Easy Amish White bread recipe is a slightly sweet, velvety-textured, homemade loaf that’s perfect for sandwiches. You may have heard it called milk bread. You can make this recipe by hand or in a bread machine – both instructions are included. It freezes well, too!
Be sure to read to the end where I’ll be sharing my best tips for getting bread to rise!
- Ingredients
- Bread Flour or All-Purpose?
- Recipe Variations
- Homemade Amish White Bread Is Kid Friendly
- Milk Bread Recipe… But Is It Amish?
- Tips for Homemade Bread Success
- How to Make Bread Step By Step Images
- More Favorite Bread Recipes
- Supplies You May Need…
- Tips for Getting Bread to Rise
- Amish White Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- whole milk
- sugar
- yeast,
- salt
- light vegetable oil or coconut oil
- bread flour
- butter
- two 9 by 5 inch loaf pans (measured from outside edge to outside edge. 1- 1/2 quart)
- instant read thermometer.
You can find a list of bread baking tools and helpful information on the Essentials page.
Bread Flour or All-Purpose?
This recipe works best with bread flour but you can also use all-purpose if you like. Just be aware that the texture may be a little more dense and your loaf will not rise as high.
If you are using all-purpose flour and you happen to have some wheat gluten around you can replace 1 tablespoon of flour with 1 tablespoon of gluten for every cup. That will give it the rise and fluffiness you’re looking for.
Recipe Variations
This is such a basic loaf that there are a lot of different ways to use it. Here are some of my favorite variations.
- Dinner rolls
- Cinnamon rolls
- Sweet rolls
- Hamburger buns
- Cinnamon swirl loaf
- Add 2 cups raisins
- Add 2 cups chocolate chips
- Add 2 cups chopped nuts
Since this fluffy white bread freezes so well you can make several batches to have on hand when you need them.
Homemade Amish White Bread Is Kid Friendly
This is a tender, fluffy loaf with a velvety texture. If you are looking for the homemade equivalent of Wonder Bread you’ll want to try this. If you want a real treat try it with a spoonful of this apricot pineapple jam!
It is somewhat sweet — and when I say somewhat I mean like those fabulous, hot dinner rolls they have at Logan’s Roadhouse or Hawaiian rolls. If you want something less sweet you can cut the sugar in half. It will change the texture a bit but will still be great.
This is one recipe I don’t often use butter in. I use organic extra-virgin coconut oil because it adds just a little flavor to the bread. A light vegetable oil will work, too. Try it with coconut oil, light vegetable oil, or melted butter and just see what you like best.
Milk Bread Recipe… But Is It Amish?
I honestly couldn’t tell you if Amish white bread is Amish or not. I do know it is really awesome good.
I spent part of my childhood in Pennsylvania and was used to seeing Amish families driving their buggies to church, rolling hills dotted with white farmhouses and well ordered farms, and best of all (to me) those gorgeous quilts hanging on clotheslines. When I got older and did my stint as a fine artist people often commented on the intense colors I used in my paintings. It’s something I soaked up during those years.
And of course the aroma of fresh breads and pastries, cakes and cookies, pies and tarts that wafted over the countryside like some kind of crazy incense.
Tips for Homemade Bread Success
If you’ve had trouble with bread before be sure to read these posts on troubleshooting and tips:
How to Make Bread Step By Step Images
Making bread is easy but sometimes it helps to see what is being described. Here are the step by step images.
- Mix the yeast, sugar, and warm water.
- Let it get foamy.
- Mix in the flour and knead until it is soft and elastic – it will feel like your earlobe when you squeeze a bit between your thumb and forefinger. Weird but true.
- Place in an oiled bowl and cover.
- Let rise until doubled.
- Check by pushing your finger in. If the indent stays it has doubled.
- Punch down.
- Shape and place in greased loaf pan – let rise.
- Bake.
More Favorite Bread Recipes
Making homemade bread does take some practice but it is so very worth it!
- Buttermilk is very similar to this Amish White Bread except it is made with buttermilk which makes it a little fluffier and more tender – and less sweet. It’s sweetened with honey instead of sugar.
- Multi-grain Flaxseed is a fabulous, rustic loaf for those who like multigrain breads. It makes delicious sandwiches!
- Harvest Fruit and Nut is the best toast ever. Dried fruit and nuts are kneaded in and provide sweetness and texture.
- Oatmeal is my favorite for peanut butter sandwiches! It’s a little sweet and nutty with the great flavor of oats.
Need to adjust for high altitude? Check out the instructions from Utah State University.
Supplies You May Need…
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I use a Bosch to make bread with. I love my Kitchenaid but it just doesn’t handle heavy doughs as well as I’d like. If you plan on making bread often I’d recommend saving up for a Bosch. It lasts forever. You won’t regret it.
Tips for Getting Bread to Rise
There are definitely a lot of ways to get bread to rise – such as keeping it in the oven with the light on, etc. My favorite is to use a natural dough enhancer like one of these-
- Ground ginger helps to activate the yeast and really get it going.
