I am a newlywed on a budget, just trying to make healthy and inexpensive meals for my husband and I to enjoy. He eats a lot, so cost is a big factor. Though I work 3 jobs, I manage to find time 6 nights a week to cook a full dinner for us both. I am constantly looking for new recipes that are moderately healthy, taste great, and won't break the bank.

On the side, I also own a brownie business called Gersheybars. My passion and love for cooking started when I was just a small child, baking with my mom and grandmother. The brownie recipe has been passed down through 5 generations and I am thrilled to finally have an outlet to share them with everybody else. Friends and family have helped spread the word and made my business as successful as it is today.

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Best Bread Machine Bread


After working in a commercial bread bakery, I learned quite a few techniques to make a perfect loaf of bread. I can knead bread like it's nobody's business, form roll shapes, etc. But for loaf bread, I just don't want to take the time to proof it on the counter, punch it down, knead it, etc. Too much work for a loaf of sandwich bread. I much prefer the "set it and forget it" way of baking a loaf of bread for sandwiches.

So Justin got a bread machine a few years ago for his birthday, and we've been experimenting for a while to find the
perfect loaf of white bread. This one is the winner! It's soft on the inside, crusty on the outside, but not too crusty, slightly sweet, and just smells delicious. We make a loaf of this every week for sandwiches, and then we toast the ends to make bread crumbs. Yum!

We usually make white bread, but I posted the whole wheat variation too. Both are good, we just prefer the white to whole wheat. Though if we do make a whole wheat loaf, I always add some cornmeal, cracked wheat and bulgar to add flavor and texture.


Ingredients
  • 1 1/3 cups warm water, about 110 degrees
  • 2 Tablespoons and 2 teaspoons white sugar
  • 3 teaspoons yeast
  • 1/3 cup Olive Oil (it's not nearly as good with vegetable oil)
  • 4 cups flour (or 1.5 cups whole wheat flour and 2.5 cups bread flour)
  • 2 teaspoons salt
Directions

1. In a bread machine, place water, oil and salt.

2. Add flour on top of liquids. Pour sugar into one corner of the bread machine basket. Then make a well in the center of the flour and pour in the yeast. Set your bread machine for "basic" loaf, and let it do the work for you!

48 comments:

Fran Ferree said...

This is the best white bread recipe I have tried so far.

Unknown said...

my machine bakes either 1.5 or 2 lb loafs. which is this?

Unknown said...

Love, love this bread! Trying the wheat version today. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!

Lori said...

Do you have this recipe in 1.5 loaf? We love it but, it rises to high and sticks to the top of the machine.

Pastry Princess said...

Hi Lori - try this for a 1.5# loaf.
1 cup water
2 T sugar
2.25 tsp yeast
1/4 cup olive oil
3 cups flour
1.5 tsp salt

Catherine said...

Mmmmm...want to try this this weekend.

Just a couple of questions.
1) is it bread machine yeast? (probably a silly question but just checking as I'm fairly new to using a bread machine)

2) Bread machine flour or all-purpose flour?

Thanks!!

Mmmm...getting hungry already!

Pastry Princess said...

I use regular rapid-rise yeast and bread flour.

Catherine said...

Thank you!! Off to shop!

Unknown said...

I was given a "the breadmaker by mr. coffee" but it did not have the manual with it. Ive searched online to try to figure out what the settings mean but I cant find anywhere! It has settings for "basic 1, basic 2, or basic 3" and I dont know which to use or what to set the timer for?

Unknown said...

I was given "the breadmaker by mr coffee" but it did not come with the manual. Ive searched all over online trying to figure out how to use it, but cant find answers. it has settings for "basic 1, basic 2, & basic 3"...I dont know which basic to use or how long to set the timer for?

Navegar na maionese said...

I use this recipe and i put a litle milk to, I put the same amount of oil and milk

tpost1018 said...

Would conversions need to be made if using bread machine yeast and bread machine flour? Thank you.

Unknown said...

This was absolutly amazing my family loved it. Thank you!

Unknown said...

I cannot find your whole wheat loaf recipe - can you please direct me to where it is posted. Thanks!

Christine Jargick - JPEG Apothecary said...

The family loved this! No one is a fan of the weird bricks that my 20 year old zojirushi makes so I used the dough setting, split dough between 2 greased bread pans, let rise again and baked at 350 for 30 mins. I will definitely do this again. So easy and I love the short ingredient list.

Jenny said...

This is the first loaf of bread I've made in my bread machine...it is VERY YUMMY!!!

Unknown said...

Just took the loaf out of the bread machine and it is the best looking bread I have made to date. I baked it as a 1.5 lb loaf and it turned out perfect. I didn't realize this recipe was for a 2 lb loaf. My son can't wait to cut into it.

Anonymous said...

Can coconut flour be substituted? I've tried this with regular and it was AMAZING but trying to make some diet changes now. Thank you!!

Anonymous said...

Rachel, is your breadmaker model #BMR200? This link has your manual:

BMR200 Manual

Enjoy!

jeri said...

If it rises too high consider choosing the dough only cycle. Then punch down, and position in bread pan to bake. Let rise about thirty minutes and bake 40-50 minutes @350. It is a beautiful bread.

kiki said...

hi thanks so much for sharing your awesome bread recipe,I made it and was perfect! totally delicious!! I will be using this recipe from now on instead of the one that came with my machine. some of the recipes I've tried off pinterest have not been successful-nothing like the photos or descriptions but yours exceeded all expectations. I will be snooping through your blog for more of your gems! thanks!

Latishia Anne Blachly said...

Can you use regular active dry yeast for this recipe?

Sarah said...

Oh wow, just got this out and am eating it now, so good! You are right! It is the best!

Unknown said...

This bread is awesome and exactly what I have been looking for. It's light, fluffy, and has an amazing flavor! Quite the keeper. ;) This is a 1 1/2 lb. loaf. FYI. :)

Unknown said...

I just made this bread. I am new to baking breads so I have only tried 2 other recipes, all I have to say is that this is BEYOND DELICIOUS!!!! Thank you so much for tweeking it for us. I used the 1.5# loaf, and it was perfect. I did need an additional tablespoon of water, but I'm sure it was a problem on my end. I can't thank you enough for this amazing recipe.

Daniela Dobson said...

I made this today and it is delicious!!! Thank you so much. I used the 1.5lb loaf recipe.

Unknown said...

I made this bread the other day using regular bread flour and it came out perfect and delicious. It rose almost too well! I want to try it using all White Whole Wheat flour, should I add Vital Wheat Gluten or any other conditioners?

Unknown said...

What about using almond or rice flour and coconut and stevia?

Unknown said...

I have this in the bread machine now but it doesn't look like enough flour. I used bread flour and the recipe calls for 2.5 cups. Is that correct? I have a 2lb oster machine. Thanks!

Susan said...

Did this conversion work well? I made it as a 2lb loaf last week and it lifted the lid off my machine! Haha

Unknown said...

And when do you add the egg.......think you forgot the most important ingredient piece of a good loaf of bread my friend...this is a great recipe for pizza dough...

Anonymous said...

Excellent recipe! Thank you :)

Unknown said...

Beautiful bread; the best I have tried so far.

Lu said...

I made this today and it is amazing. It is the best white loaf that I've made so far. This should make delicious French Toast.

Jess-a-Roo said...

This was my first recipe to use after receiving my bread machine for Christmas. I followed the instructions for a 1.5 lb. loaf and it came out beautifully - looked just like the picture. Thank you so much for sharing!

Unknown said...

I love how easy this recipe is but my bread came out with a huge hole in it. Not the bottom but nearly the whole loaf is a giant hole. It cannot be used for sandwiches at all. Any thoughts on what I did wrong? I don't think I used enough sugar but I think I did everything else right.

Lucy Pumkinjack said...

My husband hates bread machine loaves, but not this one. He loved the bread and asked if I could make this one for slicing from now on. True that, Yo!

Melissa said...

I'm confused. I made this exactly the way its posted and mine did not taste good. It tasted like flour not bread. Am I the only one? why would it turn out like that?

Maureen said...

I used bread flour, and followed the directions for the 1.5 machine recipe.
The entire loaf is 3" tall and hard as a rock!!?? Any idea why? Bad yeast, or the type of flour?

Pastry Princess said...

Maureen, it sounds like bad yeast. Definitely try it again with a new packet!

Unknown said...

Just bought a brand new bread machine and used this recipe to break it in! Excellent! Couldn't ask for a better tasting loaf of bread! Real keeper!

Jami Hirsch said...

This is our go to recipe! I use coconut sugar in place of white sugar and it turns out great! Also trying today to split the flour 50/50 wheat/bread. Will let you know if it turns out!

Unknown said...

I add Tbl of honey and love it. Any idea how to get thinner crust?

Unknown said...

I also add Tbl of honey. Its great.
How can I get thinner crust on my loaves?

Laura said...

I've used this recipe several times, following the instructions for a 1.5 lb loaf. We love it!

ONLINEZOMBIE said...

We have been making bread for the last few months in our Z bread machine. Our previous bread was good but this one was amazing amazing tears from our eyes good. thanks so much for a great recipe.

ShutterSpeed said...

I have tried countless bread machine recipes and my husband thumbs downed every one EXCEPT this one. I used dough cycle then baked at 375 for about 30 minutes (internal temp at least 190) Used extra large bread pan and made one huge loaf. My favorite <3

Unknown said...

This is delicious (when it comes out right.) This is a hit or miss for me. I either perfect it or it drops.