First published 2008. Last updated May 2, 2025 for editorial improvements.
Table of Contents
If carbs are your love language (same), then you're about to fall head over heels. This no-fail buttermilk bread has been strutting its stuff at the top of Google since 2008—because when something’s this fluffy, golden, and foolproof, the internet takes notice. With over 900 five-star reviews and enough Pinterest praise to make a sourdough jealous, this recipe delivers that cozy, fresh-baked smell and soft, buttery bite every. single. time. Love it? Of course you do. And lucky you—there’s a whole carb cave of homemade bread recipes waiting for you right here.
🧾 Ingredients
Honey buttermilk bread is so unbelievably light that no one will believe it's made from scratch.
Here are the ingredients for this soft sandwich bread.- I used active dry yeast but you can use rapid rise if you want - just follow the instructions on the packet of yeast.
- Buttermilk in bread adds a little flavor but mostly it creates that soft, tender crumb we all love. If you don't have any you can read this article on how to make buttermilk.
- Salt - kosher salt was used. If you use regular table salt cut the amount by about ¼th or so.
- Bread flour - you can use all purpose flour if you like. There might be a tiny difference in how high it rises. Take a look at this list of different types of flour and how to use them.
📖 Recipe
Honey Buttermilk Bread Recipe
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 1 tablespoon yeast, or 1 packet
- 1 pinch powdered ginger
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ¼ cup water, warm, 105F - 110F
- 2 cups cultured buttermilk, warm, 105F - 110F
- ⅓ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, if using table salt use ¾ teaspoon
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- 6 cups bread flour, you may use all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup butter, melted and cooled so that it is warm to the touch but not hot.
Instructions
- In a medium sized bowl mix the yeast, ginger, sugar, and 110F water.
- Set aside for 5 minutes or until foamy.
- Whisk the buttermilk, honey, salt, and baking soda together and add it to the yeast mixture.
- Add three cups of flour and mix until smooth, about 3 to 5 minutes on low of a stand mixer.
- Pour in the butter until it is totally mixed into the batter.
- Add the rest of the flour, one cup at a time, keeping mixer on low speed.
- When dough pulls from the sides of the bowl remove it from the mixer to a lightly floured surface. Knead until elastic and smooth. You can also knead in your mixer according to manufacturer's directions.
- Place in greased bowl, turn to grease the top, and cover bowl with a clean tea towel.
- Allow the dough to rise for 1 ½ hours, or until double.
- Punch down and form into two loaves. Place each in a greased loaf pan with seam sides down. Grease tops.
- Cover, and allow to rise in a warm place for 45 minutes, or until it is just about to the tops of the bread pans.
- Preheat oven to 375F.
- Bake for 30 minutes. You can cover the tops with foil if they brown too fast.
- Remove from oven and brush top of the loaves with melted butter. Place on cooling rack.
- Allow to cool in pans for 10 minutes.
- Gently run a knife around the edge between the bread and the pan to loosen it.
- Turn out and cool completely on a rack.
- Cover the loaves if you want soft crusts.
Notes
- You may need more or less flour than called for in the recipe. Weather and climate can affect your ingredients - humidity will often mean you'll need at least an extra ¼ cup or so of flour. If you bake bread on a rainy day it will rise higher than on a clear one due to air pressure!
- Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature.
- Use yeast that is within the sell by date. If your bread dough isn't rising well it could be that the yeast is too old..
- Make sure your liquids are not more than 110F. Check with a insta-read thermometer. If the liquids are too hot the yeast will die.
- Be sure to fully knead the dough. It develops the flavor and texture - and will take 8 to 10 minutes by hand.
- Grease the top of the dough before rising.
- Let the dough rise in a warm spot.
- If you feel the bread gets too brown at 375f bake at 350 f.
- Cool the baked bread in the pan for 10 minutes then turn out to finish cooling.
- Brush the loaves with butter while still hot and then cover with a clean tea towel while cooling for soft crusts.
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.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
If you've never worked with homemade yeast dough before take a look at this breadmaking guide before you get started. It answers about any question you could have.