- Potato water strengthens the structure of the dough allowing it to rise higher.
Click through to 5 Ingredients to Help Your Bread Rise (updated for 2020) to find more great ideas including a recipe for a natural dough enhancer –
Amish White Bread Recipe
Many people have asked me if you “have” to use bread flour. The bread will rise higher and lighter if you do but you can substitute all-purpose flour if you must. I do not recommend it.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Amish White Bread
Print Add to CollectionEquipment Needed
Ingredients
- 1 cup water, 110F
- 1 cup milk, 110F
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/4 cup mild vegetable oil, — coconut oil works really well here! OR use melted butter
- 5-1/2 cups bread flour, you may need a little more or a little less
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
Instructions
Conventional Method
- Dissolve the sugar in the warm water and milk in a large bowl.
- Whisk in the yeast.
- Set aside for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the yeast mixture gets foamy.
- Stir in 1 cup of the flour.
- Whisk in the salt and oil.
- With the mixer running add the remaining flour, one cup at a time, until the dough pulls away from the bowl.
- Knead by machine about 5 minutes.
Hand Kneading
- If you are hand kneading mix in the flour until you have a sticky dough, turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 minutes or until the dough is smooth and elastic – adding flour as needed.
Rising and Shaping
- Oil a large bowl and place the ball of dough in it.
- Oil the top of the dough and then cover with a damp cloth.
- Allow it to rise until it has doubled in bulk. This will take about an hour.
- Punch the dough down.
- Knead for three minutes or so and divide in half.
- Let rest for five minutes.
- Shape into loaves and then place in greased 9×5-inch loaf pans.
- Brush the tops with the melted butter.
- Let rise for 30 minutes, or until the dough has risen an inch or so above the pans.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes, or until loaves sound hollow when tapped.
For a Soft Crust
- For a soft crust butter the tops and place a clean tea towel over the baked loaves as soon as you take them out of the oven. Let them cool for about 5 minutes and then take them out of the pans to finish cooling, covering them back up with the tea towel.
Bread Machine Instructions
- Add ingredients to your bread machine in the order the manufacturer recommends.
- Select white bread cycle.
- Press “start”.
- When the dough has risen once and second cycle of kneading begins, turn the machine off. Press “start” again to reset the machine.
- The dough will rise a second time before it bakes.
Notes
- Dinner rolls
- Cinnamon rolls
- Sweet rolls
- Hamburger buns
- Cinnamon swirl loaf
- Add 2 cups raisins
- Add 2 cups chocolate chips
- Add 2 cups chopped nuts
Denise Powell
I love love this recipe! Make it for my everyday bread. I’m an experienced baker but always eager to learn. I’ve always rolled my bread dough out to a 9×15 rectangle and then roll up sealing bitten and sides and then putting it into my loaf pan. This recipe just says to shape into loaf. Am I doing it wrong by rolling it out? Thanks so much. Love your website and I’ve shared your recipes as far as Australia!
Marye
Nope – you can shape it by rolling OR shaping. 🙂 So glad you like it.
Uriah
Have you tried this with whole wheat? If so what adjustments did you have to do?
Marye
You can make it with whole wheat BUT the texture is different. I’d suggest my 100% whole wheat bread instead – https://www.restlesschipotle.com/molasses-whole-wheat-bread-recipe/
Char
Can this recipe be Adapted for use with rapid rise instant yeast? If so, what is the amount of yeast?
Marye
Yes – I’d just use one packet.
Beth Meyer
My husband and two-year-old daughter love this recipe! It’s delicious and so fluffy! I have tried this recipe with butter and with coconut oil and was surprised at the difference in flavor. We like the coconut oil version best!
Marye
I do too! And I DO love butter but there’s just something about it!
Erin
I absolutely love this bread recipe! I’ve had amazing success with my stand mixer and by kneading by hand. My daughter (6) usually baulks at my homemade bread but she eats this one with zero complaints. My husband does find it a bit on the sweet side for his taste so I was wondering would I get similar results with less sugar? Maybe reduce it to a half cup or a third of a cup?
Marye
YAY! Erin – try this Buttermilk Bread. It’s less sweet and has a soft, fluffy texture.https://www.restlesschipotle.com/buttermilk-bread/
Lacy
Can I freeze it?
Marye
yes. it freezes very well.
Maria B
. I made homemade chili for dinner. I thought this would go nicely. This recipe was so easy, so well written and most of all SO DELICIOUS! Well done
Marye
Thank you!
Melissa
Can this be formed into hoagie rolls?
Marye
It’s a little soft for that. Try the 30 minute baguette.
Patti
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this recipe! Thank you so much for sharing it with all of us! Can you tell me what temperature and for how long you bake the dinner rolls?
