Ina Garten’s Fluffy Honey White Bread Recipe for Novices

Baking bread at home becomes a delightful adventure with this honey white bread recipe by Ina Garten that fills your kitchen with warmth and incredible aroma.

Soft, pillowy slices promise comfort in every bite.

The delicate sweetness of honey weaves through each golden-brown loaf, creating a texture that’s both tender and satisfying.

Simple ingredients come together with remarkable ease, making this recipe approachable for bakers of all skill levels.

Each slice promises a moment of pure culinary joy, perfectly balanced between softness and flavor.

This bread transforms ordinary meals into something extraordinary.

You’ll want to slice into this warm, fragrant loaf the moment it emerges from the oven.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Calories: 350 kcal

Servings: 2

Ingredients for Ina Garten Honey White Bread

• Warm Water: Activates the yeast and helps kickstart the bread's fermentation process, ensuring a soft and fluffy texture.
• Active Dry Yeast: The magical ingredient that makes bread rise, choose fresh yeast with a recent expiration date for best results.
• Sugar: Feeds the yeast, helping it grow and develop a rich, complex flavor in the bread.

• Whole Milk: Adds richness and helps create a tender crumb, opt for room temperature milk for best integration.
• Unsalted Butter: Brings a smooth, creamy taste and helps create a soft bread texture, use high-quality butter for superior flavor.
• Honey: Introduces a delicate sweetness and helps keep the bread moist, choose raw, local honey for a more robust taste.

• Egg Yolks: Provide richness, color, and help bind the ingredients, use fresh, room temperature eggs for smooth mixing.
• All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of the bread, look for unbleached flour with consistent protein content.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and controls yeast growth, use fine sea salt for even distribution.

Tools for Making Ina Garten Honey White Bread

• Electric Mixer: Essential for perfectly blending ingredients and kneading dough smoothly.
• Large Mixing Bowl: Spacious bowl for combining wet and dry ingredients.
• 9×5-inch Loaf Pans: Two pans for creating classic bread loaves.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Precise measurements for accurate recipe results.
• Damp Towel: Helps dough rise by maintaining moisture and warmth.
• Wire Rack: Allows bread to cool evenly and prevents soggy bottoms.
• Pastry Brush: Used for applying egg white glaze before baking.
• Floured Surface: Clean countertop or cutting board for kneading dough.

Baking Instructions for Ina Garten Honey White Bread

Honey White Bread Harmony

• Yeast Awakening

Warm liquid and sweet sugar coax delicate yeast into a bubbly dance, creating a magical base for soft, pillowy bread.

• Liquid Symphony

Blend creamy milk, golden honey, and silky butter into a luscious mixture that promises richness and depth of flavor.

• Dough Creation

Gently combine flour and eggs, kneading until the dough transforms into a smooth, elastic canvas with a subtle sheen and perfect texture.

• Rising Anticipation

Let the dough rest and expand, wrapped in a cozy environment that encourages soft, airy development and complex flavor building.

• Shaping Dreams

Tenderly shape the risen dough into gentle loaves, nestling them into welcoming pans for their final relaxation before baking.

• Baking Magic

Slide the pans into a warm oven, where golden crusts form and intoxicating aromas fill the kitchen with promises of comfort and joy.

• Bread Celebration

Allow the freshly baked loaves to cool, inviting anticipation before slicing into this homemade treasure that speaks of love and tradition.

Ways to Customize Ina Garten Honey White Bread

• Replace honey with maple syrup or agave nectar for a unique flavor profile that adds subtle sweetness and complexity to your bread.
• Mix in rolled oats or whole wheat flour to create a heartier, more nutritious loaf with added depth and rustic charm.
• Fold in dried herbs like rosemary or thyme, or sprinkle with seeds like sunflower or sesame before baking to elevate the bread's aromatic qualities.
• Proof the dough in a warm, draft-free area like a turned-off oven with a pan of hot water to ensure consistent and perfect rising every time.

