Honey Buttermilk Bread

Published: Jun 26, 2022 Last Updated: Jul 9, 2024 by Marye 2562 words. | About 13 minutes to read this article.

This easy buttermilk bread recipe rises high, light, and fluffy! Honey gives it a little touch of sweetness that's just delicious! It's a simple country loaf that the whole family will love!

Prep Time 2 30

Cook Time 30

Rising time 2 15

Total Time 5 15

Jump to Recipe

If you love warm bread fresh from the oven (with butter melting on top) as much as we do you'll find tons more homemade bread recipes here.

Loaves of bread fresh from the oven. — Don't you just want to spread a ton of butter on a thick, warm slice of this honey buttermilk bread? I do!

Table of Contents

❤️ Why you'll love it
⭐ Readers say
🧾 Ingredients
🔪 Instructions
🍞 Bread machine instructions
🎥 Video
🥫 Storage
📖 Variations
💭 Things to know
Troubleshooting
👩‍🍳 FAQs
📚 Related recipes
🍽️ Serve with...
📞 The last word
📖 Recipe
💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love it

There's nothing like the taste (and smell!) of homemade bread!
Over 900 5 star reviews plus lots of rave reviews on Pinterest and Facebook.
This easy bread recipe has been in the top 3 on Google since I published it in 2008!

This truly is a no fail buttermilk bread recipe - millions of readers have tried it and loved it because it comes out delicious, light and fluffy every time!

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.

⭐ Readers say

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Definitely 5 Stars Thank You for posting these awesome recipes. Having you with your background and experience post for all of us who are always looking to find a better way of preparing delicious food is remarkable!! I personally want to Thank You for your kindness and thoughtfulness!💕💕💕. Debra A.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Just made this for the first time, I have never made bread like this. I was worried because the buttermilk mixture was so fluffy but this bread turned out AMAZING! Such a good flavor! It’s subtly sweet and has great texture. Thanks for the recipe! Stacy

🧾 Ingredients

This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

Honey buttermilk bread is so unbelievably light that no one will believe it's made from scratch.

Buttermilk bread ingredients with labels. — `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 make homemade 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.

🔪 Instructions

This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.

Just follow the images to see how to mix, knead, and shape this easy, homemade sandwich loaf.

Mixing and kneading

Step by step images for making bread. — How to mix and knead homemade buttermilk bread.

Mix the sugar, ginger, yeast, and warm water in a small bowl and set aside until foamy.
Whisk the buttermilk, honey, salt, and baking soda together in a large bowl.
Add it to the yeast mixture.
Pour into the bowl of a stand mixer.
Add three cups of flour and mix until smooth, about 3 to 5 minutes on low speed of a stand mixer.
Pour in the butter and blend.
Switch to kneading hook (dough hook attachment). Add the rest of the flour, one cup at a time, keeping mixer on low speed.
When buttermilk dough pulls from the sides of the bowl remove it from the mixer to a lightly floured work surface. Knead it by hand a few times until elastic and smooth
Place dough in greased mixing bowl, turn to grease the top, and cover with a clean tea towel. Let rise about 1 ½ hours.

Shaping

Step by step images of how to shape the dough. — `How to shape homemade sandwich bread step by step.`

Punch dough down. You'll want to give it a gentle kneading for a minute or two but nothing like the first time! Don't over-knead it.
Shape into loaves.
Place loaves in bread pans and let rise until double. Bake.
Remove finished loaves from oven. Brush with butter.
Cool on a wire rack and slice.
Perfect!

🍞 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

Click on the image to watch me knead this. (Video opens in a new tab).

🥫 Storage

Homemade bread doesn't last long after it's baked. You can wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or place in an airtight storage container and keep it at room temperature for about 2 days.

For longer storage cool completely, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 3 months.

I like to cut it in slices and freeze with a piece of wax paper or parchment paper between the slices. That way I can just thaw what I need without thawing the whole loaf.

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.

Loaf of buttermilk bread sliced to show interior. — Buttermilk bread has the softest crumb and velvety texture!

📖 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

Can you substitute sugar for the honey in this buttermilk bread recipe?

Yes! This bread recipe is made with honey but you can use sugar in it instead. Use an equal amount or slightly less sugar.

What bread pans are best?

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.

How do you keep homemade bread crusts soft?

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.

How do you keep crust crispy?

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.

How do I know when it is done?

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.

How to make fluffy bread

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.

Can I use a food processor instead of a mixer?

Sure, you'll need to halve the recipe and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Be careful not to overknead.

A finished loaf of bread in a glass pan. — Keep the crust soft by brushing it with butter while it's still hot then covering with a tea towel.

🍽️ Serve with...

This bread makes delicious sandwiches! Try it with -

📞 The last word

This country white bread is a classic recipe that you'll use again and again!

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. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

This recipe has been undated from the original 2008 version to improve reader experience. Last updated June 26, 2022 for more information and better instructions.

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About Marye

Meet Marye Audet, a wizard in the kitchen and a storyteller at heart. Marye is like your eccentric but fun aunt who knows all the secret recipes and isn't afraid to spill them. She's been around the culinary block more than once, turning simple ingredients into mouthwatering masterpieces. With a sprinkle of humor and a dash of wit, she makes cooking feel like a piece of cake (which she can also teach you to bake perfectly). When she's not conjuring up delicious dishes, you might find her sharing laughs with her family, reading by the fire, or scribbling down her next big recipe idea. Marye believes that a good meal and a hearty laugh are the best parts of life. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

Comments

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