🍞 Bread machine instructions
Many of you have asked how to make buttermilk bread in a bread machine. One reader, Debbie, did and this is what she said:
"If you want to make it and bake it in a bread machine cut the buttermilk bread recipe in half, set it on white bread setting, and add ingredients in this order (or according to your manufacturer's instructions):
- Water
- Buttermilk
- Butter
- Honey
- Sugar
- Salt
- Flour mixed with ginger and baking soda
- Yeast
🎥 Video: How to knead
If you've never made bread before and are unsure about how to knead it this quick video will help!
🥫 How to freeze unbaked bread dough
To freeze unbaked dough you'll want to double the amount of yeast called for in the recipe and then freeze the dough after shaping it into loaves.
When ready to bake let the loaves thaw overnight in the refrigerator then finish rising at room temperature. It will take a bit longer to rise than normal.
Bake as directed in the recipe.
📖 Variations
This is one of those easy bread recipes that you can change up by adding other ingredients.
- Knead in raisins and add sugar and cinnamon before shaping for a wonderful cinnamon raisin bread - use shaping instructions in this cinnamon swirl bread recipe.
- The rich texture of buttermilk bread makes it perfect for slicing thickly and making into French toast.
- If it gets a bit stale make it into bread pudding. Yum!
- This makes a great buttermilk dinner rolls recipe, too! Just shape into rolls and bake at 375f for 10 to 15 minutes.
💭 Things to know
Expert tip: You may need more or less flour than called for in the recipe. Weather and climate can affect your ingredients - humidity will often mean you'll need at least an extra ¼ cup or so of flour. If you bake bread on a rainy day it will rise higher than on a clear one due to air pressure!
- Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature.
- Use yeast that is within the sell by date. If your bread dough isn't rising well it could be that the yeast is too old.
- If you're short on time you can let the bread rise in the refrigerator overnight for either the first or second rising time.
- The baking soda does two things… It works with the acid in the buttermilk to help the bread rise high and light and balances any off tastes from the acids in the buttermilk.
- Make sure your liquids are not hotter than 110F. Check with an insta-read thermometer. If the liquids are too hot the yeast will die.
- Be sure to fully knead the dough. It develops the flavor and texture - and will take 8 to 10 minutes by hand of kneading vigorously.
- Grease the top of the dough before rising.
- Let dough rise in a warm spot. A draft-free place is best.
- If you like the crust a darker golden brown brush it with egg yolk mixed with a teaspoon of water just before putting in the oven.
- Cool the baked bread in the pan for 10 minutes then turn out to finish cooling.
- Brush the loaves with butter while still hot and then cover with a clean tea towel while cooling for soft crusts.
- Here's how to use up that leftover buttermilk!
Troubleshooting
If you're having problems with yeast doughs and homemade bread I have answers!
Also - these tips on getting your homemade bread to rise properly are what keep mine high and light!
👩🍳 FAQs
Yes! This bread recipe is made with honey but you can use sugar in it instead. Use an equal amount or slightly less sugar.
My favorite is glass.
The loaves bake evenly and the crust is perfect. I've heard good things about cast iron but I haven't tried it yet. Aluminum or metal pans are fine if that's what you have - your crust may brown faster so watch it.
Rub the crusts with butter and cover with a tea towel as soon as you bring them out of the oven if you like soft crust.
If you want a crusty bread don't cover it as it's cooling. You can also brush it with egg white blended with 1 teaspoon of water before baking.
You can use an insta-read thermometer if you like. Push it into the side of the loaf - the center of the bread should be about 200F.
You can also turn the loaf out and tap the bottom. It will sound hollow. After you've baked bread a few times you'll just know.
Try removing a tablespoon of flour and adding a tablespoon of wheat gluten for every cup of flour you add to the bread. This helps it rise better and stay light and fluffy.
Sure, you'll need to halve the recipe and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Be careful not to overknead.
📚 Related recipes
This country white bread is a classic recipe that you'll use again and again!
Ken says
Been making this on a regular basis , my wife and I love it.
Bonita says
I’ve been baking bread for ages. This is the best! I also like your recipe that uses milk instead of buttermilk in case I don’t have buttermilk on hand.
Kari says
Any tips for using this recipe at high altitude?
Marye says
I have never baked at high altitude but this is an informative article from King Arthur Baking - https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/learn/resources/high-altitude-baking
Glenn says
This worked exactly as written, thanks! Taste great,no after Taste, thks for sharing, everybody should try this bread, YUM..
