Make It Yourself...Simple White Bread Loaves and Pizza Crusts

Small pizzas made from 1/4 of dough each;
braided loaf in a 4 x 10" loaf pan from 1/2 recipe
All from the same batch of dough

This week we’re going to make simple white bread into bread pans, braided loaves or pizza crusts.  We like the flexibility of making whatever kind of bread we need from this great recipe just like Grandma’s.  I often make half of the bread into a sandwich loaf and the other half into a braided loaf or pizza crusts.  I usually choose bread flour, because it develops more gluten and gives a nice, firm loaf.  If you don’t bake bread often, use all-purpose flour.
Check out our mixer bread information HERE.  Remember, you can also make this recipe by hand too, the way I did for years.

Sandwich loaves in 4 1/2" x 8 1/2" loaf pans

Simple White Bread

Yield:  "2 Loaves”

  6 ¼    Cups  Flour, All-purpose  or Bread -- 1# 12 ounces

  3        Tablespoons  Sugar

  2        Packages  Instant Yeast or Bread Machine Yeast

  2        Teaspoons  Salt

  1 ½    Cups  Water -- 120°-125°

     ½    Cup  Milk -- 120°-125°

  2        Tablespoons  Butter, oil or lard

In mixer bowl, combine flour, sugar, yeast, and salt.  Heat water, milk and butter until very warm (120-125°).  Gradually add mixture to dry ingredients; beat 2 minutes at medium speed of electric mixer, scraping bowl occasionally.  Change to dough hook and knead on speed 2 for 6 minutes.

Cover bowl with plastic wrap or a tight cover; let rise 10 minutes in a warm place. (No need to grease the pan or dough if you cover it tightly.)

Loaves: (1 1/2 pound) Roll 1/2 of dough to 12 x 7" rectangle.  Beginning at short end, fold like an envelope, in thirds, tightly.  Pinch ends and seal.  Place in greased 8 1 2 x 4 1/2" loaf pan or a 4" x 10" loaf pan, seam side down.  Cover, let rise in warm place until doubled in size, about 25 minutes.  Bake at 400° for 30 minutes. Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.

Braids:  Divide 1/2 of dough into 3 equal pieces (8 ounces each).  Roll into 16" rope.  Braid on greased baking sheet.  Cover, let rise until doubled, about 30 minutes.  Beat 1 egg with 1 tablespoon water; brush over braid.  Sprinkle with sesame or poppy seeds if desired.  Bake at 400° for 25 minutes until done.  Remove from pan and cool on wire rack.

Pizza:  Grease 14" or two  12" round pizza pans.  Roll 1/2 of dough and fit into prepared pans. Bake at 400° for 10 minutes, top with sauce and desired toppings, return to oven and bake 10-15 minutes more until done.

Cost per loaf:  51¢ with bread flour, 41¢ with all-purpose flour and butter.