Bread Maker Bread (Basic White Loaf)

4.9

/5 –

By: Diana Posted: 12/26/21 Updated: 1/25/22

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A bread machine recipe that makes homemade bread simple to make. Make your own homemade bread machine white bread with this easy-to-follow recipe.

Cutting into a white loaf baked in a bread machine

Using a bread machine to make homemade bread is by far the easiest way! I love that I can toss in the ingredients, walk away, and come back later to a crusty, warm loaf of homemade bread.

After learning how to use my bread machine to make this simple white bread, it’s hard for me to enjoy store-bought white bread anymore! This bread machine recipe makes the perfect loaf for slicing for toast, peanut butter sandwiches, tuna melts, or your favorite lunchtime meal.

Ready to do more with your bread machine? Make Whole Wheat Bread in the Bread Maker or Bread Maker Pizza Dough.

A slice of bread machine white bread with softened butter and strawberry jam

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

It’s Easy. Maybe you’ve seen the videos online of people making beautiful, artisan loaves of bread? Well, this isn’t quite that. Bread machine recipes are more utilitarian, creating simple loaves that are square, simple, and easy to slice.
Control the Ingredients. Store-bought white bread can have additives and preservatives in it that you don’t necessarily want. If you look at the labels, you’ll find sugar, sodium, and probably some things you can’t pronounce. Making your own bread machine bread allows you to control exactly what goes in.
Vegan or Vegetarian. Use oil to make this a vegan bread machine recipe, or substitute with butter and it will still be vegetarian.
Basic White Bread. Sometimes calling something “white bread” is a bit of an insult, but in this case, it’s a good thing. A basic white bread loaf made in the bread machine is the perfect everyday sandwich bread.
Set it and Forget it. Traditional bread making can take a whole day sometimes, requiring you to come back to it, knead the dough, let it rise, and do it all over again. The bread machine handles the kneading, rising, and baking for you, so you can forget all about the bread until it’s ready to eat.

Holding a slice of homemade bread with butter and strawberry jam

Key Ingredients

See the recipe card for full details and measurements. I’m including measurements for three different bread maker loaf sizes, so you can make as much as you want.

Ingredients needed to make bread machine bread including flour, water, oil, yeast, salt and sugar.

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Flour: You can use regular all-purpose flour, or American white bread flour to make bread in the bread maker. Bread flour will give you a loaf that is a bit more chewy, since this type of flour has more protein, thus creating more gluten.
Yeast: Instant yeast is the right choice when deciding what type of yeast to buy for your bread maker bread. You may also see “bread maker yeast”. This is also Instant yeast, just with a different label, so feel free to use either. Active Dry Yeast won’t properly bloom in the bread maker, so don’t use that here.
Fat: Oil adds texture and flavor to our homemade bread. You can use any type of oil, but for white bread I use a plain canola or vegetable oil. Melted butter can also be used.
Sweetener: Sugar or honey adds flavor and helps to give us a golden browned crust on our bread. It also jump starts the yeast, helping it to work more quickly. You can leave the sugar out if you want to make a sugar free loaf.
Salt: This is added for flavor. If you’re watching your salt intake, you can reduce the amount or leave it out entirely.

How to Make Bread Maker Bread

Collage of three images showing how to make bread in the bread machine

Add Ingredients: Layer your ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the following order: Water, Oil, Salt, Sugar, Flour, and lastly, yeast.
Set up: Add the bread pan to the bread machine, and make sure that it’s secured. Close the lid, and plug in the machine.
Turn it on: Choose the basic bread setting on your bread machine, the size loaf you are making, and the desired browning level. In these photos I choose the darkest setting.
Let it work: The bread machine will now take over for you, and knead, proof, and bake your bread dough!
Cool: When the baking cycle ends, unplug the bread machine, open the lid, and remove the pan from the machine with kitchen mitts. Allow the bread to cool for 10 minutes in the pan, then shake it out of the pan and allow it to cool completely. Carefully remove the paddle from the bottom of the loaf if it got stuck there.

