Julia Child's White Bread

Discover the magic of homemade bread with Julia Child’s White Bread recipe, a timeless classic that combines simplicity and sophistication. This foolproof recipe yields perfectly soft, tender loaves with a golden crust, making it ideal for everything from morning toast to hearty sandwiches. Crafted with pantry staples like bread flour, butter, and whole milk, it delivers a rich, buttery flavor that rivals any bakery creation. With an easy-to-follow process, including techniques like kneading for a smooth, elastic dough and letting it rise to perfection, this recipe is perfect for both beginners and seasoned bakers. Serve freshly baked slices warm with a pat of butter, or let them cool for the perfect sandwich base—this versatile bread is sure to become a household favorite. Create your homemade baking masterpiece today with Julia Child’s tried-and-true recipe!

Nutriscore Rating: 60/100

Prep Time:120 mins

Cook Time:35 mins

Total Time:155 mins

Servings: 2

Ingredients

• 2.5 teaspoons Active dry yeast
• 0.25 cup Warm water (110°F)
• 1 tablespoon Granulated sugar
• 1 cup Whole milk
• 3 tablespoons Butter (unsalted, melted)
• 2 teaspoons Salt
• 1 tablespoon Granulated sugar
• 4.5 cups Bread flour (or all-purpose flour)
• 1 tablespoon Butter (softened, for greasing)

Directions

Step 1

In a small bowl, combine the yeast, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and warm water. Stir gently and let sit for about 5 minutes until the mixture becomes frothy.

Step 2

In a small saucepan, heat the milk until warm but not boiling (about 110°F). Remove from heat and stir in the melted butter, salt, and an additional tablespoon of sugar. Allow to cool slightly.

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, combine the yeast mixture and milk mixture. Gradually add 2 cups of flour and mix until smooth.

Step 4

Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, mixing until the dough begins to come together. You may not need all the flour, so add cautiously. The dough should be soft but not sticky.

Step 5

Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for about 8-10 minutes, or until smooth and elastic.

Step 6

Grease a large bowl with softened butter. Place the kneaded dough into the bowl, turning it to coat with butter. Cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm spot for about 1-1.5 hours, or until doubled in size.

Step 7

Punch down the dough to release air and divide it into two equal portions. Shape each portion into a loaf and place into greased 9x5-inch loaf pans.

Step 8

Cover the loaf pans loosely with a kitchen towel and let rise again for about 30-45 minutes, or until the dough has risen slightly above the edge of the pans.

Step 9

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).

Step 10

Bake the loaves in the center of the oven for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped.

Step 11

Remove the loaves from the pans and place them on a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(968.2g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2729.0

Total Fat 60.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 35.3g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.3g
Cholesterol 155.1mg	0%
Sodium 4923.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 468.5g	0%
Dietary Fiber 16.8g	0%
Total Sugars 38.4g
Protein 69.4g	0%

Vitamin D 116.5IU	0%
Calcium 398.9mg	0%
Iron 25.1mg	0%
Potassium 1138.7mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 20.2%

Protein: 10.3%

Carbs: 69.5%