Ina Garten’s Soft Honey White Bread Recipe for Beginners

Honey white bread transforms ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary culinary experience that beckons home bakers with its irresistible aroma and tender crumb.

Crafting this delightful loaf requires patience, precision, and a touch of baking magic that elevates simple pantry staples.

Soft and slightly sweet, the bread promises a comforting embrace that makes any meal feel special.

Delicate golden edges hint at the careful technique behind its creation, inviting you to knead, rise, and bake with confidence.

Professional techniques merge with homestyle warmth, turning basic ingredients into a masterpiece that fills your kitchen with nostalgic comfort.

Subtle honey notes dance through each slice, promising a sensory journey that connects tradition with modern baking artistry: Get ready to slice into pure deliciousness!

Sweet Start to Your Day: Why You’ll Love Honey White Bread

• Create Pillowy Soft Bread: This recipe guarantees incredibly tender and light bread with a delicate crumb that melts in your mouth, perfect for sandwich lovers seeking cloud-like texture.
• Enjoy Natural Sweetness Boost: Honey adds a gentle, nuanced sweetness that elevates the bread's flavor profile without overwhelming the classic bread taste, making each slice subtly delightful.
• Master Foolproof Baking Technique: The step-by-step method with precise mixing and rising instructions ensures even novice bakers can confidently produce professional-quality homemade bread with consistent results every single time.

What Goes Into Ina’s Golden Honey Loaf

• Warm Water: Activates the yeast and helps create a soft bread texture.
• Milk: Adds richness and helps develop a tender crumb.
• Butter: Provides flavor and helps keep the bread moist.
• Honey: Natural sweetener that adds depth of flavor and helps with browning.
• Egg Yolks: Contribute to the bread's richness and golden color.
• Egg White: Used for brushing the loaves to create a shiny crust.

• All-Purpose Flour: The primary structure of the bread, choose unbleached for best results.
• Salt: Enhances flavor and controls yeast growth.

• Active Dry Yeast, Sugar: Work together to help the bread rise and develop flavor, fresh yeast is crucial for good results.

Instructions for That Perfect Bakery-Style Rise

Step 1: Activate the Yeast

• Warm water
• Yeast
• Sugar

Stir gently and let the mixture sit for 5 minutes until it becomes frothy and alive.

Step 2: Create the Liquid Base

• Milk
• Softened butter
• Honey

Mix on medium speed until all ingredients blend smoothly and create a golden liquid foundation.

Step 3: Form the Dough

• Egg yolks
• Salt
• First batch of flour

Mix on low speed for 5 minutes. Gradually add remaining flour until the dough pulls away from the bowl’s sides. Knead for 8 minutes to develop gluten and create a silky texture.

Step 4: First Rising Period

Transfer dough to a floured surface and knead gently until smooth. Place in a buttered bowl, turning to coat completely. Cover with a damp towel and let rise in a warm spot for 1 hour until doubled in size.

Step 5: Shape the Loaves

Grease two 9×5-inch loaf pans. Divide dough into two equal portions, shape into smooth loaves, and place in prepared pans. Cover with a damp towel and let rise for another hour.

Step 6: Bake to Golden Perfection

Preheat oven to 350°F. Gently brush loaves with egg white for a beautiful sheen. Bake for 40-45 minutes until the bread sounds hollow when tapped and turns a deep golden brown.

Step 7: Cool and Slice

Remove bread from pans immediately after baking. Transfer to a wire rack and allow to cool completely before slicing. Enjoy the fresh, warm aroma of homemade bread!

Pro Tips for Tender, Sweet Slices

• Warm Liquid Magic: Use a digital thermometer to precisely hit 110°F, which helps yeast bloom perfectly without killing its delicate enzymes.
• Gentle Kneading Technique: Work the dough on a lightly floured surface, pushing and folding until it becomes silky smooth and springs back when gently pressed.
• Cozy Rising Sanctuary: Create a warm environment by placing the covered dough near a preheated oven or on top of a warm appliance, protecting it from cold drafts.
• Honey Flavor Boost: Experiment with different honey varieties like wildflower or clover to subtly enhance the bread's natural sweetness.
• Storage Savvy: Wrap cooled bread in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container to maintain moisture and freshness for up to 3 days at room temperature.

Keeping Honey Bread Fresh and Fluffy

• Vacuum Sealing: Protect your freshly baked honey white bread by using a vacuum sealer. Extract all air from the bag to prevent moisture and freezer burn, maintaining the bread's soft texture and delicious flavor for maximum preservation.
• Slice Before Freezing: Cut the bread into individual slices before freezing. This smart technique allows you to thaw exactly what you need, preventing waste and ensuring each slice remains as fresh and delectable as the moment it was baked.
• Moisture-Controlled Storage: Wrap the bread in parchment paper first, then place it in a plastic bag with a small paper towel. The paper towel absorbs excess moisture, preventing soggy bread and keeping the crust crisp and delightful during storage.

