Potato Bread
There’s nothing like a thick slice of warm homemade Potato Bread slathered with sweet cream butter. The full, dense texture makes it ideal for serving fresh from the oven or toasted for breakfast, brunch or as the foundation for a sandwich for an over-the-top lunch.
Easy Potato Bread Recipe
The smell of homemade bread baking is hard to top. Whether it was buttermilk biscuits, skillet cornbread or yeast rolls homemade bread is a treat. How to make Potato Bread: (Scroll down for full printable recipe.)
- Mashed Potatoes – Mix together the mashed potatoes, butter and beaten eggs.
- Yeast – Add the yeast, sugar and milk. Mix on low speed just until combined. Let rest for 5 minutes or until bubbles begin to form on top.
- Flour – Add the flour 1 cup at a time until the dough comes together. The amount can vary depending on the stiffness of the mashed potatoes.
- Knead – After all of the flour has been incorporated increase the speed of the mixer and knead until smooth and elastic around 5-7 minutes.
- Let Rise – Form dough into a ball and place into a greased bowl. Turn to coat. Cover and allow to rise in a warm draft free place until doubled in size, around 1 1/2-2 hours.
- Divide the Dough into Two Loaves – Punch down to release the air bubbles. Divide in half.
- Transfer to Loaf Pans – Place into 2 buttered 8×4 inch loaf pans.
- Second Rise – Cover and let rise again until doubled 1-2 hours.
- Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 25-30 minutes or until the bread sounds hollow when tapped in the middle. Cool on a cooling rack.
How to Make the Best Homemade Potato Bread Recipe
These loaves of potato bread use leftover mashed potatoes which lends a beautifully dense texture and full flavor. It makes delicious homemade grilled cheese sandwiches and french toast, too. You may have everything in the pantry you need to whip up a couple of loaves to utilize that last bit of mashed potatoes.
- Ingredients you’ll need to make homemade Potato Bread: All purpose flour (you could use bread flour) cold mashed potatoes, butter, rapid rise yeast, salt, large eggs and whole milk.
- Kitchen tools you’ll need to make potato bread: A stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, mixing bowls, measuring cups and spoons, two 8 x 4 inch loaf pans, a cooling rack and a bread knife for slicing and serving.
- You can make this bread recipe without a mixer and knead the dough by hand. You’ll knead the dough until it’s smooth and elastic using the time in the recipe as a reference.
- To make a small batch of potatoes for this recipe use 3 medium-large russet potatoes that have been peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes. Cover with cold salted water and bring to a boil on the stovetop cooking them for 8-10 minutes or just until fork tender. Drain well. Whip them using a mixer with 1 tablespoon of butter and just enough milk to make them smooth. Stiff mashed potatoes work best. This can be done up to 2 days in advance, chill in the refrigerator until making the bread.
- For the best results, bring the mashed potatoes to room temperature before combining with the yeast. It’s also best if they’re firm potatoes and not too thin.
- If you keep loose yeast on hand, each 1/4 ounce packet called for in the recipe is equal to 2 1/4 teaspoons of dry yeast.
- There are no preservatives in this bread so, it should be eaten within 2 days of baking. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days or wrap and freeze.
More Southern Style Homemade Bread Recipes to Make
The smell of bread baking is nearly intoxicating. It’s one of those aromas that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside. More sweet and savory bread recipes you may like to try:
- Garlic Parmesan Pull Apart Bread is made for sharing.
- Italian Herb Beer Bread uses beer in place of yeast to give the dough a beautiful rise.
- Homemade Cinnamon Swirl Raisin Bread is delicious toasted or served warm slathered with butter.
- Easy Irish Soda Bread is a delicious option for St Patrick’s Day and beyond.
- My recipe for Praline Apple Bread is drizzled with a decadent caramel glaze.
- If the thought of working with yeast seems a little intimidating, checkout my Parade article featuring 18 Insanely Delicious Quick Bread recipes.
