Mary Berry White Bread Recipe

Mary Berry White Bread is a simple, beautifully soft loaf with a golden crust and a tender crumb that’s perfect for everyday baking. This homemade bread delivers everything you want from a classic loaf—light texture, gentle flavour, and a lovely rise.

What Is Mary Berry White Bread?

Mary Berry White Bread is a traditional loaf made with strong white flour, yeast, water, sugar, salt, and a touch of butter. The dough is kneaded until smooth, left to rise, shaped, and baked into a soft, airy loaf with a crisp exterior.

Other Popular Mary Berry Recipes

• Mary Berry Last Minute Christmas Cake
• Mary Berry Soft Bread Rolls
• Mary Berry Chocolate Ganache

Why This Recipe Is Worth Trying

• Uses simple pantry ingredients
• Produces a soft, fluffy crumb
• Ideal for sandwiches, toast, or French toast
• Beginner-friendly method with consistent results
• Makes your kitchen smell warm and comforting
• Easy to customise with seeds or herbs

Essential Ingredients to Make Mary Berry White Bread

• 500g strong white bread flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 7g fast-action yeast
• 300ml warm water
• 25g butter, softened

Handy Kitchen Tools for Best Results

• Large mixing bowl
• Wooden spoon
• Clean work surface for kneading
• Loaf tin (2lb tin) or baking tray
• Tea towel or cling film
• Cooling rack

Step-by-Step Instructions to Prepare Mary Berry White Bread

Step 1: Prepare the dough

Add bread flour, salt, sugar, and yeast to a large bowl, keeping salt and yeast on opposite sides. Pour in warm water and add butter.

Step 2: Bring the dough together

Mix with a wooden spoon until it forms a shaggy dough. Tip onto a lightly floured surface.

Step 3: Knead the dough

Knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth, elastic, and slightly springy. The dough should no longer stick excessively to your hands.

Step 4: First rise

Place the dough into an oiled bowl, cover with a tea towel, and leave to rise for 1–1.5 hours or until doubled in size.

Step 5: Shape the loaf

Punch down the dough gently to remove air. Shape into a loaf by rolling and tucking the edges underneath. Transfer to a greased loaf tin.

Step 6: Second rise

Cover again and let the dough rise for 30–45 minutes until it reaches just above the tin rim.

Step 7: Bake the bread

Bake at 200°C for 25–30 minutes. The loaf should be golden and sound hollow when tapped underneath.

Step 8: Cool completely

Cool on a wire rack before slicing to maintain the crumb texture.

What I Got Wrong (And How I Fixed It)

• Dough too sticky – Reduced water slightly and kneaded longer
• Dense loaf – Allowed more time for rising
• Pale crust – Increased oven temperature slightly
• Crumb too tight – Kneaded until dough became more elastic

Healthier Version of Mary Berry White Bread

• Replace half the flour with wholemeal flour
• Reduce sugar to ½ tbsp
• Add seeds for extra fibre
• Replace butter with olive oil

Ingredient Substitutions for Mary Berry White Bread

• Use instant yeast if fast-action yeast isn’t available
• Swap butter for vegetable oil
• Add honey instead of sugar
• Use milk instead of water for a richer loaf

Pairing Ideas: What to Serve With Mary Berry White Bread

• Butter and jam for a comforting breakfast
• Creamy scrambled eggs for a hearty meal
• Fresh soup for a warming combination
• Sandwich fillings like tuna, chicken, or cheese
• Toast with honey or marmalade for a sweet treat

Expert Tips to Make Perfect Mary Berry White Bread

• Warm water should feel like comfortable bath water
• Knead long enough for a smooth, elastic dough
• Don’t rush rising time—let the dough double properly
• Dust the loaf lightly with flour for a rustic finish
• Tap the bottom to check doneness
• Cool fully before slicing for the best crumb
• Store in a linen bag to keep the crust crisp

Creative Ways to Customize Mary Berry White Bread

• Add rosemary and garlic for a savoury twist
• Mix in sesame or poppy seeds
• Add cheese for a rich, golden loaf
• Shape into rolls instead of a loaf
• Add dried herbs for an aromatic variation

How to Store Mary Berry White Bread

• Keep in a bread bin for up to 3 days
• Store in a paper or linen bag to avoid sogginess
• Freeze slices individually for convenience
• Thaw at room temperature before eating

How to Reheat Mary Berry White Bread

• Warm in the oven at 150°C for 5 minutes
• Lightly toast slices for a crisp finish
• Microwave for 10 seconds if you want it soft

Nutritional Value (per slice)

• Calories: ~160
• Carbohydrates: 28g
• Protein: 5g
• Fat: 3g
• Fibre: 1g

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FAQs

Why is my white bread not rising properly?

White bread fails to rise when the water is too hot and kills the yeast, or too cold to activate it. Using warm water that feels like bath temperature and giving the dough enough time in a warm, draft-free place helps it rise fully.

How do I stop my white bread from becoming dense?

A dense loaf is usually caused by under-kneading or rushing the rising time. Knead until the dough becomes smooth and elastic, and allow it to double in size during both rises to ensure a light, airy crumb.

Why does my homemade bread turn out dry?

Bread becomes dry when too much flour is added or when it’s overbaked. Keep the dough slightly soft rather than stiff, and remove the loaf from the oven once it sounds hollow when tapped on the base.

How can I get a soft crust on white bread?

For a softer crust, brush the warm loaf with melted butter right after baking. Wrapping the bread in a clean tea towel while it cools also helps keep the crust tender.

Final Words

Mary Berry White Bread is a timeless, simple recipe that delivers soft, delicious slices every time. With a few basic ingredients and easy steps, you can enjoy freshly baked bread that tastes far better than anything store-bought. It’s a satisfying recipe that quickly becomes part of your weekly routine.