Julia Child White Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- Warm water: 2.5 cups 105 degrees.
- Active dry yeast: 1 tablespoon.
- Sugar: 1 tablespoon.
- All-purpose flour: 6 to 7 cups.
- Salt: 1 tablespoon.
- Unsalted butter: 3 tablespoons melted.
Instructions
Bloom the Yeast
- Mix warm water, sugar, and yeast together. Let it sit for ten minutes. It should look foamy and bubbly.
Mix the Dough
- Add the melted butter to the water. Stir in four cups of flour. Add the salt now. Mix until it is a wet paste.
Add More Flour
- Add more flour one cup at a time. The dough should pull away from the bowl. It will be a bit sticky.
Knead the Dough
- Put dough on a floured surface. Knead it for ten full minutes. It must be smooth and elastic.
First Rise
- Place dough in a greased bowl. Cover it with a damp towel. Let it rise for two hours. It should double in size.
Shape the Loaves
- Punch the dough down to release air. Divide it into two equal pieces. Shape them into neat rectangles.
Second Rise
- Place the pieces into greased loaf pans. Cover them again for one hour. They should rise above the pan rim.
Bake the Bread
- Heat your oven to 375 degrees. Bake for about 30 to 35 minutes. The tops should be dark golden brown.
Cool the Bread
- Remove loaves from the pans immediately. Place them on a wire rack. Let them cool before slicing.
Notes
- Always check your yeast expiration date.
- Fresh yeast makes the bread rise high.
- Use a thermometer for the water.
- Too much heat kills the yeast.
- Do not skip the kneading step.
- Kneading creates the bread's structure.
- Let the bread cool completely.
- Slicing hot bread makes it gummy.
- Brush the top with butter for shine.
- It makes the crust soft and tasty.