White Bread "Perfected".

I am a white bread snob.  Growing up, we ate Wonder Bread. Soft, delicious, fluffy goodness.  We didn't eat the "store" brand. Gross.

There were many attempts to make a copycat version of the best bread....to no avail.  I've tried a zillion (okay, a lot) recipes and none of them has lived up to the real deal...until today!

I found a recipe somewhere and have been messing with it for awhile. I use SAF Instant Yeast and love the results I get. I alos use the sponge method to get even better results. What does that mean?  Sponging is mixing your liquid, sweetener, yeast, and flour together to rise for about 30 minutes before you add the rest of the flour. Better taste, better texture, better bread. Today was my second test run to make sure it was "worthy" of it's title.  It totally is. Soft, fluffy, even crumb, beautiful crust. Perfection. It stays soft for about 5 days...if it lasts that long!

 I make it in my Bosch so the recipe makes 4 loaves.

You could cut the recipe  in half and make it in your Kitchen Aid....but if you are really wanting to make bread for your family, save your pennies and buy a Bosch!  Best machine I've ever had.  

I give you,

White Bread Perfected

You will need:

4 c. warm water
3/4 c. sugar
3 T. SAF Instant Yeast

Place these ingredients in your mixer and mix them up.  Let them sit for a few minutes to proof. Technically, you don't need to do this and could mix the flour in now but old habits die hard with me.

When the yeast mixture is bubbly, add:

 4 cups of  bread flour

 Mix until a batter is formed.  It should look like pancake batter.  Cover and let the mixture rest for about 30 minutes. This is the "sponge" method I talked about.  After the 30 minutes, your batter will have risen a lot....like double to triple in volume.  Don't freak out....just turn on your mixer and deflate it.

Now next step.

Add:

 1/2 cup oil. I use vegetable oil, melted coconut oil. Whatever.

1 T. salt

Enough flour to make a nice soft, dough; around 5-6 cups.

Start mixing the flour in 1 cup at a time until your dough starts to clean the side of the bowl.

When that happens, knead the dough for 5 minutes.  I do this on Speed 2 in the Bosch.

The dough will be soft, but not sticky after kneading.

Turn out onto a greased counter top and divide into 4 loaves. I never turn my bread out onto a floured surface....it makes it dry and tough.

Let the loaves rise until double and bake in a 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes.

You can also use this dough for  fantastic cinnamon rolls, dinner rolls, hamburger buns, etc.