How to Serve Ina Garten Honey White Bread

• Serve Fresh and Warm: Slice the bread while it's still slightly warm for the most delightful, melt-in-your-mouth experience. The soft, tender texture pairs perfectly with a smear of creamy butter.
• Breakfast Companion: Create a memorable morning spread by toasting thin slices and serving alongside scrambled eggs, jam, or cream cheese. This honey white bread transforms a simple breakfast into a gourmet treat.
• Sandwich Sensation: Use thick-cut slices to build incredible sandwiches stuffed with roasted turkey, crisp lettuce, and tangy mustard. The bread's subtle sweetness elevates any sandwich from ordinary to extraordinary.
• Afternoon Tea Delight: Cut into elegant triangles and serve with soft cheeses, fresh fruit preserves, or as an accompaniment to your favorite afternoon tea blend. This versatile bread becomes a star at any gathering.

Best Tips for Storing Ina Garten Honey White Bread

• Maximize Freshness: Store homemade bread at room temperature in a sealed plastic bag for 3-4 days to maintain softness and flavor.
• Keep Crispy Crust: Wrap bread loosely in a clean kitchen towel to prevent moisture buildup and preserve the delicate exterior texture.
• Freeze for Later: Slice bread before freezing, placing parchment paper between slices for easy separation. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and freeze up to 3 months for quick future enjoyment.
• Revive Stale Bread: Sprinkle water on bread and warm in the oven at 300°F for 5-10 minutes to restore moisture and bring back that fresh-baked taste.

Effortless Ina Garten Honey White Bread Recipe

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4.7 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: 2 1x

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Description

Ina Garten’s honey white bread delivers classic comfort with simple ingredients and foolproof techniques. Homemade bread promises warm, golden slices you’ll savor with butter and joy.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 5 to 6 cups all-purpose flour
• 1.5 cups warm whole milk (110°F / 43°C)
• 2 extra-large egg yolks
• 0.5 cups warm water (110°F / 43°C)
• 2 packages dry yeast
• 6 tbsps (85 g / ¾ stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1.5 tbsps honey
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tbsp kosher salt
• 1 egg white, lightly beaten

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Instructions

1. Yeast Activation: In an electric mixer bowl, combine warm water, active dry yeast, and granulated sugar. Let the mixture bloom and become frothy for 5-7 minutes until foamy and aromatic.
2. Liquid Blend: Integrate whole milk, melted unsalted butter, and pure honey into the activated yeast mixture. Blend thoroughly using medium mixer speed to create a uniform liquid base.
3. Dough Formation: Add egg yolks, all-purpose flour, and kosher salt to the liquid ingredients. Mix on low speed, gradually incorporating remaining flour until the dough cleanly pulls away from the bowl’s sides without sticking.
4. Initial Kneading: Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead manually for 3-4 minutes, developing a smooth and elastic texture that springs back when touched.
5. First Rise: Place the kneaded dough in a buttered large bowl, rotating to ensure complete coverage. Cover with a damp kitchen towel and allow rising in a warm, draft-free area for 60-75 minutes until doubled in size.
6. Shaping and Second Rise: Gently deflate the dough and divide into two equal portions. Shape into smooth loaves and place in greased 9×5-inch loaf pans. Cover with a damp towel and let rise for 45-60 minutes until volume doubles.
7. Baking Preparation: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Delicately brush loaf surfaces with beaten egg white for a glossy, golden exterior.
8. Baking and Cooling: Bake loaves for 40-45 minutes, rotating pans midway through cooking. Bread is ready when it sounds hollow when tapped and displays a rich golden-brown color. Remove from oven, rest in pans for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack for complete cooling before slicing.

Notes

• Master Yeast Activation: Ensure water temperature is precisely 110°F to guarantee successful yeast blooming without killing the microorganisms.
• Precise Flour Incorporation: Add flour gradually to control dough consistency, preventing dry or overly sticky texture.
• Temperature-Controlled Rising: Choose a consistently warm spot around 80-85°F for optimal dough expansion and flavor development.
• Golden Crust Technique: Egg white wash creates a professional bakery-style sheen and enhances bread’s visual appeal while providing a delicate crisp exterior.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 2
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 400 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 43 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 10 g
• Cholesterol: 100 mg