The Best Amish White Bread

There’s something incredibly grounding about baking your own bread. The feel of dough in your hands, the warmth of the kitchen as it rises, and the smell that fills your home as it bakes—these are moments that turn an ordinary day into something special. Amish White Bread is one of those recipes that brings all of this together in the simplest, most satisfying way.

If you’ve ever wished you could recreate the pillowy-soft, slightly sweet white bread from your childhood or your favorite bakery, this is the recipe for you. Rooted in Amish traditions, this bread is easy to make, uses pantry staples, and delivers consistent, delicious results.

What is Amish White Bread?

Amish White Bread is a soft, mildly sweet bread that’s often made in home kitchens using simple, wholesome ingredients. Unlike some artisan loaves that rely on long fermentation or special techniques, this bread is all about ease, warmth, and practicality. It’s made with basic ingredients, kneaded by hand or mixer, and baked to a beautiful golden color with a light, fluffy crumb inside.

This bread is especially popular for sandwiches, toast, and French toast, but it’s also perfect straight out of the oven with a bit of butter. Its origins come from Amish communities known for their resourcefulness and quality baking traditions, and now, you can bring that same sense of home into your own kitchen.

Why You’ll Love This Homemade Amish White Bread Recipe

Whether you’re new to baking or already comfortable in the kitchen, there are plenty of reasons to love this recipe:

• It uses basic ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry.
• It’s versatile: you can use it for toast, sandwiches, bread pudding, or simply eat it fresh and warm.
• No special tools required: you don’t need a bread machine or stand mixer (unless you want to use one).
• Freezes beautifully: you can make a couple of loaves at once and freeze one for later.
• It’s reliable: this bread rises well, bakes evenly, and produces a consistent result every time.

Ingredients for Amish White Bread

You’ll be working with ingredients that are probably already in your kitchen. Here’s why each one matters:

• All-Purpose Flour
  This forms the structure of your bread. It keeps the crumb tender and soft, which is ideal for this kind of loaf.
• Warm Water
  Used to activate the yeast and bring the dough together. Temperature matters—too hot and you’ll kill the yeast; too cold and it won’t activate.
• Active Dry Yeast
  The leavening agent that gives your bread lift. It’s important to let it proof to ensure it’s active before moving forward.
• Granulated Sugar
  Adds a gentle sweetness and helps feed the yeast to promote rising.
• Salt
  Essential for flavor and also helps control yeast activity so your dough doesn’t rise too quickly.
• Vegetable Oil
  Keeps the bread soft and moist, even a day or two after baking.
• Optional: Butter (for brushing the crust)
  Adds flavor and keeps the crust soft and glossy once it’s out of the oven.

How to Make Amish White Bread Step-by-Step

Step 1 – Activate the Yeast

Start by combining warm water with sugar and active dry yeast in a bowl. Let it sit for about 10 minutes until it becomes foamy. This step ensures the yeast is alive and ready to go. If it doesn’t foam, your yeast may be expired.

Step 2 – Make the Dough

Add vegetable oil and salt to the yeast mixture. Begin adding flour gradually, mixing until a dough forms. The dough should be slightly tacky but not sticky. If you’re using a stand mixer, switch to the dough hook once it starts coming together.

Step 3 – First Rise

Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, turning it once to coat. Cover with a clean towel or plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm, draft-free space until it has doubled in size—this usually takes about one hour.

Step 4 – Shape and Second Rise

Punch down the dough gently, divide it into two equal parts, and shape into loaves. Place them into greased loaf pans and let rise again until the dough is just above the top edge of the pan, about 30–40 minutes.

Step 5 – Bake and Cool

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Bake the loaves for 25 to 30 minutes until they are golden brown and sound hollow when tapped. Remove from the oven, chill for 10 minutes in the pans, then turn out onto a cooling rack. Brush with melted butter if desired.

Tips for the Best Amish White Bread Every Time

Getting consistent results is easy when you follow a few simple rules:

• Use fresh yeast for dependable rising. If in doubt, test it before you start.
• Don’t add too much flour. A slightly sticky dough becomes soft bread. Over-floured dough can lead to a dense, dry loaf.
• Let it rise in a warm, quiet spot, away from drafts.
• Check your oven temperature with an oven thermometer for accurate baking.
• Cool completely before slicing to prevent a gummy texture.

Variations and Add-Ins for Your Amish White Bread

While the classic version is perfect as is, you can tweak it to suit your taste or needs:

• Honey Amish Bread: Substitute sugar with honey for a richer flavor.
• Milk Version: Replace warm water with milk to make the loaf extra tender and slightly richer.
• Cinnamon Raisin Bread: Add a swirl of cinnamon sugar and raisins before shaping the loaves.
• Half Whole Wheat: Replace half the flour with whole wheat for a more hearty version.
• Dinner Rolls: Shape the dough into balls and bake in a greased casserole dish.

Storage, Freezing, and Reheating Tips

One of the great things about Amish White Bread is how well it stores:

• Room Temperature: Wrap cooled bread in plastic or store in a bread box for up to 4 days.
• Freezing: Wrap tightly in foil and store in a freezer bag. Freeze whole loaves or sliced for convenience.
• Reheating: For that fresh-baked taste, warm slices in a toaster or whole loaves in the oven at 300°F for 10–15 minutes.

Nutrition and Dietary Notes

This bread is a wholesome, moderate-calorie option compared to processed store-bought loaves. Approximate nutrition per slice:

• Calories: ~160
• Carbohydrates: ~28g
• Protein: ~4g
• Fat: ~3g

It’s vegetarian and can be made vegan by omitting the butter or using plant-based options. For reduced sugar, cut the amount in half or try natural sweeteners.

FAQs About Amish White Bread

There’s nothing quite like the joy of baking your own bread, especially when it’s a classic like Amish White Bread. With its soft crumb, lightly sweet flavor, and dependable rise, it’s a recipe you’ll find yourself coming back to again and again. Whether you’re making sandwiches, serving it with dinner, or just enjoying a slice with butter, this bread brings warmth and tradition to your table.

So why not give it a try? Your kitchen is ready, your pantry is stocked, and this bread is waiting to become your new favorite homemade staple.

Print