Sweet Milk Bread recipe - Chef Lola's Kitchen (2024)

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Sweet Milk Bread – Nothing whets the appetite like the aroma of a yeast bread baking in the oven. This white bread is soft, slightly chewy, milky and sweet.

Sweet Milk Bread recipe - Chef Lola's Kitchen (1)

WHITE BREAD

Baking fresh bread at home does not only bring rich soul-satisfying fragrant aromas, but it also delivers a quintessential home-baking experience.

Growing up, we lived a couple of blocks away from the bakery so we had access to fresh Bread almost every time, so when I lefthome a couple of years ago I began to crave for that sweet, soft and slightly chewy Bread that I grew up with.

I searched different grocery stores but I did not get exactly what I wanted. The only choice I had left was to start trying out recipes. I tried out a ton of Bread recipes both online and in books, and years after (yes you read right, years!) I was able to come up with this beautiful sweet milk bread recipe after a lot of trials, fails and now, success!

Sweet Milk Bread recipe - Chef Lola's Kitchen (2)

You can make this Sweet white Bread with or without a mixer. However, in order to achieve a perfect result, you need to useBread Flourbecause it has a higher gluten content compared to the all-purpose Flour.Though I’ve used all-purpose flour a couple of times and it turned out good but I will favor the outcome of Bread flour over that all-purpose flour because the difference is clear.

How to make the Basic Sweet MilkWhite Bread with the stand Mixer

The first thing to check is the capability of your machine. A large stand mixer will successfully handle about 7 to 8 cups of flour. However, if you have a smaller stand mixer, I will advise that you divide this recipe into two.

Another important fact is that there is a very high tendency for you to over-knead the dough while using a stand mixer. Therefore, I will advise you to start checking how the dough is doing after about five minutes from the time you started the kneading process.

To use the stand mixer, simply add all the ingredients into the mixing bowl and start mixing together using the dough hook on low speed till a mass of dough is formed. Continue to process until the dough cleans up the sides of the dough.

If all your ingredients are correctly measured, you will have no need to add more liquid. However, if there’s a need to add more flour, feel free to do that (a little at a time) until you achieve a soft and elastic but not sticky dough.

Sweet Milk Bread recipe - Chef Lola's Kitchen (3)

How to Make the Sweet Bread without a Stand Mixer

This bread loaf can also be made with no stand mixer. You will need a clean table with a comfortable height and of course, some elbow strength! This hand kneading method should take about 10 minutes.

Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl, once everything is well combined, turn the dough to a lightly floured work surface and begin to knead until the dough is no longer sticky and it becomes soft, smooth and elastic.

Just like I stated for the machine method above, if you measure all your ingredients correctly, you will have no need to add more liquid. However, for the hand kneading method, you will need to add more flour – a little at a time as needed until you achieve a soft and elastic but not sticky dough.

Other Bread Recipes you might want to try:

  • Quick and Easy Hot Dog Buns Recipe
  • How To Make Bread Rolls
  • Sausage Bread Rolls
  • No-knead Bread Rolls
  • No-knead Garlic Bread-Garlic Knots
  • Chicken Stuffed Braided Bread
  • Crusty No-knead Dutch Oven Bread
  • No-knead French Bread
  • Raisin Bread Rolls
  • Meat Buns
  • Easy Honey Whole Wheat Bread
  • Moist and Indulgent Pumpkin Bread

Please note that you need to induce steam into the Oven by pouring water in a pan and placing it on the bottom rack of the oven. This will ensure that the bread bakes well and rises to its full potential before the crust is formed. It also helps to achieve that soft crust.

Sweet Milk Bread recipe - Chef Lola's Kitchen (4)

This is not a quick bread method, but the wait time is well worth it, therefore, let the dough rest well. This rest period will allow the gluten to develop well. Don’t hasten or shorten the rest time and you will be rewarded with a perfectly soft and chewy sweet loaf of bread.

Let’s talk about Yeasts

There are a whole lot of yeast types that you can use in bread making. However, I will be talking about the two main types that are common to the home baker.

The first is the active dry yeast and the second is the instant yeast (also known as the fast rice or rapid-rise yeast). Learn the difference and similarities of active dry yeast and instant yeast here.

The active dry yeast may or may not be proofed. I know this may be a bit surprising because a lot of people think that there is a need to proof the active dry yeast. I have used the active dry yeast several times without proofing it and with great result.

On the other hand, Rapid Yeast does not require any proofing. You can add this directly to your dry ingredients. It will work just fine.

I will always encourage those who are new to baking to always proof their yeast with warm water between a temperature of 110°F and 115°F and a bit of Sugar just to make sure that the yeast is alive and well. A bad yeast will produce a bad bread.

For this recipe, I proofed my yeast just to help new bakers get it right. If you are not new to baking, you may skip that step.

