Ingredients
- 360 grams all-purpose flour
- 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon fine table salt
- 1 cup milk
- 3 tablespoons butter, softened
Method
Recipe by Heather Schiefelbein.
- Warm the milk until just lukewarm, about 100°F. Mix the flour, instant yeast, sugar and salt in a bowl. Add the milk and softened butter and stir into a soft dough.
- Knead for 8–10 minutes by hand until smooth and elastic. If very sticky, dust with a little flour; if dry and stiff, add milk 1 teaspoon at a time. The dough should feel supple and slightly tacky.
- Cover and let rise in a warm place for 60–90 minutes, until doubled. Lightly butter an 8½-by-4½-inch loaf pan. Press the dough into a rectangle, roll tightly into a loaf and place seam-side down in the pan.
- Cover loosely and let rise 40–60 minutes, until the center crowns about 1 inch above the pan. Near the end of the rise, heat the oven to 375°F.
- Bake for 30–35 minutes, until deeply golden and about 190–195°F in the center. If browning too fast, tent with foil. Turn out onto a rack and cool completely, at least 1 hour, before slicing.
- Cut into 16 slices when needed. The planner counts 8 portions of 2 slices each, enough bread for 8 sandwiches.
Serving, useful notes and storage
Allow roughly 3 hours before cooling, plus at least 1 hour to cool; a cool kitchen may extend rising. A little extra flour for dusting, milk for adjustment and butter for the pan are pantry extras.
Keep the cooled loaf airtight in a cool, dry place for 2–3 days. Use fresh slices first, then toast or croutons. For longer keeping without freezing, refrigerate airtight up to 5 days and toast to improve texture. Discard the whole loaf if mold develops.
A couple who will not finish a loaf can share half the same day. Plan sandwiches and toast before baking rather than letting a second loaf go stale.
Estimated cost per portion
Estimated ingredient cost: $1.50–$2.50 per batch, or $0.19–$0.31 per stated portion. About 360 g flour costs $0.31 at $1.97/5 lb; 3 tbsp butter about $0.27 at $2.89/lb. Allow $0.92–$1.92 for milk, yeast, sugar and salt. Ingredient-use estimate checked October 20, 2026. Ingredient amounts used, including pantry seasoning; excludes companion dishes, tax and energy. Package purchases can cost more.
Price references checked October 20, 2026: Walmart flour price reference, Walmart butter price reference.
Photo: Tika Sofyan / Pexels — Pexels License. Original photograph · Pexels License. Licensed photograph used as serving inspiration for an original Cyrus Ramsey recipe, not a photograph of a kitchen test. Cropped and resized from the original.
Make it a meal
- Family Meatloaf with a Tangy Tomato Glaze — Two slices turn a reserved meatloaf portion into a sandwich.
- Budget Red Lentil Soup with Cumin and Lemon — Use older sound bread for the soup’s croutons.
- Mediterranean Tomato Soup with Charred-Style Crispy Herb Bread — Serve toast alongside tomato soup.