Easy Amish White bread recipe is a slightly sweet, velvety-textured, homemade bread 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!
Ingredients for Amish White Bread: 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), and an instant read thermometer. You can find a list of bread baking tools and helpful information on the Essentials page.
Bread Flour or All-Purpose for Homemade Bread?
If you’ve never made bread before I suggest reading my complete guide to making homemade bread before you start this recipe. It has a ton of information that will make you an experienced baker in no time!
This recipe works best with bread flour but you can also use all-purpose flour 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.
Amish White Bread 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
Amish white bread 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 bread 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, and melted butter and just see what you like best.
If you have a kiddo that wants the bread to look like the kind in the plastic bag in the store you’ve got to try this Pullman Loaf! It has almost no crust and stays soft.
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:
- Yeast Bread Baking Tips 1
- Yeast Bread Baking Tips 2
- Troubleshooting
- How to Make Bread a Complete Guide
- How Do I Make Bread from Scratch
- 5 Ingredients to Make Your Bread Rise Higher is a particularly good read if you’ve got experience but have struggled to get those light, fluffy loaves of bread.
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 Bread 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 Bread is a fabulous, rustic loaf for those who like multigrain breads. It makes delicious sandwiches!
- Harvest Fruit and Nut Bread is the best toast ever. Dried fruit and nuts are kneaded in and provide sweetness and texture.
- Oatmeal Bread is my favorite for peanut butter sandwiches! It’s a little sweet and nutty with the great flavor of oats.
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 bread 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.
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.
You are going to love the sweet tenderness of this easy loaf! Once you’ve gotten some practice with this give the Buttermilk Cinnamon Swirl Bread or Rustic White Bread a try.
Need to adjust for high altitude? Check out the instructions from Utah State University.
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 whole 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!
- 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.
Nutrition
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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
Laila Soubra
Iove your recipes and videos. Thank you so much!
judith judge
can you use instant yeast
Marye Audet
Yes. 🙂 Just add it with the dry ingredients.
Lizz
Oh my word!! I am new to baking bread, and your instructions are so clear and helpful that this was my first succesful bread loaf. That would have been sufficient for me; baking a beautiful loaf that tasted ok.. but let me tell you!! This was the most DELICIOUS bread I have EVER had! We will never buy bread again, I’ve never had anything like this!! 10/10
Marye Audet
I am so glad you liked it! It’s one of our favorites!
Tammy
Thank you for this post! It’s so informative and I love the video on “how to knead”.
I plan on coming back often.
Thanks again 🙂
Marye Audet
Welcome! I’ll look forward to “seeing” you!
Elbie
Can you halve this recipe? I’ll be using my bread machine for kneading and not sure if it will handle the quantities. (I have yet to invest in a Bosch, it is on the list though 🙂 )
Marye Audet
Yes! If you click on the servings you can half it and all the ingredient measurements will change, too.
Denise
This bread was really good. It is a little on the sweet side but delicious. I only used 5 cups of bread flour so I am curious if other people used more. Will definitely make again.
Sally
I used to bake homemade bread weekly from an old family recipe. My children grew up with it and loved to help kneed the dough. (can we say flour everywhere?) Precious!!
I tried this recipe today. It is absolutely fabulous!!
I’m making my homade Butter now, and I used organic coconut oil +2 tablespoons of butter with it, instead of oil.
My grandson just told me, “this is the best bread I’ve ever eaten in my life”! Now that’s a hit!!!
It’s texture is fairly dense and hardy, yet fluffy, velvety and complimentorally perfect for any dish!!!
This has become my new bread of choice!!!!
There should be additional stars to favor this exquisite recipe!!!!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Additionally, it makes fantastic dinner rolls as well!!
Marye Audet
It sounds like it wasn’t kneaded enough… you might try checking through my troubleshooting guide. https://www.restlesschipotle.com/yeast-bread-baking-troubleshooting/
Deana
Hi, I have a Bosch and am learning how to use it. Do you have any instructions of how to make this bread in the Bosch? Thanks so much! Love your recipes ❤️
Marye Audet
Congrats Deana! I love mine! You’ll just follow the recipe and follow the Bosch instructions for the mixing and kneading. I think the kneading part takes maybe 5 minutes in mine?
Merry
I don’t have access to coconut oil, would canola oil work?
Marye Audet
Use melted butter. 🙂
Shelley
I am going to use a bread machine for this – do I keep the same amount of ingredients and set it at 1.5#? I see it is for 2 loaves – so I was assuming that it was for old fashioned baking.
Marye Audet
Shelley- I’ve never used a bread machine so I’m not sure.