Few things make a kitchen feel more welcoming than the aroma of freshly baked bread. This homemade honey white bread combines simple ingredients to create a beautifully soft loaf with a delicate sweetness and a golden, lightly crisp crust.

Inspired by Ina Garten's classic recipe, this bread is surprisingly straightforward to prepare. Warm milk, melted butter and egg yolks give the dough its rich texture, while honey adds a subtle sweetness without overpowering the flavour.

The recipe produces two generous loaves, making it ideal for family breakfasts, sandwiches or freezing for another day.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Rising time: Approximately 2 hours

Baking time: 40–45 minutes

Total time: Approximately 3 hours 45 minutes

Yield: 2 loaves

Ingredients

120ml warm water (approximately 43°C)

14g active dry yeast

1 tsp sugar

360ml warm whole milk (approximately 43°C)

85g unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1½ tbsp honey

2 extra-large egg yolks

1 tbsp kosher salt

600g plain flour, plus extra if needed

1 extra-large egg white, lightly beaten

Extra softened butter for greasing

If using fine table salt instead of kosher salt, reduce the quantity to approximately 2 teaspoons to avoid oversalting the dough.

How To Make Honey White Bread

Step 1: Activate The Yeast

Pour the warm water into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook. Add the yeast and sugar, stirring gently until combined.

Leave the mixture for approximately five minutes. The yeast should begin to foam, indicating that it is active.

Ensure the water is comfortably warm rather than hot, as excessive heat can damage the yeast.

Step 2: Prepare The Dough

Add the warm milk, melted butter and honey to the yeast mixture. Mix briefly on a medium speed.

Add the egg yolks, salt and approximately 360g of flour. Mix on a low speed for five minutes.

Gradually incorporate the remaining 240g of flour, allowing the dough to come together.

Increase the mixer speed to medium and knead for approximately eight minutes. Add a little extra flour only if necessary, until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.

Step 3: Allow The Dough To Rise

Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface and knead by hand for another minute until smooth and elastic.

Place it in a large buttered bowl, turning once to coat the surface lightly.

Cover with a damp kitchen towel and leave somewhere warm for approximately one hour, or until doubled in size.

Step 4: Shape The Loaves

Grease two 23 × 13cm loaf tins with softened butter.

Divide the risen dough into two equal portions and shape each into a loaf.

Place them into the prepared tins, cover loosely and leave to rise for another hour, until noticeably expanded.

Step 5: Bake Until Golden

Preheat the oven to 175°C, or 160°C fan.

Brush the tops of both loaves gently with beaten egg white.

Bake on the middle shelf for 40–45 minutes, until golden brown. The loaves should sound hollow when tapped underneath.

Remove from the tins and transfer to a wire rack. Allow them to cool completely before slicing.

Tips For Perfect Homemade Bread

Accurate measurements are important when working with yeast dough. Adding too much flour can make the finished bread dense, so incorporate any additional flour gradually.

The dough should feel soft and slightly tacky while remaining manageable.

Allow sufficient time for both rising stages. In a cooler kitchen, the dough may need longer than an hour to double in size.

For neat slices, use a sharp serrated bread cutter once the loaves have cooled.

Serving And Storage Ideas

This versatile bread is delicious toasted with butter, fruit preserves or an extra drizzle of honey.

Its soft texture also makes it excellent for sandwiches, French toast and breakfast dishes.

Store cooled bread in an airtight container at room temperature for approximately three days.

For longer storage, wrap individual loaves tightly and freeze for up to three months. Defrost at room temperature before serving.

With its tender crumb, delicate honey flavour and beautiful golden crust, this homemade white bread is a comforting recipe worth making again and again.