Bake It Your Way—Fun Add-Ins to Try

• Whole Wheat Wonder: Replace half the white flour with whole wheat flour for a nuttier, more nutritious bread with added fiber and a deeper flavor profile.
• Herb-Infused Loaf: Mix in dried herbs like rosemary, thyme, or oregano during the initial mixing stage to create an aromatic and savory bread perfect for sandwiches or alongside soups.
• Seeded Sensation: Fold in a mixture of sunflower, pumpkin, and sesame seeds before the final rise to add crunch, texture, and extra nutritional value to the classic honey white bread.
• Cinnamon Swirl Variation: Roll out the dough, spread a mixture of cinnamon and brown sugar, then roll and shape into loaves for a sweet breakfast-style bread that's perfect for toasting.

The Honey Bread Farewell Bite

Golden loaves of Ina Garten’s honey white bread promise comforting kitchen magic straight from her signature collection.

Classic Americana wafts through home kitchens with this simple yet elegant recipe.

Warm honey and butter create deep connections between ingredients and memories.

Home bakers discover pure satisfaction through carefully crafted techniques.

Southern charm meets professional precision in each carefully kneaded batch.

Slice, share, savor – reach out to fellow bread enthusiasts with comments, likes, and recipe passion that celebrates culinary traditions.

Ina Garten Honey White Bread Recipe

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4.6 from 22 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 16 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s honey white bread delivers pure comfort from her Barefoot Contessa kitchen, blending sweet honey notes with classic homemade warmth. Comfort seekers will savor each slice of this golden, tender loaf that promises memories of freshly baked perfection.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 5 to 6 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ cups warm whole milk (110 degrees F / 43 degrees C)
• 2 extra-large egg yolks

Liquid and Leavening Ingredients:

• ½ cup warm water (110 degrees F / 43 degrees C)
• 2 packages dry yeast
• 6 tablespoons (¾ stick / 85 grams) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1 ½ tablespoons honey

Seasoning and Finishing Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 egg white, lightly beaten

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Instructions

1. Activate the yeast by combining warm water (110°F / 43°C), active dry yeast, and granulated sugar in an electric mixer bowl. Allow the mixture to bloom and become frothy for approximately 5-7 minutes.
2. Incorporate whole milk, unsalted butter (melted), and pure honey into the activated yeast mixture. Blend thoroughly using the mixer’s medium speed setting.
3. Introduce egg yolks, of all-purpose flour, and kosher salt to the liquid ingredients. Mix on low speed for 5 minutes, ensuring all components are well integrated.
4. Gradually incorporate the remaining of flour while mixing on low speed. Increase the mixer speed to medium and continue adding flour until the dough cleanly pulls away from the bowl’s sides without sticking.
5. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead manually for 3-4 minutes, creating a smooth and elastic texture.
6. Place the kneaded dough in a generously buttered large bowl, rotating to ensure complete surface coverage. Drape a slightly damp kitchen towel over the bowl and allow the dough to rise in a warm, draft-free environment for 60-75 minutes.
7. Prepare two 9×5-inch (23×13-centimeter) loaf pans by lightly greasing with butter or cooking spray.
8. Gently punch down the risen dough and divide it into two equal portions. Shape each portion into a smooth loaf and carefully place them into the prepared pans.
9. Cover the loaf pans with a damp towel and permit a second rise for approximately 45-60 minutes, or until the dough has doubled in volume.
10. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Delicately brush the loaf surfaces with beaten egg white for a glossy finish.
11. Bake the loaves for 40-45 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through cooking. The bread is ready when it produces a hollow sound when tapped and achieves a golden-brown exterior.
12. Remove the pans from the oven and let the loaves rest for 5 minutes. Carefully transfer the bread to a wire cooling rack and allow complete cooling before slicing.

Notes

• Warm environments help yeast work magic, transforming simple ingredients into a fluffy, golden masterpiece.
• Gentle kneading develops gluten strands, creating a soft, pillowy texture that melts in your mouth.
• Precise temperature matters – lukewarm liquids wake up yeast without killing its powerful rising potential.
• Tapping the bread’s bottom reveals its secret – a hollow sound means you’ve baked perfection.
• Patient rising allows dough to expand and develop deep, rich flavors that’ll make your kitchen smell incredible.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Dinner
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 16
• Calories: 210
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 8 g
• Saturated Fat: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 50 mg