Amish White (or wheat) Bread

This is an adaptation of a recipe from allrecipes.com. I don't like kneading dough, so I use my Bosch and have included the instructions for using a mixer (Kitchen-aid works too). You can find the original recipe here.

Ingredients:

2 cups warm water (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)

1/4 cup white sugar (or honey)

1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/4 cup vegetable oil

6 cups bread flour (or whole wheat flour)

1/2 tablespoon butter (optional)

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar (or honey) in warm water, and then stir in yeast. Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam. If using honey, the yeast will not foam up as much as it does with sugar.

2. Mix salt and oil into the yeast. Add 4 cups of flour to the mixer (using a dough hook) and mix for 2 minutes on speed 2. Then continue adding remaining 2 cups of flour, 1/2 cup at a time until mixture forms a ball on the hook and cleans the side of bowl (about 2 more minutes.) Then, beat continue beating on speed 2 for another 2 minutes.

3. Place in a well oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.

4. Punch dough down. Knead for a few minutes, and divide in half. Shape into loaves, and place into two well oiled 9x5 inch loaf pans. Allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until dough has risen 1 inch above pans.

5. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes.

6. For an extra delicious top, spread butter over the crust while it is still hot.

7. Once the bread is cooled, I highly recommend using an electric knife to slice the bread. I just invested in one ($10 at Ross) and it has made all the difference! No more mangled bread slices.

Yield: 2 loaves (24 slices)

Dough immediately after being place in pans (above). Dough after 30 minutes of rising (below).

I wish I had a picture of the baked bread, but I'm always too anxious to eat it and slice away before I can take a picture. Last night I made the Honey Whole Wheat version of this recipe and it was amazing!

Amish White bread:

Calories: 142 per slice

Fat: 2.6 g

Sodium 186.52mg

Total Carbohydrate 24.29 g

Dietary Fiber 0.21g

Sugars 2g

Protein: 4.29g

Amish Honey-Wheat Bread:

Amount per Serving

Calories 134

Total Fat 3.1g

Sodium 187.4mg

Total Carbohydrate 26.95g

Dietary Fiber 3.21g

Sugars 5.33g

Protein 4.29g