Abigail says
I am making 1 loaf with this recipe, how long do I bake it at 375?
Marye says
Same as the full recipe - just follow the instructions in the recipe card.
Nancy says
This worked exactly as written and it is such a nice sandwich bread. Came out perfect and tastes great.
Vicki says
So easy, yet soon delicious
I mixed half Kimg Arthur wheat with half KA bread flour. Awesome! Thanks for sharing
Debbie Mazza says
Can I make dinner rolls out of this recipe
Marye says
Yes.
Pamela says
You have the BEST bread recipes out there, absolutely love them. I've tried a lot of recipes, I enjoy making bread yours are 💯 % the best. Thank you 😊
Toni H says
This is a really great bread recipe! I have made it twice and it comes out perfect. The structure is great, and so is the flavor. It’s perfectly moist and makes for a great sandwich bread. I like to split the recipe in half and just make one loaf at a time.
Laura says
I'm fairly new to bread making, but this is the first recipe I haven't had any issues with. So, now that I have the bread down, how would I need to tweak this recipe to make hamburger and hot dog buns? Thanks!
Marye says
I'd use this recipe, honestly 🙂 https://www.restlesschipotle.com/easy-perfect-homemade-hamburger-or-hot-dog-buns/
Michele says
Haven't made it yet but plan to. Can I use olive oil instead of butter in this recipe?
Thanks so much
Marye says
You can but it won't taste very good in my opinion.
Joanne Kashuba says
Love this receipe. This has been my go to bread receipe. This time I made it I tweaked it a little and was very pleased with the results. Used the 1x receipe but used 1 Tbl. instant yeast and I had homemade buttermilk. I divided the dough in half and made one loaf bread and further divided in half and made 4 hamburger buns in 8x8 pan. Then ground up carroway seeds in coffee/spice blender to coarse powder which I kneaded into the last dough. Then I rolled into 4 bread sticks. After letting them raise I brushed buns and breads ticks with beaten egg white. Topped buns with sesame seeds and breadsticks with coarse salt. Baked with the bread till golden. Turned out so good. Will always make these. Thanks for your receipe.
Debbie says
My tip is perhaps not surprising to some…I didn’t think of the mess I was about to make…I mixed the salt honey bak soda into the warm buttermilk. Volcanic mess! Not sure how the bread will come out as I had to scramble to try and catch the overflow and added what i think was the amount lost to the sink floor and cabs. Use large bowl if thats how you plan to follow the directions, not a 3 cup container.
April says
Can you make this in a Pullman loaf pan using the whole recipe?
Marye says
Im not sure. But I do have a pullman loaf recipe here - https://www.restlesschipotle.com/pain-de-mie/
April says
Thanks!!
Robin says
Can u use this recipe in a bread machine?
Marye says
I've never done it but some readers have.
Gayl Williams says
Can this bread be made in bread machine
Marye says
I don't have a bread machine and have never used one. Saying that - other readers have said that they've done it and it works.
Nanajee Travels says
This buttermilk bread looks absolutely amazing! 🥖💫 The rise and fluffiness are just perfect, and that touch of honey is such a sweet bonus! 🍯 It’s the kind of bread the whole family will enjoy! 😍🙌
Kristine says
Made this more than a few times and it always comes out! Great for first time bread makers! Simply delicious!
Charlie says
Been making all my breads with honey since rearing our own bees over a decade ago. Honey and buttermilk belong together, and you capitalized theIR flavors with this one dear. Follow recipe and instructions to the letter and you'll have the most delicious all purpose bread.. ever made in your kitchen. Makes excellent buns and rolls too. Definitely a keeper Marye, thank you so much.
june says
I have been baking bread for years. This is the best bread ever. My family loves it.
Maddy says
Hi Marye, if I put the dough into the fridge overnight for the second rise, must I bring it to room temperature before baking it the next day?
P.s. I have used this recipe about 3 times now and I love it!
Marye says
No, you'd just let it sit out for 10 minutes or so to finish rising. 🙂
june says
I have made bread for a long time. This is the best bread ever. My family loved it. will make it again and again. Thank you