Classic white bread
Description
The recipe won't take much time. Except for one and a half hours spent on dough rising, this bread takes 15 minutes to prepare plus 40 minutes in the oven. Serve cooled or slightly warm.
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
1. In a large bowl, combine flour, salt, and yeast; mix with a mixer at low speed. In a small saucepan over heat or in a small bowl in the microwave, warm the milk until it is very warm but not hot. Add the butter and stir until melted, then add water and honey.
- 2
Step 2
2. Slowly add the milk mixture to the flour mixture and stir until smooth. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes. Alternatively, knead with a dough hook in a bowl at high speed for about 10 minutes, until the dough becomes smooth. Place the dough into a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a lid, and let rise until doubled in size, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- 3
Step 3
3. Once the dough has risen, place it on a lightly floured surface, roll it into a square, then fold it into a rectangle about 22 cm in length and transfer it to a parchment-lined baking pan. Cover with a clean dry towel and let rise again until doubled, about 40 minutes.
- 4
Step 4
4. Preheat the oven to 175 degrees. Pour 2 cups of boiling water into an additional baking pan and place it on the lower rack. Put the bread pan on the upper rack and bake for 40–50 minutes.
- 5
Step 5
5. Let cool completely before slicing into pieces.