Other Notes:

  • Make sure you measure all the ingredients accurately.
  • Bring all the Eggs and butter to room temperature before using it.
  • Be sure that the water you use is warm, not hot or cold.
  • I added Vitamin C Powder. You can replace this with Vinegar. This acts as a preservative and it also creates an acidic environment which helps the Yeast to work better.
  • When the dough is rising, it’s very important to place it in a warm place. I usually place mine in the Oven with the oven light on.
  • Depending on the Oven you use, some ovens require that you rotate the bread from back to front during the baking process for even brownness.
  • To test for doneness, simply insert a skewer inside the middle of the bread
  • Once the bread is done, butter the surface to give the bread a shiny, soft and tender crust.
  • To get the best texture from your bread, let it cool down completely before slicing it.
  • Always let the Bread come to room temperature before wrapping it and storing it.

What type of Oven Should I use for baking my Bread?

All types of Oven – Gas oven, Electric oven, Convection oven or conventional Ovenwill all give you a good bread. However, I will like to talk a bit about the effect of the electric oven on the bread.

The electric Ovens have coils that are exposed, and this produces direct heat on the pan from the bottom. Therefore, there is a high tendency for your Bread to burn when using this type of Oven. To prevent this from happening, simply place a foil paper over the oven rack before placing your bread pan on it. The foil paper will prevent the directeffect of the exposed coils on the bread

For all oven types, you may want to rotate the bread halfway during the baking process in order to achieve the even brownness.

Sweet Milk Bread recipe - Chef Lola's Kitchen (5)

There are a couple of Bread recipes that I usually make in my house (Yep, we love Bread). Feel free to check here to see if you

Sometimes, we forget about the Tea, Sauce, Butter or Eggs and we end up eating the bread as is within a couple of hours. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Sweet Milk Bread recipe - Chef Lola's Kitchen (6)

Sweet Milk Bread recipe

Sweet Milk Bread – Nothing whets the appetite like the aroma of a yeast bread baking in the oven. This white Bread is soft, slightly chewy, milky and sweet.

4.60 from 112 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Breakfast, Brunch

Cuisine: Global

Keyword: homemade, Milk Bread, Sweet Bread, White Bread

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Resting Time: 1 hour hour 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 2 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 Loaves

Calories: 1026kcal

Author: Lola Osinkolu

Ingredients

  • 6 Cups Bread Flour 6 to 6.5
  • 1 Cup Sugar
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Vitamin C Powder Vinegar or Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1 Teaspoon Salt
  • 3 Tablespoons Butter
  • 2 Tablespoons Yeast
  • 1 Cup Water
  • 1 Cup Milk
  • 2 Eggs

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

Without a Stand Mixer

  • Dissolve the yeast and 2 teaspoons sugar in warm water and the Yeast to Proof for 5 minutes or till the yeast becomes frothy.

  • In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, sugar, and salt. Mix well.

  • Create a well in the middle of the flour mixture, add the yeast mixture, eggs, milk, melted butter and vinegar (vitamin c powder) andbegin to mix with your hands until a mass of sticky dough is formed.

  • Transfer the dough to a floured work surface and begin to knead dusting the table with a little bit of flour at a time to prevent the dough from sticking to your work surface.

  • After about 10 minutes of working the dough, it should become smooth and elastic. Transfer the dough inside the large mixing bowl.

  • Coat it with a little oil to prevent it from drying out and cover with a damp cloth. Place in a warm place to rise for one hour or until it's doubled in size.

  • After one hour, bring out the dough and punch it down to remove the excess air. Don't overbeat it.

  • Transfer the dough back to the work surface. Divide it into four equal parts and shape each into a loaf. You can also knead the dough into a rectangular shape with a rolling pin and then tightly roll it up (as you would a Mat) into a loaf.

  • Prepare four loaf pans by greasing them with oil and dusting them with flour or simply spray them with a non-stick cooking spray.

  • Place the shaped dough inside the prepared loaf pans, cover and leave to rise for 30 minutes.

  • After 30 minutes, place the loaves inside a 350°F preheated oven and bake between 20 to 25 minutes or till a toothpick inserted in the middle of the bread comes out clean.

  • Leave to cool for a couple of minutes and enjoy!

Stand Mixer Instructions

  • Dissolve the yeast and sugar in warm water and the Yeast to Proof for 5 minutes or till the yeast becomes frothy.

  • Add all the ingredients (except the butter) inside the bowl of the mixer. Set the mixer to medium speed and begin to mix.

  • Afterabout 4 to 5 minutes of mixing the dough, turn off the mixer and add the butter. Then continue to mix for about 2 to 3 more minutes until the dough becomes elastic and pulls away from the sides of the Bowl.

  • (Proceed with the remaining steps from 6 above)

Notes

1-I added Vitamin C Powder. This can also be replaced with Vinegar. This acts as a preservative and it also creates an acidic environment which helps the Yeast to work better.

2-The Butter helps to enhance the flavor, texture, and moisture in the bread.

3-I steamed up the Oven so that the Dough will have enough time to rise before the crust is formed.

4-I Buttered the Bread surface to get a shiny, soft and tender crust.

Nutrition

Calories: 1026kcal | Carbohydrates: 196g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 110mg | Sodium: 722mg | Potassium: 330mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 53g | Vitamin A: 480IU | Calcium: 112mg | Iron: 9.1mg

Watch the step by step video on how to make this sweet Milk Bread

Let’s Connect.

