Super Soft Vanilla Milk Bread
Ingredients:
1 cup warm milk
2¼ tsp active dry yeast
¼ cup sugar
1 large egg (room temperature)
¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
1 tsp vanilla extract
3½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp salt
Directions:
Activate Yeast: In a large bowl, stir the warm milk and sugar together. Sprinkle the yeast on top and let it sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.
Make Dough: Add the egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract to the yeast mixture. Stir in the flour and salt gradually. Mix until a shaggy dough forms, then knead (by hand or with a mixer) for about 8–10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. The dough should feel soft and slightly tacky.
First Rise: Form the dough into a ball and place it in a greased bowl. Cover with a damp cloth and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
Shape: Punch down the risen dough and knead briefly. Shape it into a loaf (or divide into equal pieces and roll into balls for rolls). Place the dough into a greased loaf pan (or arrange balls in a baking dish if making rolls).
Second Rise: Cover and let the dough rise again for 30–45 minutes, until puffy and almost doubled. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Bake: Bake the bread for about 30–35 minutes (20–25 minutes for rolls) or until the top is golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped. If it browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil.
Cool & Serve: Remove from the oven and brush the top with a bit of melted butter for extra softness. Let the Vanilla Milk Bread cool for 10–15 minutes before slicing. Enjoy the super soft texture of this homemade loaf warm or at room temperature.
