This homemade potato bread is a soft and fluffy loaf of bread made with mashed potatoes! The potatoes add moisture and starch to the bread, which makes it moist and tender. Potato bread is a great choice for sandwiches, toast, or just eating plain. This from-scratch version is way better than store-bought!

Potato bread.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • This potato bread is easy to make.
  • There are only a few pantry staple ingredients required.
  • The bread is soft and fluffy with a slightly sweet flavor.
  • It is a great way to use up leftover mashed potatoes.
  • There are endless flavor variations, so you can customize the bread to your liking.
  • Use it for toast, French toast, homemade croutons, and sandwiches.
  • Great for any time of the day!
  • Check out this Whole Wheat Bread for another delicious homemade bread recipe!

Ingredients & Substitutes

These are the ingredients and substitutions for this potato bread. Scroll down to the bottom for the full recipe.

Boil the potato cubes until fork tender. Russet potatoes are the best potatoes for potato bread.

Mix warm water with active dry yeast.

A little granulated sugar adds a hint of sweetness.

Vegetable oil helps add moisture. Use avocado oil or olive oil if needed.

Add in a teaspoon of salt.

Bread flour is the perfect light and fluffy flour for this recipe! I have not tried this bread recipe with another flour.

Dust with additional flour if desired.

Ingredients for potato bread.

Taste & Texture

The taste and texture of potato bread are simply amazing.

The bread is soft and fluffy, with a slightly sweet flavor from the potatoes.

The bread is also moist and tender, thanks to the starch from the potatoes.

How to Make

Step 1

First, place the diced potatoes in a saucepan and cover them with water. Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are fork-tender. Drain the potatoes and mash them until smooth. Then, set aside to cool.

Cubed potatoes in saucepan.
Potato cubes in pan.

Step 2

In a small bowl, combine warm water and sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over the mixture and let it sit for about 5 minutes, or until foamy.

Yeast with water.

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled mashed potatoes, yeast mixture, vegetable oil, salt, and 2 cups of bread flour. Stir well to combine.

Mashed potatoes with flour in bowl.
Sticky dough in bowl.

Step 4

Gradually add the remaining flour, half cup at a time, until a soft dough forms. You may need slightly more or less flour, depending on the moisture content of the potatoes.

Bread flour in bowl.
Bread dough in bowl.

Step 5

Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 to 7 minutes, or until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.

Step 6

Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a greased bowl. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.

Ball of dough in glass bowl.
Mixing bowl with fluffy dough.

Step 7

Once the dough has risen, punch it down gently to release any air bubbles. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it for a few minutes to remove any excess air.

Step 8

Shape the dough into a loaf and place it in a greased 9×5-inch bread pan. Cover with the kitchen towel and let it rise for another 30 to 45 minutes, or until it reaches just above the rim of the pan.

Dough in loaf pan.
Risen dough in pan.

Step 9

Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

Step 10

Bake the bread in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

Golden bread in pan.

Step 11

Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for a few minutes. Then, transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Baked loaf on wire rack.

Step 12

Finally, once cool, slice and serve!

Expert Tips for Success

Here are a few expert tips and tricks for making the best potato bread.

Use cold mashed potatoes. This will help to prevent the bread from becoming tough.

Don’t overmix the dough. Overmixing will develop the gluten in the dough, which will make the bread tough.

Let the dough rise in a warm place. This will help the yeast to activate and the bread to rise properly.

Don’t overbake the bread. Overbaking will dry out the bread.

Soft piece of bread.

Flavor Variations & Add-Ins

There are endless flavor variations for potato bread. Here are a few ideas.

Add cheese: Cheddar cheese is a classic addition to this bread.

Add herbs: Rosemary, thyme, and sage are all good herbs to add in.

Similarly, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika are all delicious.

Add nuts: Walnuts, pecans, and almonds are all good nuts to add some crunch.

How to Serve & Store

Potato bread is best served fresh.

Once sliced, top with butter, peanut butter, almond butter, jam, or Nutella!

This bread works well for sandwiches, French toast, and toast.

However, it can also be stored at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Store individually wrapped slices in the freezer for up to 1 month.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I use instant mashed potatoes?

Yes, you can use instant mashed potatoes. However, the bread has the best texture with homemade mashed potatoes.

How do I know when the bread is done baking?

The bread is done baking when it is golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

What is potato bread made of?

It is a type of bread that is made with mashed potatoes added to the dough. This bread is typically made with the same basic ingredients as other types of bread, such as flour, water, yeast, and salt, but the addition of potatoes gives it a denser texture and a slightly sweet flavor.

Is potato bread healthier than white bread?

Yes, potato bread is generally healthier than white bread because it contains more fiber and nutrients.

What does it taste like?

Potato bread has a slightly sweet and earthy flavor, with a dense and moist texture. It tastes like a cross between white bread and mashed potatoes.

Potato bread with butter.

Equipment Needed

Pyrex 3 Glass Mixing Bowls: Use these mixing bowls for baking bread.

Pyrex Glass Measuring Cups: These glass measuring cups are easy to use and clean.

Bread Pan: This is my favorite bread loaf pan for baking homemade bread!

You May Also Enjoy

If you enjoy this bread recipe, please leave a rating and review! You can find more great recipes on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. Check out these for Quick Breads and Muffins or these Yeast Breads for more recipes!

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Potato bread.

Potato Bread

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Addison LaBonte
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Rising Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 2 hours, 20 minutes
  • Yield: 12 slices 1x
  • Cuisine: American
Print Recipe

Description

This homemade potato bread is so soft and fluffy!  This loaf is delicious, filling, and easy to make.  The mashed potatoes give this bread a unique and tasty flavor!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
  • 1 cup warm water
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups bread flour
  • Additional flour for dusting

Instructions

  1. Place the diced potatoes in a saucepan and cover them with water. Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are fork-tender. Drain the potatoes and mash them until smooth. Set aside to cool.
  2. In a small bowl, combine warm water and sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over the mixture and let it sit for about 5 minutes, or until foamy.
  3. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled mashed potatoes, yeast mixture, vegetable oil, salt, and 2 cups of bread flour. Stir well to combine.
  4. Gradually add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until a soft dough forms. You may need slightly more or less flour, depending on the moisture content of the potatoes.
  5. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for about 5 to 7 minutes, or until the dough becomes smooth and elastic.
  6. Shape the dough into a ball and place it in a greased bowl. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
  7. Once the dough has risen, punch it down gently to release any air bubbles. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it for a few minutes to remove any excess air.
  8. Shape the dough into a loaf and place it in a greased 9×5-inch bread pan. Cover with the kitchen towel and let it rise for another 30 to 45 minutes, or until it reaches just above the rim of the pan.
  9. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  10. Bake the bread in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
  11. Remove the bread from the oven and let it cool in the pan for a few minutes. Then, transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.
  12. Finally, once cool, slice and serve!

Notes

  • Boil the potatoes until fork tender.
  • After kneading, the dough should be smooth and elastic.
  • Allow the dough to rise until doubled in size.  This takes about an hour.
  • The bread is done baking when tapping on it produces a hollow sound.
  • Allow the bread to fully cool before slicing into.
  • Store the bread wrapped up at room temperature for up to 3 days.
  • Freeze individual slices for up to 1 month.