You can find me onFacebook, andInstagram.I love keeping in touch with all of you!

If you make thisSweet Milk Bread, I’d love to see pictures of your creations on Instagram or Facebook.#cheflolaskitchen

Sweet Milk Bread recipe - Chef Lola's Kitchen (7)
Sweet Milk Bread recipe - Chef Lola's Kitchen (8)

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Sweet Milk Bread recipe - Chef Lola's Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

Why is my milk bread not fluffy? ›

If your milk bread is dense, mostly likely, the dough is under-kneaded. The dough needs to develop enough gluten to expand and become soft and fluffy. A sure way to ensure that the dough is kneaded enough is using the window pane test.

Why does milk bread taste so good? ›

Over the decades, Japanese bakers modified the Pullman loaf to appeal to the Japanese palate. As a result, shokupan is at once slightly sweet, buttery, and milky. This delicate balance comes from simple ingredients like white flour, yeast, milk powder, butter, salt, and sugar.

What makes milk bread different? ›

Milk bread (aka Hokkaido milk bread) is a slightly sweet Japanese white bread that is known for its super soft, fluffy texture. What is milk bread's so-soft texture and whispy pull-apart secret? Strands of the heated milk and flour paste known as tangzhong.

What makes baked bread soft and fluffy? ›

The yeast releases carbon dioxide, which fills the dough and increases its volume. Due to the heat, more gas bubbles emerge when this dough is baked. The bread rises and becomes soft and fluffy as the gas leaves.

What is the trick to fluffy bread? ›

Add Sugar

Adding sugar weakens the gluten structure, absorbs water, and eventually makes the bread lighter and softer. As a result, sugar improves the bread's taste, structure and texture. Yeast also eats up sugar to produce carbon dioxide, which raises the dough and makes bread fluffy.

Can you over knead milk bread? ›

Over-kneaded dough can become very hard to work with and produce a more flat and chewy bread. It's vital to stop mixing at the first signs of over-kneading, as a fully over-kneaded dough cannot be fixed.

How to tell when milk bread is done? ›

Probing the temperature.

If you are just starting off, then you can use one tool that will never let you down – a temperature probe. Most breads will be fully baked once the internal temperature reaches above 94C (200F). Enriched rolls and loaves that must be soft and fluffy can be baked to about 92C (198F).

Is shokupan the same as milk bread? ›

Not unlike its cousin, the North American sliced bread sold in plastic bags in every grocery store, Shokupan has minimal crust and pillowy interior. However, the resemblance stops there. Japanese milk bread is enriched and has way more fat. In fact, 7 times more, either coming from milk, butter or in this case, cream.

Is buttermilk bread the same as milk bread? ›

Taste wise the milk bread was slightly sweeter than a regular loaf made with water would be. Buttermilk and yogurt loaves had a slightly more intense flavour with hints of acidity but also sweetness. The sour cream bread had the richest taste and mouthfeel.

What is another name for milk bread? ›

The other name for milk bread is 'D pain au lait', a French term translating to 'milk bread'. Although, these types of breads can have different names in varying cultural contexts, and thus may not be completely identical. Challah, pita, and Pullman are distinctly different types of bread.

Why use milk powder instead of milk in bread? ›

High-heat nonfat milk powder is processed at a higher temperature, which means it has a higher denatured protein content. High-heat milk powder also has a sweeter, slightly more caramelized flavor. The added sweetness and protein helps bread dough rise—particularly enriched dough like brioche.

How do bakeries get their bread so soft? ›

There's something magical about the bread you get at your local bakeries - they're always sooo soft and fluffy. Many of these breads, especially packaged ones, are made with a ton of chemical additives such as calcium propionate, amylase, and chlorine dioxide which help keep them soft, light, and fluffy for days.

Does letting bread rise longer make it fluffier? ›

Does Rising Bread Affect Its Texture? For a fluffy bread texture, the key is to let the bread rise long enough.

Does adding more yeast make bread fluffier? ›

The more the yeast grows, the more gas forms in the dough. The more gas in the dough the fluffier the finished product will be. Now that you know the yeast is the rising (leavening) agent in the bread dough.

Why is my bread dense and not fluffy? ›

There may be several reasons for a dense, cake like texture in bread. It may indicate the kneading wasn't enough for the gluten to develop properly, or the dough was proved for too short a time or the dough may have been too dry. It is also worth checking the flour you used.

Why is my bread not poofing? ›

8 reasons why your bread dough is not rising:

Yeast should be stored in a cool, dry place. Yeast is too hot Yeast may have been dissolved in water that was too hot, or the liquid ingredients in the recipe may be too hot, causing the yeast to die. Yeast needs to be warm - not too hot, not too cold.

What happens when you add more milk to bread? ›

The fat and lactose in milk help with tenderizing the crumb of the bread making it softer and sweeter. The crust of the bread also gets more caramelization. Be aware that bread made with milk should not be baked at too high of a temperature to prevent it from browning too much too soon.

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