You may have heard this called milk bread. Make this 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 yeast dough to rise!
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🗝️ Key takeaways
- Over 2000 5 star reviews and thousands of comments from readers like you means that you can be confident that this recipe works!
- This is a soft sandwich loaf, similar to a commercial white bread in texture, so it's perfect for everything from breakfast toast to sandwiches.
- Be sure to read the Help it rise section for my tips and getting a tall fluffy loaf of bread!
🧾 Ingredients
If you are looking for the homemade equivalent of Wonder Bread you'll definitely want to try this classic Amish white bread! 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 a real treat try it with a spoonful of this apricot pineapple jam!
You can find a list of tools and helpful information on the Essentials page.
📖 Variations
Here some of my favorite variations.
- Dinner rolls - just make this dough all the way through shaping and then follow my cloverleaf rolls instructions.
- Cinnamon rolls -make big fluffy cinnamon rolls with this dough and these instructions.
- Sweet rolls
- Hamburger buns
- Cinnamon swirl loaf
- Add 2 cups raisins
- Add 2 cups chocolate chips
- Add 2 cups chopped nuts
Since this recipe freezes so well you can make several batches to have on hand when you need them.
Amish white bread is one of the main breads on my list of homemade pantry staples because it's so easy!
🔪 Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the green recipe card below.
- 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.
🎥 Video: How to knead bread
🍞 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 in this sweet white bread.
🥫 How to store leftover Amish white bread
Let the finished bread cool completely then wrap in plastic wrap, use an airtight container, or use a bread bag.
Homemade bread gets stale more quickly than commercial breads so plan on eating or freezing within 2 days.
To freeze
To freeze just wrap in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 3 months.
I like to slice the bread before freezing and place parchment paper between the slices so I can thaw just one or two pieces at a time.
💭 Things to know
If you've had trouble with homemade bread recipes before be sure to read these posts on troubleshooting and tips:
Expert Tip: A whole egg can be beaten with a tablespoon of water and then brushed on the top. This results in a shiny, golden-brown crust.
- 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. Light vegetable oil will work, too. Try it with coconut oil, light vegetable oil, or melted butter and just see what you like best. Make sure whatever you use is melted and cooled to 100F before adding.
- The dough has been kneaded enough when it feels somewhat like your earlobe when you pinch it. When you gently pull on it the dough will stretch a little instead of breaking off.
Leftover angel chicken warmed up and served over a thick slice of this homemade bread is one of my favorite quick and easy meals. Try it!
🔪 Equipment
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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.
You'll also need -
- two 9 by 5 inch loaf pans (measured from outside edge to outside edge. 1- ½ quart)
- instant read thermometer
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🎈 Help it rise!
There are definitely a lot of ways to get yeast dough 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 to find more great ideas including a recipe for a natural dough enhancer.
👩🍳 FAQs
There may be a slight difference in how it rises and texture but it would be so minimal that you wouldn't notice. Kneading by hand is hard and takes longer, though.
Per slice. And I figure 8 slices per loaf.
I'd use a pinch of ginger. If using potato water then use that instead of plain water.
No. You don't have to use it and it does not flavor the bread. It does help activate the yeast and that's why I use it.
Yep! So Spray plastic wrap with no stick spray and cover your dough bowl. Refrigerate for no more than 24 hours then proceed according to instructions. Your second rising time may take a bit longer because of the cold.
📚 Related recipes
Once you make your own bread you'll want to try your hand at different types of yeast baking! Here are some of my favorites.
- Vienna rolls are an old-fashioned yeast roll that were served at fancy restaurants. They are delicious as sandwich rolls, finger rolls, or made into a loaf.
- There's nothing like hot from the fryer homemade donuts!
- Angel biscuits are a cross between a dinner roll and a biscuit. They're a southern favorite.
- Mexican Day of the Dead Bread (Pan de Muerto)
- Kalamata Olive Bread
- Muesli Bread Recipe: Dried Fruit, Nuts, and Whole Grains
- Onion Cheese Yeast Bread Recipe
📞 The last word
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 click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Amish White Bread
Print Pin Recipe SaveEquipment Needed
Ingredients
- 1 cup water, 110F
- 1 pinch powdered ginger, optional - activates yeast
- 1 cup milk, 110F
- ⅔ cup sugar, (you can use less)
- 1 ½ tablespoons active dry yeast
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ¼ cup vegetable oil, coconut oil works really well here (melt it first and let it cool to 100F)! OR use melted butter
- 5-½ cups bread flour, you may need a little more or a little less
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
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Instructions
Conventional method
- Dissolve the sugar in the warm water and milk in a large bowl.
- Whisk in the yeast (and ginger if using).
- 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 9x5-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
- 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. Make sure whatever you use is melted and cooled to 100F before adding.
- 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 -
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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We'll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.Originally published April 2014. Last updated July 31, 2023 for more helpful information.
