Name: Homemade Sweet Bread for Beginners | Bread Easy Recipes
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 cup milk; 1 egg; 1/2 cup sugar; 1/4 cup butter, melted; 1 tbsp baking powder; 1/2 tsp salt; 1 tsp vanilla extract

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This sweet bread recipe is the kind I reach for when I want something cozy but don’t want to spend hours baking. It’s simple, forgiving, and honestly—delicious enough to eat straight from the oven with your hands (no judgment). When I first made this as a beginner, I didn’t expect much. Flour, sugar, milk—how exciting could it be? Turns out, plenty. This bread is soft, a little chewy, just sweet enough, and absolutely perfect for breakfast, snacks, or those ‘just because’ bites. The scent alone is enough to make your kitchen feel like a warm hug. Whether you’re baking with kids, baking for yourself, or baking because your kitchen needs that freshly-baked smell again—this one’s worth it. And it uses ingredients you already have. Let’s get into it, shall we?

1) Key Takeaways
2) Easy Homemade Sweet Bread Recipe
3) Ingredients for Homemade Sweet Bread
4) How to Make Homemade Sweet Bread
5) Tips for Making Homemade Sweet Bread
6) Making Homemade Sweet Bread Ahead of Time
7) Storing Leftover Homemade Sweet Bread
8) Try these Bread Recipes next!
9) Homemade Sweet Bread
10) Nutrition

1) Key Takeaways

A quick, reliable bread recipe with simple ingredients.
No stand mixer or bread machine required.
Great beginner recipe that’s forgiving and tasty.
Perfect as a breakfast, snack, or base for creative toppings.

2) Easy Homemade Sweet Bread Recipe

If you’ve ever stood in your kitchen staring at a bag of flour and wondered what kind of magic you could make with it, this sweet bread might be your answer. It’s simple. It’s cozy. It’s the kind of recipe that gives off the kind of confidence that makes you feel like maybe—just maybe—you’re the kind of person who bakes their own bread regularly. No judgment if you’re not. I’m still working on that too.

This recipe uses ingredients most of us already have. The prep is quick, the instructions are chill, and the result is that lovely, just-sweet-enough loaf you can enjoy warm with butter or toasted the next day with a smear of jam. It falls squarely in the category of bread easy recipes, and it really does live up to the title.

Whether you’re brand new to baking or just craving something simple and fresh from the oven, this sweet bread fits the bill. And if you’re a fan of sweet easy recipes or quick and easy recipes, this loaf belongs on your shortlist.

3) Ingredients for Homemade Sweet Bread

All-purpose flour: This gives our bread its body. You’ll need 2 cups, measured gently and leveled off. Scoop carefully so you don’t pack too much flour in. Trust me, I’ve made that mistake and ended up with a brick instead of a loaf.

Milk: One cup of milk, preferably room temp. It helps the bread stay soft and just a touch creamy. I’ve used 2 percent, but whole milk works if you like things richer.

Egg: One large egg binds the ingredients and adds structure. Beat it lightly before mixing it into the batter to make things easier to combine.

Sugar: Half a cup is just enough to call this sweet bread, but not so much that it feels like cake. It’s balanced and mellow.

Butter: Melted and golden. A quarter cup gives the bread richness and that buttery aroma that makes your kitchen smell like a bakery.

Baking powder: Just a tablespoon lifts the batter so it rises beautifully without yeast. Think of it as our shortcut to fluffiness.

Salt: Half a teaspoon sharpens the flavors and balances the sweetness. Never skip it.

Vanilla extract: One teaspoon adds depth and warmth. It’s subtle but totally necessary in a sweet bread like this.

4) How to Make Homemade Sweet Bread

Step 1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a standard loaf pan and set it aside. If you’re using parchment paper, good on you. That makes cleanup even easier.

Step 2. In a big bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Use a whisk. It helps break up any lumps and gets everything evenly distributed. Dry ingredients like to clump together, and we don’t want that.

Step 3. In a separate bowl, whisk the milk, egg, vanilla, and melted butter. The butter might solidify a little if your milk is cold, so let the milk sit out for a bit beforehand.

Step 4. Pour the wet mixture into the dry. Stir gently, just until everything’s combined. It’s okay if the batter’s a little lumpy. Overmixing makes the bread tough, and we’re going for soft here.

Step 5. Pour the batter into your loaf pan. Use a spatula to smooth the top, or give the pan a little shake and tap to even things out. Pop it in the oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes.

Step 6. Check doneness with a toothpick. If it comes out mostly clean with a few crumbs, you’re golden. Let the bread cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before moving it to a wire rack.

5) Tips for Making Homemade Sweet Bread

Start with room-temperature ingredients. Cold milk or eggs can mess with how the butter behaves, and you want everything to blend smoothly.

Be gentle when you mix. This isn’t a workout. Overmixing can lead to a dense, chewy loaf instead of one that’s soft and light.

Use fresh baking powder. Old baking powder won’t lift your bread the way it should. If yours has been sitting in the pantry for over a year, replace it before you start.

6) Making Homemade Sweet Bread Ahead of Time

This bread holds up well if you need to bake it a day in advance. Once it cools, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or foil and leave it on the counter. It’ll still be tender the next morning.

You can freeze the whole loaf, too. Wrap it well, slide it into a freezer bag, and it’ll keep for a couple of months. Thaw it at room temp, then slice and toast for a warm treat.

It’s a good idea to bake two loaves—one to eat, one to stash away. You’ll be glad you did when you want another slice and don’t feel like pulling out mixing bowls again.

7) Storing Leftover Homemade Sweet Bread

Keep your bread in an airtight container at room temperature. It’ll stay good for three or four days. After that, things start to go dry.

Want to stretch it? Toast leftover slices and add a pat of butter. Or drizzle a little honey. You could even turn it into French toast if you’re feeling fancy (but not too fancy).

If your kitchen runs warm, consider storing it in the fridge. Just know it’ll firm up a bit. A quick toast brings it right back.

8) Try these Bread Recipes next!

9) Homemade Sweet Bread