No-Fail Amish White Bread (2024)

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!

🗝️ 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!

Have troubled getting your bread to rise? You'll want to read these tips for getting bread dough to rise faster - even in a cold house!

🧾 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. Click on the image to see it full size.

1. Mix the yeast, sugar, and warm water.
2. Let it get foamy.
3. 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.
4. Place in an oiled bowl and cover.
5. Let rise until doubled.
6. Check by pushing your finger in. If the indent stays it has doubled.
7. Punch down.
8. Shape and place in greased loaf pan - let rise.
9. Bake.

🎥 Video

Hey y'all! Don't forget to check out my latest video where I guide you through each step of this delicious recipe. It's always great to have a visual guide, right? And as always, my cooking show, Restless Chipotle Kitchen, has got your back. If you're looking for more yummy ideas, dive into our full recipe collection on YouTube. You're gonna love it!

🍞 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:

• Yeast Baking Tips 1
• Yeast Baking Tips 2
• Troubleshooting

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

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.

📞 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

Originally published April 2014. Last updated July 31, 2023 for more helpful information.

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