Amish White Bread is a classic homemade bread recipe that’s soft, tender, and perfect for sandwiches or toast. Here’s a detailed step-by-step recipe for making Amish White Bread:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups warm water (around 110°F or 43°C)
- 2/3 cup white sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast (2 packets)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 6 cups all-purpose flour
Instructions:
Activate the Yeast:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm water and sugar. Stir until the sugar is dissolved.
- Sprinkle the yeast over the water-sugar mixture. Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes until it becomes foamy. This indicates that the yeast is active and alive.
Mix the Dough:
- Add the salt and vegetable oil to the yeast mixture.
- Gradually add the flour, one cup at a time, while stirring with a wooden spoon or using a stand mixer with a dough hook attachment.
- Continue adding flour until the dough comes together and starts to pull away from the sides of the bowl.
Knead the Dough:
- If using a stand mixer, knead the dough on low speed for about 5 minutes. If kneading by hand, turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for approximately 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. Add a little more flour if the dough is too sticky.
First Rise:
- Place the dough in a greased bowl and cover it with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap.
- Allow the dough to rise in a warm, draft-free place for about 1 to 1.5 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
Shape the Loaves:
- After the first rise, punch down the dough to release any air bubbles.
- Divide the dough into two equal portions.
- Shape each portion into a loaf by flattening it into a rectangle and then rolling it up tightly, starting from the short end. Pinch the seams to seal.
- Place the shaped loaves into two greased 9×5-inch (23×13 cm) loaf pans.
- Cover the pans with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let the dough rise for another 30 minutes to 1 hour until it reaches just above the rim of the pans.
- Preheat the Oven:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) during the last 15 minutes of the second rise.
Bake:
Once the dough has risen, bake the loaves in the preheated oven for approximately 30-35 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown on top and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
Cool:
Remove the bread from the pans and place them on a wire rack to cool completely before slicing. This helps prevent the bread from becoming gummy.
Slice and Serve:
Once cooled, slice your Amish White Bread and enjoy it with butter, jam, or your favorite sandwich fillings.