KitchenAid Adventures: Begginers Bread

I'm excited to share with you my first recipe as part of My KitchenAid Adventures! This is the first recipe that I tried to make with my KitchenAid Mixer Professional 600 Standing Mixer, and I nailed it!

This recipe turned out perfect, and I am vowing to make this each week as our main supply of sandwich bread. I hope you like it as much as I did!

Beginners White Sandwich Bread
adapted from Bread World

Serves: 2 loaves
Nutrition per serving (1/24 recipe): 130 calories; 1.5 fat; 25 carbohydrates; 3 protein

Ingredients:

4 1/2 - 5 cups all-purpose flour 
3 tbsp. and 1 tsp. sugar 
6 tsp. Active Dry Yeast (I used Red Star)
2 tsp. salt
1-1/2 cups water
1/2 cup milk (I used skim milk)
1 tbsp. olive oil
2 tbsp. butter

Directions:

Place 1/2 cup warm water (100° to 110°F) in a large warm bowl. Sprinkle in yeast and 1 tsp. sugar; stir. Let sit 5 to 10 minutes, until foamy on top.

Combine in a separate bowl, 1 cup water, 1/2 milk, 2 tbsp. butter and 3 tbsp. sugar; heat until warm (100° to 110°F). Add to yeast mixture with salt and 4 cups flour. 

Use dough hook and setting 2 of your KitchenAid standing mixer. Mix well, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in 1/2 cup flour (or more) as needed to make a soft dough. Continue mixing until dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. 

Place in a greased bowl (1 tbsp olive oil), turning once to grease top. Cover; let rise in a warm, draft-free place until doubled in size, about 45 to 60 minutes.

Punch dough down. Divide dough in half. Roll each half to 12 x 7-inch rectangle.  Beginning at short end of each rectangle, roll up tightly as for jelly roll.  Pinch seams and ends to seal.  Place, seam sides down, in greased 8-1/2 x 4-1/2 inch loaf pans.  Cover; let rise in warm, draft free place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes.

Bake at 400°F for 25 to 30 minutes or until done.  Remove from pans; cool on wire rack.

(To make Whole Wheat Bread:  Substitute 2 cups whole wheat flour for part of all-purpose flour.)

Ever tried to make bread before?
Do you like to make your bread by hand or with the assistance of a kitchen appliance?