An easy, beginner-friendly recipe for a homemade sweet bread loaf. It bakes up incredibly soft and fluffy, making it the perfect bread for sandwiches and toast.
Activate Yeast (Optional): If using active dry yeast, dissolve it in the warm water with a teaspoon of sugar. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy. (If using instant yeast, skip and add to flour.)
In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, salt, and yeast.
Pour in warm milk, water, egg, and butter. Mix until a soft dough forms.
Knead for about 8–10 minutes by hand (or 5–6 minutes using a mixer) until smooth and elastic. If sticky, add a tablespoon of flour at a time — but don’t make it too dry.
Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot for 1–1½ hours, or until doubled in size.
Punch down the dough, roll it into a rectangle, then roll it up tightly into a loaf shape. Place it in a greased 9x5-inch loaf pan.
Cover and let rise again for 30–45 minutes, until the dough puffs up and nearly doubles.
Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 25–30 minutes, or until golden brown on top. (Tap the top — it should sound hollow.)
Brush the top with melted butter while still warm for a soft, shiny crust.
Notes
Please note that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe