Description
This homemade English Muffin Toasting Bread recipe yields a soft, slightly chewy loaf perfect for toasting. Made with simple pantry ingredients and baked to golden perfection, it features a tender crumb that crisps beautifully when toasted, making it an excellent base for butter, jam, or your favorite breakfast toppings.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups (361g) unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon (14g) sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon instant yeast
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup (227g) milk
- ¼ cup (57g) water
- 2 tablespoons (25g) vegetable oil or olive oil
Other
- Cornmeal, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and instant yeast until evenly combined to create the dry base for the dough.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a microwave-safe bowl, combine milk, water, and oil. Heat gently until the mixture reaches 120°F to 130°F, then stir well to ensure even heating.
- Mix Dough: Pour the warm liquid over the dry ingredients and mix until fully incorporated. Then, beat the dough at high speed for 1 minute, resulting in a smooth and soft consistency.
- Prepare Pan: Lightly grease an 8 ½” x 4 ½” loaf pan, then sprinkle cornmeal on the bottom and sides. This prevents sticking and adds a subtle texture to the crust.
- Transfer Dough: Scoop the soft dough into the prepared loaf pan, leveling it as much as possible to ensure an even rise and bake.
- Let Dough Rise: Cover the loaf pan and allow the dough to rise for 45 to 60 minutes, or until it just barely crowns over the rim of the pan, indicating it’s ready for baking.
- Preheat Oven: While the dough is rising, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it’s at the right temperature for baking the bread.
- Bake: Remove the cover from the loaf pan and bake the bread for 22 to 27 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 190°F for perfect doneness.
- Cool: Take the bread out of the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. Then, turn it out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing, ensuring clean cuts and the best texture.
Notes
- Ensure milk and water are warmed to the target temperature to activate the yeast properly without killing it.
- Using instant yeast means you do not need to proof it separately, streamlining the preparation process.
- Cornmeal coating helps prevent sticking and adds a traditional texture to the crust.
- Allow bread to cool completely before slicing to avoid a gummy texture.
- Store leftover bread in an airtight container and toast before serving for best freshness and flavor.