Bread Maker Bread Tips

Measure Carefully: I tested this recipe using metric weights, then converted that to cups for your convenience. I suggest weighing your ingredients for the best results using a digital scale. They are inexpensive, and so useful when it comes to baking perfect bread. Learn more about measuring ingredients for baking in this post.

Warm Water: When making bread it’s best to have all ingredients at room temperature to start. The water should be a bit above that, at 110°F/45°C, in order to activate the yeast.

You Can Sift the Flour: Sifting flour before making bread with it helps to aerate it, and will make a fluffier, less dense bread. It’s not necessary for success, but is an option.

Learn Your Machine: Just like Air Fryers and Instant Pots, bread machines will have differences from brand to brand and model to model. The good news is that most of the household bread makers work in generally the same way, but if you are having trouble with your machine, feel free to reach out, or search out others using that specific machine on the web. Bread machine users are a helpful bunch!

A loaf of white bread with slices on a wooden cutting board

What To Make With Bread Maker White Bread

White bread is the perfect canvas for so many delicious sandwiches! I enjoy this bread for breakfast, toasted or fresh, with a bit of butter and strawberry jam. If I have it, fresh Homemade Apple Butter is delicious on bread maker bread too.

Use this bread maker white bread to make the perfect Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwhich! Mine has a secret ingredient that makes it amazing.

Try Vegan Eggplant Sandwhiches (like a BLT!), Banana Fluffernutters, or Tuna Melts with your fresh white bread.
Have you ever made Stuffing with fresh bread? Or Croutons in the Air Fryer? Both are amazing.

A bite shot, breas slice with butter and jam

FAQs

Does it matter what order I put the ingredients in the bread maker?

The manufacturer’s instructions will tell you to add the liquids first, then the dry ingredients. The instant yeast always goes in last. This ensures that the yeast is separated from the liquids until the kneading begins, and is an important step to follow.

What size loaf does this recipe make?

In the recipe card, I give specific measurements for making small, medium, and large loaves.
A good rule of thumb is that a bread machine recipe that uses approximately 3 cups of flour will make a 1.5 pound loaf, and one with around 4 cups of flour will make a 2 pound loaf.

What type of yeast do I use in the bread machine?

Choose Rapidrise yeast, Instant yeast, or Bread Machine yeast. According to Fleishmann’s Yeast’s website, the three are exactly the same, just sold under different names. Active Dry yeast is different from the others, and not recommended for bread machine recipes.

What does a bread maker machine do? How does it work?

A bread machine is basically a small countertop oven that can also mix and knead ingredients and time the breadmaking process. The pan that the bread bakes in also contains a paddle, so that the bread can be mixed and baked in the same vessel. Electronic controls allow you to set the machine to knead, rest, and proof the dough. It’s a simple machine, but a very smart and time-saving appliance.

What bread machine should I buy?

This Hamilton Beach programmable bread maker is very well rated on Amazon and available at a reasonable price. You can buy more expensive bread makers, but I would start with a basic one until you’re comfortable and know that you want to use it often.

Why didn’t my loaf rise?

You should always make sure that your yeast is fresh and active. It could be that your yeast is dead, or you added too much salt or sugar, or you forgot to add the yeast.

Why did you my bread rise too much?

You probably added too much yeast.

Why is my dough not coming together?

If this happens for some reason, add more liquid (1 tablespoon at a time) until a ball of dough is formed.

Why is my dough too sticky?

You need to add more flour, add it gradually (1 tablespoon at a time) until a ball of dough is formed.

Enjoy making your own made-at-home white bread with your bread maker! Pin this recipe so you don’t lose it.

A whole chicken cut up in 10 pieces, placed on a white cutting board

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Perfect simple baked pizza, with mozzarella and fresh basil leaves.

Bread Machine Pizza Dough