The Best Bread Machine Recipe | Cravethegood.com (2024)

By: Author Ally

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This white bread machine recipe is made with unbleached all-purpose flour or bread flour! You'll love this easy bread recipe cause it's perfect for sandwiches and toast and in our humble opinion, it's one of the best bread machine recipes ever.

There's no arguing it, my Mom is 100% the best at baking homemade bread.

Me, on the other hand? It's not one of my skills. She's handed down her recipe to me, tried to teach me, gave up teaching me, then taught my husband instead.

We've all decided that mom’s bread recipe will live on with Kevy. I am justnot good! Haha

My mom created this recipe for me so that I could bake my own bread!

This easy bread machine recipe is dedicated to homemade bread.

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Jump to:
  • Tips + Tricks
  • Ingredients
  • How to make
  • Bread machine recipe troubleshooting:
  • How to store:
  • Other bread machine recipes you'll love!
  • Recommended tools
  • 📖 Printable Recipe
  • A word on flour:

Tips + Tricks

No. 1 --> This bread maker recipe gives a 2 lb loaf. Please double check that your machine has 2lb capacity - or you'll likely have a heck of a mess!

No. 2 --> Check out the information below on the protein content of your flour! It can greatly affect your end result.

No. 3 --> Start with 1 3/4 cups of water. It really depends on your flour and some flours don't like 2 cups of water. The first time you make this, I recommend adding 1 3/4 cup of water and then checking the dough during the first mixing cycle. Check the troubleshooting guide below.

No. 4 --> This recipe makes a delicious sandwich bread, and can be adapted to make cinnamon raisin bread, or my cardamom cranberry bread, or even everything bagel bread, if you like! If you're interested in a whole wheat bread recipe for the bread maker, I've got one of those too.

Ingredients

  • warm water
  • sweetener (sugar, honey, maple syrup etc)
  • oil
  • salt
  • flour (all-purpose, or bread flour, see notes below)
  • bread machine yeast - avoid active dry yeast if possible, to use it you must proof it before baking this bread.

How to make

  1. Add the wet ingredients to the bread pan.
  2. Add the salt and sweetener to the wet ingredients.
  3. Add the flour to the pan, sprinkling it overtop all of the water.
  4. Either sprinkle the yeast on top of the flour, where it's not touching the water or create a well in the flour, then add the yeast there.
  5. Place baking pan in the bread maker and select cycle.
  6. Wait for bread to finish baking, then remove to cool before slicing.
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Bread machine recipe troubleshooting:

Bread too dense:

  1. Type of flour: As mentioned above, if you're using a flour that doesn't have a high enough protein content, you can expect a dense loaf of bread. Protein is necessary for the bread to produce gluten, and as we know, gluten is the amazing thing that gives bread it's stretch and elasticity, and the ability to trap air and create bubbles in bread.
  2. Quantity of flour: I never weigh my ingredients for this recipe, nor do I sift my flour. Here's how I scoop my flour for this recipe - stir the flour in the bag or container well, then use a 1/2 cup measuring cup to scoop the stirred flour into my 1 cup measuring cup. Give it a quick shake, then level with a knife. It's quick and easy, keep it simple!
  3. Yeast - Add this at the very end of the ingredient layering. I toss all the flour into the baking pan, then sprinkle the yeast on top of the flour away from the water and liquid ingredients.

Bread collapsed during baking:

  1. Too much liquid: There is a range of water quantities in the recipe card, start with the least amount of water, and work your way up. It's easier to add a bit of water to the pan while mixing than to start fresh!
  2. Not enough salt: If you're using coarse ground salt in this recipe, you may not be using enough salt! Try adding a bit more next time.
  3. Yeast: Too much or too old yeast can cause your bread to collapse. To avoid this in the future, proof a small amount of your yeast to confirm it's still active, and if so, decrease the quantity in your next loaf by 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoons.

