- In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar, salt, and yeast.
- Add warm milk, melted butter, and egg (if using). Stir until a shaggy dough forms.
2. Knead (or No-Knead!)
Option 1: 5-Minute Hand Knead
- Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Option 2: No-Knead (Overnight)
- Cover dough and let rest 12-18 hours at room temp (it will self-knead!).
3. First Rise
- Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise 1-2 hours until doubled.
4. Shape & Second Rise
- Punch down dough and shape into a loaf (for a pan) or rolls (for a baking sheet).
- Cover and rise 45-60 minutes until puffy.
5. Bake to Golden Perfection
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Bake 25-30 minutes (loaf) or 15-18 minutes (rolls) until golden and hollow-sounding when tapped.
- Brush with melted butter right after baking.
Pro Tips for the Best Bread
Extra fluffy? Replace ½ cup milk with heavy cream.
Golden crust? Brush with egg wash (1 egg + 1 tbsp water) before baking.
Whole wheat version? Use 50% whole wheat flour + 50% bread flour.
Freeze for later? Slice and freeze for 2 months—toast straight from frozen!
