Soft, Fluffy, and Easy: Bread Machine White Bread for Beginners
This bread machine white bread recipe couldn’t be easier. Just throw the ingredients in and press start! This loaf is perfect for sandwiches, toast, or just on its own. Bread machine recipes are the easiest way to start making your own bread.
I love baking bread in my house, but sometimes I don’t have the patience or the time. My bread machine might be my favorite appliance. Is that weird?
Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need
This recipe is designed for a bread machine, so you obviously need one. You’ll also want to use bread flour instead of all-purpose flour for the best results.
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Equipment
- Bread machine
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water, around 110°F
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 3 cups bread flour
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast 1 packet
How to Make Bread Machine White Bread
Step One: Layer Ingredients. Add the ingredients to your bread machine pan in the manufacturer’s recommended order. Typically, start with the warm water, followed by the softened butter, sugar, and salt. Add the flour next, and finally, make a small well in the flour to place the yeast.
Step Two: Select Settings. Choose the basic or white bread cycle on your machine. Set your crust preference (light, medium, or dark) and start the machine.
Step Three: Let It Rise And Bake. Allow the bread machine to complete its cycle, which usually takes about 3 hours.
Step Four: Cool. Once finished, carefully remove the loaf from the pan and allow it to cool on a wire rack for at least 20-30 minutes before slicing.
Serving and Storing
Store your bread in an airtight container at room temperature to keep it fresh and delicious. This will help prevent it from drying out. Your bread should stay on the counter for about 3-4 days.
To freeze it, make sure your bread has cooled completely. You can freeze it whole or slice it up first. You can wrap each slice individually for quick access. Wrap the bread and place it in a freezer-safe bag. It should stay good for 2-3 months.
Questions and Troubleshooting
You can, but your bread might not rise as high and could become denser. Bread flour has a higher protein content, which gives the bread more structure. If you only have all-purpose flour on hand, use it! Just keep in mind that the texture might be slightly different.
Hmm, a few things could be at play here. First, make sure you’re measuring your flour correctly—too much flour can lead to dry bread. If the dough seems dry during the kneading cycle, you can also try adding a tablespoon or two of extra water. Lastly, make sure you’re not overbaking the bread—keep an eye on it towards the end of the baking cycle.
Absolutely! Once you get comfortable with the basic recipe, feel free to experiment. You can add herbs like rosemary or thyme, or add some shredded cheese for a savory loaf. Just be sure not to add too many extra ingredients, which could affect how the bread rises.
More Bread Recipes
- For a more flavorful bread, try this bread machine honey wheat bread.
- This cinnamon raisin bread is delicious for breakfast or an afternoon snack.
- Got some buttermilk you don’t know what to do with? Make this bread machine buttermilk bread.
- Interested in sourdough? You can still use your bread machine in this simple bread machine sourdough recipe.
Printable Recipe
Bread Machine White Bread Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water around 110°F
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter softened
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 3 cups bread flour
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast 1 packet
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Instructions
- Layer ingredients. Add the ingredients to your bread machine pan in the manufacturer’s recommended order. Typically, start with the warm water, followed by the softened butter, sugar, and salt. Add the flour next, and finally, make a small well in the flour to place the yeast.
- Select settings. Choose the basic or white bread cycle on your machine. Set your crust preference (light, medium, or dark) and start the machine.
- Let it rise and bake. Allow the bread machine to complete its cycle, which usually takes about 3 hours.
- Cool. Once finished, carefully remove the loaf from the pan and allow it to cool on a wire rack for at least 20-30 minutes before slicing.
Notes
Nutrition
By Katie Shaw
Katie shares simple, reliable recipes from her home in Virginia, where she lives with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens.
Is this for a 2lb. loaf? My bread machine has 3 different settings, 1lb, 1.5lb, or 2lb. I selected 2lb so I hope it turns out ok lol.
you did good! 2 pounds. I’ll add a note in there 🙂
Thank you, it turned out wonderful!!!
awesome Shannon! I’m so glad!!