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Helpful Kitchen Items:
Potato Bread
Servings: 10 servings (2 loaves)
Calories: 301kcal
Ingredients
- 1 cup mashed potatoes
- 1/2 cup salted butter melted
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 2 [1/4 oz each] packets rapid rise active dry yeast
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup whole milk lukewarm
- 5-6 cups all-purpose flour
Instructions
- In the large bowl of a stand mixer mix together the mashed potatoes, butter and beaten eggs.
- Add the yeast, sugar and milk. Mix on low speed just until combined. Let rest for 5 minutes or until bubbles begin to form on top.
- With the mixer running add the flour 1 cup at a time until the dough comes together. The amount can vary depending on the stiffness of the mashed potatoes.
- After all of the flour has been incorporated increase the speed of the mixer and knead until smooth and elastic around 5-7 minutes. (Alternatively, turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead by hand until smooth and elastic.)
- Form dough into a ball and place into a greased bowl. Turn to coat.
- Cover and allow to rise in a warm draft free place until doubled in size, around 1 1/2-2 hours.
- Punch down to release the air bubbles. Divide in half.
- Place into 2 buttered 8×4 inch loaf pans. Cover and let rise again until doubled 1-2 hours.
- Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 25-30 minutes or until the bread sounds hollow when tapped in the middle. Check at 20 minutes and lay a piece of aluminum foil on top to prevent over browning, if needed.
- Cool on a cooling rack.
Notes
- Yeast equivalent – One [1/4 oz] packet is equal to [2 1/4 tsp] of dry yeast.
- To make a small batch of potatoes for this recipe use 3 medium-large russet potatoes that have been peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes. Cover with cold salted water and bring to a boil on the stovetop cooking them for 8-10 minutes or just until fork tender. Drain well. Whip them using a mixer with 1 tablespoon of butter and just enough milk to make them smooth. Stiff mashed potatoes work best. Chill until making the bread.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 301kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 63mg | Sodium: 108mg | Potassium: 166mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 358IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 3mg
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Wondering if you can make this in a bread maker on the dough only setting. Thanks.
Hi Jan, while I haven’t tested it my guess is you sure could! If you try it, let us know how it goes.
I hope you can understand my question. When you say “mashed potatoes” do you mean potatoes that are combined with butter and milk, ready to eat at a meal or do you mean, just mash the potatoes after boiling/draining with no other ingredients added to the potatoes?
Hi Martha, I use leftover mashed potatoes for this recipe. That’s potatoes that have been whipped with milk and butter. That said, you can certainly make enough potatoes just for this recipe and whip them with a small amount of butter and milk until smooth, then cool completely.
What about salt ?
The mashed potatoes would have salt as well as the butter. You can add more, if you like.
I wondered also, and then saw this at the end of the recipe:
To make a small batch of potatoes for this recipe use 3 medium-large russet potatoes that have been peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes. Cover with cold salted water and bring to a boil on the stovetop cooking them for 8-10 minutes or just until fork tender. Drain well. Whip them using a mixer with 1 tablespoon of butter and just enough milk to make them smooth. Stiff mashed potatoes work best. Chill until making the bread.
Looks great! Question…are you using a paddle or dough hook in your stand mixer (hard to tell by the photo), and, I use a lot of butter and half & half in my mashed potatoes – will that affect the rise (the mash is not wet but very rich).
Use the dough hook. If the potatoes aren’t too wet, they should work fine.
I made the dough and used it for making homemade maple bars!
Oh my goodness they were so awesome!!!!
That’s great, thank yhou!
Could you use instant potatoes?
I haven’t tested it but, prepared instant potatoes may work, yes.
Can you adjust for a bread machine?
I haven’t tested it but, I’m certain you could adapt it, sure.
Yummy and easy!
Oh great, thanks so much!
do u use AP flour or self rising flour?? want to make sure use the right flour thank you Am new to baking
This recipe calls for all purpose flour.
Made this at thanksgiving it was delicious, I made muffin rolls and loafs. 2 thumbs up!
Tim
Getzville NY
Great recipes
Thanks Tammy!
Could you make the dough ahead of time and freeze it for baking later?
Bread dough tends to freeze well so I think you could, yes.
Isn’t potato bread just the best? This looks delicious!