 minutes.
• Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Divide the dough into twelve equal pieces and form into rounds. Place the rounds on prepared baking sheets. Cover the rolls with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes.
• Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Place on a wire rack to cool.

PERFECT WHITE BREAD

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, heat milk until it bubbles. Remove from heat and add the sugar, salt and shortening. Cool to lukewarm. While milk mixture is cooling, dissolve yeast in warm water and let stand until creamy.
• Combine cooled milk mixture with yeast and water in a large mixing bowl. Stir in 2 cups of the flour, then add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, to make a moderately stiff dough. Knead on a lightly floured surface for 8 to 10 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and turn to coat the dough. Cover the bowl with a damp towel and let rise in a warm place until the dough has doubled in volume (about 1 1/4 hours).
• Lightly grease two 9x5 inch loaf pans. Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Shape into 2 balls, cover and let rest 10 minutes. Shape dough into 2 loaves and place in pans; let rise until doubled (about 1 hour). Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes or until the top is golden and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.