Milk Bread Loaf That’s Fluffy, Soft, and So Easy – easy bread recipes
Let’s talk about this milk bread loaf. It's so soft and light, it practically floats off the cutting board. When I first made it, I had to swat away my family’s curious hands before it cooled. I mean, warm bread is hard to resist, right?
This loaf has that slightly sweet flavor that feels like a cozy hug. It slices like a dream, toasts up golden, and makes the best French toast I’ve had in months. We’re talking the kind of bread that makes a simple PB&J feel gourmet.
I’ll walk you through it step-by-step, and don’t worry—no obscure tools or fancy flours here. Just basic pantry staples, a bit of patience, and the promise of a ridiculously fluffy loaf. Let’s get into it!
Servings: 10 slices
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup (30g) bread flour
- 3 tbsp (45g) water
- 3 tbsp (45g) milk
- 2½ cups (325g) bread flour
- 3 tbsp (38g) sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp (6g) instant yeast
- 1/2 cup (120g) milk
- 1 egg
- 3 tbsp (42g) unsalted butter, softened
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine 1/4 cup bread flour, 3 tbsp water, and 3 tbsp milk over medium heat.
- Whisk constantly until it thickens into a paste. Remove from heat and let it cool to room temp.
- In a large bowl, combine bread flour, sugar, salt, and instant yeast.
- Add the cooled flour paste, milk, and egg. Mix to form a shaggy dough.
- Knead the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic. This takes about 10–15 minutes.
- Add the softened butter and knead until fully incorporated and dough is smooth again.
- Cover and let it rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 1 to 1.5 hours.
- Punch down the dough and divide into 3 equal parts. Shape each into a ball.
- Roll out each ball into an oval, fold the sides inward, and roll up tightly.
- Place each rolled piece into a greased loaf pan. Cover and let rise again for 45–60 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Brush the top with milk or egg wash if desired. Bake for 30–35 minutes until golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely.