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

What type of flour is best for bread machine bread? ›

Most bread machine manuals and cookbooks call for bread flour rather than all-purpose flour. King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour, because it's higher in gluten than national brands of all-purpose flour, works perfectly in the bread machine.

What is the best order to put ingredients in a bread machine? ›

You add the ingredients, and the bread machine makes and bakes the bread in one handy appliance. Liquid ingredients are added first, then oils or fats, dry ingredients, and finally yeast (if your recipe calls for it). The machine will mix, knead, rise, and bake the dough to a beautifully soft bread with a crisp crust.

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

Bread machine yeast and rapid-rise yeast are specially formulated for the bread machine and become active more quickly than active dry yeast. You can use active dry yeast in your bread machine, but it should be dissolved in water before being used.

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.

Which type of flour is best for bread? ›

While bread flour is the best option, it can sometimes be used if you don't have bread flour. “Check the protein content,” advises Chef Jürgen, since it can vary from brand to brand, and an all-purpose flour that contains protein on the higher end of the range, 12 to 13 percent, will produce a better outcome.

Why is my breadmaker bread so dense and heavy? ›

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. The bread machine works on a timer and hums along at its regular pace.

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 can go wrong with a breadmaker? ›

  • The yeast was old or improperly stored, or yeast was forgotten or mismeasured.
  • Other key ingredients were forgotten or mismeasured.
  • Timer was used and the ingredients were placed in the pan incorrectly.
  • Water was too high and the yeast was killed.
  • Too much salt was used and the yeast was killed.

How to make bread rise more in a bread machine? ›

I'd make a few suggestions.
  1. Instead of cups, use a scale to measure (if you aren't doing so already).
  2. Try the recipe with more water. I'd suggest 1 3/4 cups of water, or even a little bit more.
  3. Try replacing some of the whole wheat flour with white flour.
  4. Adding an egg will almost always make the bread rise better.
Nov 9, 2022

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 I use Fleischmann's quick rise yeast in a bread machine? ›

“What is the difference between Instant Yeast, Bread Machine Yeast and RapidRise® Instant Yeast?” Mainly names, but these are all the same yeast! Use interchangeably.

What yeast do professional bakers use? ›

Fresh yeast, sometimes called cake yeast or compressed yeast, is a block of fresh yeast cells that contains about 70% moisture and is commonly used by baking professionals. It's pale beige in color, soft and crumbly with a texture similar to a soft pencil eraser, and has a stronger yeast smell than dry yeast.

Why are breadmakers no longer popular? ›

In a 2017 article for TASTE, Tatiana Bautista argued that a widespread fear of carbs during the late '90s and early '00s led to the bread machine's demise. The gluten-free movement probably didn't help either. But things are changing, and bread machines are becoming relevant once again.

Why is bread flour better for bread machines? ›

For this article, bread flour means Strong White Flour or Strong Wholemeal Flour as it has more protein. This means that during the baking process, it will rise better and hold its shape better than other flours.

Is it worth getting a bread maker? ›

The short answer is yes, but there are some caveats. You will likely need to adjust your recipe to make sourdough bread in a bread machine, and the final product may not achieve that thick, crusty boule you're used to.

Can you use regular all-purpose flour in a bread machine? ›

Yes, you can easily use all purpose flour in a bread machine. All purpose flour is used in many bread machine recipes, especially sweet “quick breads” such as banana bread, pumpkin bread, gingerbread, zucchini bread, etc. You can also use all purpose flour to replace bread flour in many sandwich-type breads (esp.

What are the 4 types of flour used in the production of bread? ›

There are 4 types of wheat flour that are most used in bread recipes. : all-purpose flour, bread flour, whole wheat flour and white whole wheat flour.

What is a substitute for bread flour in a bread machine? ›

All you'll need is some all-purpose flour. Simply replace the bread flour called for in your recipe with an equal amount of all-purpose flour, and proceed as usual.

Can self-rising flour be used in a bread machine? ›

Self-rising flour is a combination of salt, flour and a leavening agent. While not traditionally used in conjunction with bread machines, self-rising flour can be used as a substitute for bread flour. The process of making bread in a bread machine using self-rising flour slightly differs, as ...

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