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!
Table of Contents
🗝️ 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.
- 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.
🎥 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:
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
The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
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
What’s new? Check out my Restless Chipotle & Co. Store on Amazon where you'll find all kinds of nostalgic goodness! Thanks so much for being a part of Restless Chipotle!
🎈 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
There may be a slight difference in how it rises and texture but it would be so minimal that you wouldn't notice. Kneading by hand is hard and takes longer, though.
Per slice. And I figure 8 slices per loaf.
I'd use a pinch of ginger. If using potato water then use that instead of plain water.
No. You don't have to use it and it does not flavor the bread. It does help activate the yeast and that's why I use it.
Yep! So Spray plastic wrap with no stick spray and cover your dough bowl. Refrigerate for no more than 24 hours then proceed according to instructions. Your second rising time may take a bit longer because of the cold.
📚 Related recipes
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.
- French Onion Garlic Bread
- Mexican Day of the Dead Bread (Pan de Muerto)
- Molasses Whole Wheat Bread
- Honey Cracked Wheat Bread
📞 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
Amish White Bread
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 1 cup water, 110F
- 1 pinch powdered ginger, optional - activates yeast
- 1 cup milk, 110F
- ⅔ cup sugar, (you can use less)
- 1 ½ tablespoons active dry yeast
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ¼ cup vegetable oil, coconut oil works really well here (melt it first and let it cool to 100F)! OR use melted butter
- 5-½ 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 (and ginger if using).
- 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 9x5-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.
Notes
- 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. A 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.
- 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 (updated for 2020) to find more great ideas including a recipe for a natural dough enhancer -
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.
Originally published April 2014. Last updated July 31, 2023 for more helpful information.
Denise says
Love it. My whole family loves it. Very easy instructions to follow. Thank you so much
Kathleen Nelson says
Thank you again for this recipe, Marye! I finally mustered up my courage to change the loaf into dinner rolls! They were a piece of cake.
~Kathleen Nelson
P.S. I bake them for 12-15 minutes @ 375
Kathleen Nelson says
Thank you for this simple, easy recipe! I make it all the time, and it also helped me in perfecting other various bread recipes. This is super helpful, fun, and easy for beginners and advanced bakers. Thank you so much!
~Kathleen Nelson
Judy says
This is the first yeast bread recipe I have ever made and it was terrific! My husband said that I do not need to buy store bought bread ever again. Never thought I could make yeast bread, but your recipe and bread tips made it so easy! Thank you!
Frances says
I am making my 2nd batch now!! I make it exactly as written and I LOVE it❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Kevin says
Just made this bread, never made a "milk" bread before, looks and smells so good, can't wait to slice it up!!!!
Andrea Robinson says
This is my favorite, go to recipe. It's so versatile. I make traditional bread, I've used it for cinnamon rolls, but my favorite if for pizza dough. I tweak it a bit for pizza dough though. A little more salt and a fraction of the sugar and I add garlic powder and rosemary. It's so good. All I ever buy is all purpose flour and it works great! I wind up with 2 huge loaves of bread. It's soft and Fluffy. Definitely the best recipe I've found so far.
Denise Powell says
I love love this recipe! Make it for my everyday bread. I’m an experienced baker but always eager to learn. I’ve always rolled my bread dough out to a 9x15 rectangle and then roll up sealing bitten and sides and then putting it into my loaf pan. This recipe just says to shape into loaf. Am I doing it wrong by rolling it out? Thanks so much. Love your website and I’ve shared your recipes as far as Australia!
Uriah says
Have you tried this with whole wheat? If so what adjustments did you have to do?
Marye says
You can make it with whole wheat BUT the texture is different. I'd suggest my 100% whole wheat bread instead - https://www.restlesschipotle.com/molasses-whole-wheat-bread-recipe/
Beth Meyer says
My husband and two-year-old daughter love this recipe! It’s delicious and so fluffy! I have tried this recipe with butter and with coconut oil and was surprised at the difference in flavor. We like the coconut oil version best!
Erin says
I absolutely love this bread recipe! I’ve had amazing success with my stand mixer and by kneading by hand. My daughter (6) usually baulks at my homemade bread but she eats this one with zero complaints. My husband does find it a bit on the sweet side for his taste so I was wondering would I get similar results with less sugar? Maybe reduce it to a half cup or a third of a cup?
Marye says
YAY! Erin - try this Buttermilk Bread. It's less sweet and has a soft, fluffy texture.https://www.restlesschipotle.com/buttermilk-bread/
Maria B says
. I made homemade chili for dinner. I thought this would go nicely. This recipe was so easy, so well written and most of all SO DELICIOUS! Well done
Patti says
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this recipe! Thank you so much for sharing it with all of us! Can you tell me what temperature and for how long you bake the dinner rolls?
Marye says
375 for 20 minutes. 🙂
Lamont Cranston says
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!
Edith says
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.
Sophia says
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 says
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/
Dawn Carden says
Loved this bread , turned out beautifully !
jaye says
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.
jayefromjersey says
This bread is Wonderful!! Once you make it you will fall in love with it! Instead of milk I use heavy or light cream.
billiejo lear says
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 says
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.