Marye
375 for 20 minutes. 🙂
Lamont Cranston
I’ve been trying bread recipes for about 3 years and sadly all of them turned out ‘stiff’ and not very palatable. I’m not seeking ‘Wonderbread’ softness but now I have a beautiful recipe that really delivers a soft delicious interior.
I also place a 9 x 9 inch pan in the oven during baking cycle (with about 2 cups of water inside) which adds some steam or moisture.
Very well satisfied!
Marye
I am so glad you like it!
Edith
THis bread is so easy to make and absolutely delicious! I’ve used both olive oil and coconut oil and both work well though we favor the coconut oil…seems to keep the bread fresh and smelling just-baked longer. This is our regular daily bread recipe…never buy bread anymore. I also like that it freezes well and once thawed tastes wonderfully as fresh baked.
Marye
thanks! It’s definitely a favorite here!
Jessica Mader
I am new to anything bread making, is that really 5 and 1/2 cups of flour, or is it five 1/2 cups of flour? 5 and 1/2 seemed like a lot of flour.
Marye
5 and 1/2 cups is correct. You may need a little more or a little less
Sophia
This is the first time I’ve been able to make bread that is amazing!! This is truly an amazing recipe, especially for me being a novice baker – previously I’ve used a bread machine and the bread always turned out too dense and crumbly..
I do have a question – the only modification I made to the recipe was I used almond milk in place of regular milk as we are lactose intolerant and I totally forgot to use any of the dough enhancers so the loaf while it tasted amazing didn’t rise very high (it also took a long time for both rises despite my using instant yeast). Could the almond milk be the cause? Or could it be something else?
Thank you again for this amazing recipe!
Marye
You’re very welcome! It shouldn’t be the almond milk… check out this troubleshooting guide to see if you can figure it out. https://www.restlesschipotle.com/yeast-bread-baking-troubleshooting/
hiway280z
Always check yeast dates make sure not out of date.
Dawn Carden
Loved this bread , turned out beautifully !
Marye
Dawn – that makes me so happy! Have you tried the buttermilk honey bread yet?
Rebecca
Absolutely amazing bread! Very soft and fluffy, with a subtle sweetness that’s not overpowering. This is the first bread I’ve ever successfully made. Will definitely use again.
Marye
I’m so glad you love it! Once you get comfortable you should try some of the others!
jaye
Once you make this bread you will never buy store brand again! I use light or heavy cream instead of milk. I just like the way it makes it taste.
Marye
I am so glad you liked it!!!
P
In the bread machine is it 2 loaves or just one?
Marye
I would guess it would be 2
Marye
it can! There are certain conditions which can affect rising.
jayefromjersey
This bread is Wonderful!! Once you make it you will fall in love with it! Instead of milk I use heavy or light cream.
Marye
so glad you liked it!
billiejo lear
THIS should be called the best recipe on the interwebz!
I have used this recipe a million times (ok maybe not that many lol) for many different things!
I have used it for bread which ALWAYS comes out perfect!
I used it for rolls!
It makes a really awesome and sweet pizza dough as well!
What else? Monkey bread! (some people call it other things like garbage bread or meat and cheese bread!) I put it in my pyrex tubes oh my wish I could share a photo!
Again..if you havent tried this recipe, YOU SHOULD but beware: You are going to eat too much! LOL 😀
Casey Dye
This is our family Sunday treat!! For the milk we use half whipped cream and half 2 %. So good. My kids eat one loaf while the other is cooling. If we don’t hide the 2nd loaf they sneak into it.
Gloria Terry-Gamron
FYI, I also wasn’t able to open the other videos on rising, baking, etc. There wasn’t an arrow for me to click on to view them. I only got a larger picture of the videos. I am looking at your blog on my android tablet, so, that might be the problem.
Marye
I’ll check it, thanks Gloria!
Gloria Terry-Gamron
Wonderful bread recipe. Thanks to you, I finally made 2 great loaves. My husband was elated. You explain things so well. I read all your suggested blogs on the steps and watched the video before I tried the recipe and actually kneaded it by hand, instead of with my Kitchenaid, so I’d actually be able to feel the changes in the dough and did the window pane test. Wish you would do a video of the ending of hand kneading in addition to the beginning though. Maybe I just missed it. I’m 5’2″ and kneaded it on the counter. Next time, will be on the table like you suggested for us short people. Set the timer for 10 minutes and what a workout. I was actually sweating by the time it was over. Kept asking my husband how much longer. The timer was on the microwave behind me. Good cardio before the carbs. Thanks, again. Going to look through your other recipes now.
Marye
That’s fantastic!! 🙂
Brianna Widner
Hi, I notice the slider feature on the servings ranges from 0-32. I know to make one loaf, I need to cut the recipe in half, but I’m not sure if the means setting the slider to 8 servings or 16, as the default on the recipe landing page is set at the 16 mark. Can you please clarify for me? Thank you!
Marye Audet
The recipe makes 2 loaves so you’d set the slider at 8. hope this helps