Other problems:

If this is your first time using this recipe, I highly recommend checking in on the recipe while it's 10 or so minutes into the first kneading cycle. At this point, you'll be able to tell if your dough is forming a nice ball and pulling away from the edges.

If the dough is too wet at this time, and not holding a ball, add a couple tablespoons of flour. If the dough is too dry and looking shaggy, add a tablespoon of water.

Check out my guide more information on troubleshooting your bread machine.

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How to store:

Homemade bread doesn't keep long. It doesn't keep any better in the fridge either. We often cut our loaves in half and freeze half and keep the remainder out on the counter. Freezing as soon as the bread has been cut and cooled usually gives me better results.

Try a bread box!

Other bread machine recipes you'll love!

  • Cranberry Walnut Sourdough
  • Bread Machine Yeast Substitute
  • Bread Machine Banana Bread
  • Cinnamon Raisin Sourdough

Ya'll we can't have a bread machine recipe without a bread machine!

Here's the one that I have and I have NO problems recommending it to anyone else. I love all the different features and settings on my Breville Custom Loaf. But most of all, I love love love that it makes a perfect loaf of bread!

📖 Printable Recipe

The Best Bread Machine Recipe | Cravethegood.com (8)

Yield: 10 slices

The Best Bread Machine Bread Recipe

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes

This white bread machine recipe is so easy and tasty! You'll love it cause it's healthy and perfect for sandwiches and toast alike!

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4-2 cups warm water
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sweetener, ex. honey, organic cane sugar, agave, maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoon liquid oil, ex. coconut, olive, canola
  • 4 cups all-purpose or bread flour
  • 2 teaspoons bread machine yeast

Instructions

  1. Add all ingredients into bread maker pan, in that order, being sure to sprinkle the yeast on top.
  2. Set to basic or basic quick - whatever you like.
  3. Walk away. Drink a coffee, read a book, watch Netflix.
  4. When bread machine beeps done, remove loaf pan and turn out onto a tea towel. Stand your loaf upright and allow to cool at least for a bit before you dive in!

Notes

* This bread recipe makes a 2 LB loaf. Please double check that your bread machine has a 2 LB capacity before making this recipe!

*When measuring flour, I use the scoop and level method - Using a flour scoop to fill a measuring cup, then level with the back of a knife. Don't sift the flour first! Consistent measuring is definitely important in consistency between loaf to loaf!

*I've edited the amount of water in this recipe from 2 cups to 1 3/4 to 2 cups. I've gotten some feedback that this results in a pretty wet dough, I've not had that problem in either of my bread machines, which likely due to the protein level of everyone's flour. Please check the notes above in the "A Word On Flour" section OR start with the lesser amount of water and keep an eye on the bread as it mixes and you'll know if you need more.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 359Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 265mgCarbohydrates: 57gFiber: 3gSugar: 7gProtein: 7g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

A word on flour:

As a Canadian, I use purpose flour for literally all purposes. Here's why it matters to you and the results for your recipe:

  • CANADIAN flour is different than American flour!
  • The protein content in Canadian flour is required by law to have at least 13% protein by weight.
  • The protein content of the flour greatly affects the bread's ability to absorb water, produce gluten, and, therefore, your final results.
  • IF you are using American flour, please use Bread flour specifically - OR ensure that your flour passes the protein content test 12-13%

How to determine protein content in flour:

Simply do a little math - make your teachers proud!

The Best Bread Machine Recipe | Cravethegood.com (19)

Grams Of Protein /
Grams Per Serving = _______

________ X 100 = _________ %

4/30=.1333
.1333 x 100= 13.3%

Pin this awesome bread machine recipe for later!

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The Best Bread Machine Recipe | Cravethegood.com (2024)

FAQs

How do I make my bread machine bread better? ›

Some recipes will advise adding sugar, which, in addition to making the bread a little sweet, helps the yeast to rise better. Others also suggest adding a little oil, such as olive or vegetable oil. This helps the dough form, preventing it from sticking to the sides of the pan, and makes the bread more tender.

