Forget this recipe, do this instead: Sandwich Bread
Ingredients
- 500g strong white bread flour
- 1 ½ tsp fine salt
- 1 tsp caster sugar
- 15g butter (softened)
- 1 sachet yeast
- 300ml warm water (1 part boiling : 2 parts cold)
Method
- Lightly oil loaf tin(s) and set aside.
- Mix together the flour, salt and sugar in a large bowl.
- Rub in the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
- Stir in the yeast.
- Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture and add the warm water.
- Mix together with a cutlery knife until a soft dough starts to form – this will take a couple of minutes.
- On a lightly floured surface, knead for 10-15 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Form into a ball.
- Lightly oil a clean bowl, put the dough into it, then cover with oiled cling film and leave in the proving oven for 1 or 2 hours until the dough has doubled in size.
- Knock back the dough by gently kneading just 5 times for 2-3 minutes to get the air out.
- Shape into a loaf and drop into the loaf tin.
- Cover again with the lightly oiled cling film and allow to prove for 45 minutes to 1 hour until doubled in size again.
- Sprinkle the top with a little flour and use a sharp knife to make a shallow slash in the top, around 1cm deep, from one end to the other.
- Turn oven up to 220C.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, then turn down the heat to 200C, and cook for 15-20 minutes or until sounds hollow when tapped underneath.