Big Beautiful White Pan Loaf

1 Bowl 3 Hours 20 Minutes Proofing/Rising 45 minutes Baking 1 9x5in Loaf serving This recipe is my favorite, simplest white bread loaf from the updated and revised version of the book Amy's Bread by Amy Scherber and Toy Kim Dupree. From the Simple Breads to Get You Started section :) There are numerous ways to customize this recipe to your taste, from the choice of flour, milk, and additional liquids or extracts. It yields one 9x5in loaf, so it's the perfect base recipe to riff off of.

Unbalanced

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

1. Combine the warm water and yeast in a small measuring cup and stir to dissolve the yeast and let stand 3 minutes.

Step 2

2. Mix the flours and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add the yeast mixture, cool water, milk, and oil. Use your hands to combine the ingredients into a sticky dough.

Step 3

3. Once all the flour is incorporated, transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 4 minutes. If it feels too firm and dry, knead in additional water, 1 tablespoon at a time.

Step 4

4. Lightly oil your mixing bowl and return the dough to it. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and let it rest for 20 minutes.

Step 5

5. Return the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for 6-7 minutes. It may still be difficult to work with, but using a dough paddle or oiling your hands can help. Do not add extra flour during kneading.

Step 6

6. Place the dough back into the oiled bowl, cover with a towel, and let it rise to room temperature for one hour.

Step 7

7. After an hour, turn the dough over in the bowl. Gently deflate the dough in the center, fold the left side over the middle, then the right side. Fold everything in half and gently pat it down. Turn it over so the seam side is down.

Step 8

8. Let the dough rise for another hour. When it's ready, any indentations should not spring back.

Step 9

9. Place the dough on a lightly floured surface. Gently deflate and pat it into a rectangle, then shape it into a loaf.

Step 10

10. Place the loaf seam side down into a greased 9x5-inch pan. Gently press it into the corners, cover with a towel, and let it rise for another hour.

Step 11

11. Thirty minutes before baking, preheat the oven to 450°F and place a small oven-safe container on the bottom rack.

Step 12

12. 5-10 minutes before baking, turn on some water to boil and add 2-3 ice cubes to your oven-safe dish in the oven.

Step 13

13. When the loaf is ready, spray it thoroughly with a water spray bottle. Carefully fill the oven-safe dish with 1 cup of boiling water immediately after, then quickly close the oven door and do not open it.

Step 14

14. Bake at 450°F for 15 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 375°F and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes.

Step 15

15. Remove the loaf from the pan and let it cool.