Sally
Thank u for great recipe, i was wondering, do i use unsalted butter in bread recipe? Thank uuuu
Marye
Either is fine.
Francie
I would like to substitute honey for the sugar. Can you recommend an amount for honey?
Marye
If you are going to use honey I'd suggest the honey buttermilk bread https://www.restlesschipotle.com/buttermilk-bread/
Melinda
I really love this recipe, and my family go crazy over it. I've been baking this bread for around three months, twice a week, and no matter what I do I can never get my bread to stay in a "raised state". It will rise and look perfect in the bread pans, but as soon as I pull it out of the oven, it looks deflared and sad. I've tried ginger and potato water (and new yeast) Only thing I haven't tried is vitamin c. Anyone got any suggestions?
I'm also cooking with a gas stove and it's humid atm 🤷♀️
Marye
Don't let it rise quite so much. It sounds like it's rising too much.
Mammajane
Made it, came out Amazing. My family loves it. Looks like something I will be making a lot!!
Sylvia
This is my second time making this bread— it’s fantastic! A great flavor and slices perfectly for sandwiches. My entire family loves it. Will become my weekly baking. Thank you for the clear directions. Coconut oil is the trick!
Sadie
My finished product is coming out quite dense.. any suggestions?
Marye
Usually if bread is dense it's because it wasn't kneaded enough. What method are you using?
Katy
Perfect wonderful with fresh Amish butter!
Pam
I cannot wait to try this, I love the tips on extra ingredients to help with rising 🥰 just curious if you think there's a difference in kneading with your hands or in a mixer ?? I enjoy the kneading by hand but the mixer does make it easier... Your thoughts I would greatly appreciate. ..thank you ❤️
Marye
I don't see much, if any, difference between the two. You might get a slightly higher rise with the mixer because it's easier to develop the gluten. I'd say use whatever method you like best. 🙂
Leah
Is the nutritional info for the whole loaf or per slice and if so how thick of a slice is that calculated for? I love this recipe. It turned out so well and it is a major hit with my family. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Marye
Per slice and I figure 8 slices per loaf.
Alice
Can I use all purpose flour?
Marye
Yes but it may not rise as well.
Alice
Can install purpose flour?
Marye
You can use all-purpose flour.
Maria Agosto
Greetings from Virginia 🙌🏽
Can you use this recipe to make challah bread?
Thank you 🙏🏽
Marye
Challah is a rich dough made with eggs. You could make a braid out of this but it isn't challah.
Annette
I just made this for the first time and I love it! I made 3/4 of the 2-loaf recipe and baked it in a 13" covered pullman pan. It rose really fast compared to other breads I've made, and it sliced great and tastes delicious! Very soft and mildly sweet. I was looking for a bread that little kids would really like, but I think adults will love this too! Thanks for the great recipe!
Marye
So glad you like it! It's a fabulous recipe for sure.
DENISE
How many loaves does this make? How many lbs in a bread maker?
Marye
It makes 2 loaves. I don't have a bread maker so I have no idea how much it would make.
Lisa
I loooooove this recipe and so does my whole family! I have been making 2 loaves a week.. today I wanted to try freezing it and make a few more. This is my question. Do I freeze the loaves after I have made them or before I bake them as a dough to bake later? Thank you so much !
Lisa
Laurinda
Hi Lisa,
Freeze bread after it's been baked & cooled.
Here's the trick- when you take it out of the freezer, open it's wrapping, & slide in a paper towel. It keeps the bread from getting soggy. You can leave it in there once it's thawed, or take it out
For homemade or store bought bread
Cathi D
I use the paddle til it’s ready to knead.
Jeanetta
How much ginger or potato water is needed to activate the yeast?
Marye
I'd use a pinch of ginger. If using potato water then use that instead of plain water.
Diba
My daughter and I have finally gotten great success with this recipe. It’s absolutely beautiful and delicious. Everyone loves it and wants it! lol We’re now wondering if we could use this recipe with whole wheat flour? Thank you.
A.J.
My wife and kids love this bread. Even baked several loaves for work and now everyone keeps asking me to bake more hah! One thing I have noticed is that my bread after being baked only rises to about 3-3 1/2 inches. This is with an hour rise and a 30 minute second rise all in my proofer. Looking at your photo, it seems like it has risen several inches. Did you use potato water to gain so much height?
Thanks
Marye
I do often use potato water - however in this particular instance I did not. It may be the flour you are using? Some have more gluten than others. You might try replacing a tablespoon of flour with 100% gluten flour per cup.
Diba
I’m trying this again! It tasted amazing but didn’t rise like it should yesterday. When using a stand up mixer, do you use the mixing attachment to mix in the flour and then switch to the dough hook for the 5 minutes of kneading?
Marye
I use the paddle until it's ready to knead. 🙂