Is it cheaper to buy bread or make it in a bread machine? ›

Making bread from a machine is marginally cheaper than buying it, as long as you eat bread frequently enough to offset the cost of the appliance. Specifically, I see this as an investment that's smart for households that go through bread quickly, like large families or homes with multiple roommates.

What is one drawback of using a bread machine? ›

One disadvantage of using a bread maker as opposed to your hands is that the paddles are typically fixed, meaning they remain in the dough when baking, often leaving a hole in the middle of the loaf. Whilst this is not the biggest hinderance, it can be an annoyance to those who aim for gold standard loaves.

Should I use regular flour or bread flour for bread machine? ›

Of course you can! But 'all purpose' flour has a little less gluten, so your bread won't rise as high. If you're making bread the old-fashioned way, by hand, you can let it rise a little longer. But a bread machine does it exactly the same every time.

Why is bread flour better for bread machines? ›

Bread flour has a higher amount of protein and higher amount of gluten which is why it's good for an airy, chewy bread that needs time to rise. All purpose flour has a lower protein content which makes it good for cookies and cakes that don't need to rise.

Why is my homemade bread so dense in my bread machine? ›

Too much heat or humidity might lead to a too-quick rise and a crevice near the center of your bread. Conditions that are too cold might delay proofing or rising, resulting in a super-dense loaf.

Why are breadmakers no longer popular? ›

Some attribute the demise of the bread machine to the fact that cooks were just disappointed by their results. Lara Pizzorno, the author of Bread Machine Baking, chalked it up to food snobs who regarded the machine as “the electric equivalent of The Bridges of Madison County” in a 1996 article in The New York Times.

Is bread maker bread healthier? ›

Unlike many store packaged breads that contain unexpected chemicals or preservatives, a bread machine allows you to create healthier breads because you know exactly what you are putting into your homemade bread.

What is the difference between a bread maker and a bread machine? ›

VERSATILITY: Your bread maker will be able to create dough only-this allows you to shape your finished bread into buns, braids, etc. Some bread makers also have a “preserves” function where you can make jam. These are the only two things you can really do with a bread machine though.

Can you use bread machine yeast not in a bread machine? ›

Yes, you absolutely can. That's what I use all the time. Bread machine yeast is the exact same yeast as Active Dry Yeast; it just comes in smaller granules so that you can add it to your dry ingredients instead of dissolving it in water.

What kind of yeast do you use in a bread machine? ›

Both commercial dry yeast and instant yeast are suitable for bread machines because they are designed to be added directly to the dry ingredients, and they don't require proofing in water before use.

What is the best flour to use in a bread machine? ›

Just be sure to use a flour with a high protein content. King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour, with its high gluten, is an excellent flour for bread machines. Numerous people have told us that their recipes worked in the bread machine using King Arthur, when they didn't work with other all-purpose flours.

Can Fleischmann's active dry yeast be used in a bread machine? ›

Yes, but with limitations. The Active Dry has larger granules and it is necessary to dissolve it completely for the yeast to work.

Why do you put butter in a bread machine? ›

It makes bread soft, and it gives it a wonderful flavour and aroma. The mouthfeel of bread made with butter is smooth and pleasant.

How can I make my bread lighter and fluffy? ›

Add Sugar

Adding sugar weakens the gluten structure, absorbs water, and eventually makes the bread lighter and softer. As a result, sugar improves the bread's taste, structure and texture. Yeast also eats up sugar to produce carbon dioxide, which raises the dough and makes bread fluffy.

Is milk better than water for bread machine? ›

You will need a bit more milk than the amount of water required (because of the milk solids). The dough will be softer, the crumb less open. You will have to bake it at lower temperatures than a lean bread. In other words, your bread will be more like a sandwich bread.

Why does my bread machine bread taste like yeast? ›

If your bread has a sour, yeasty flavour and smells of alcohol then you have either used too much yeast.or you may have use stale yeast or creamed fresh yeast with sugar.

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