Best Bread Machine Recipe

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Easy Bread Machine Bread Recipe (Soft & Fluffy White Bread)

There’s nothing quite like the smell of fresh homemade bread, but not everyone has the time (or patience) to make it from scratch. That’s where a bread machine comes in!

This easy bread machine bread recipe delivers a soft, fluffy loaf with minimal effort. Just add your ingredients, press start, and let the machine do all the work.

Perfect for sandwiches, toast, or serving warm with butter, this simple white bread is a must-have recipe for busy households.

You can use regular (all-purpose) flour for most recipes that call for bread flour, including bread machine baking. The texture may be slightly different, and it may not rise quite as high, but other than that, you won’t notice any major differences. If you want to use regular flour to make bread instead of bread flour, you may need to add a little bit more of it because it contains a lower level of gluten. When I am out of bread flour, I use 3½ cups all-purpose flour and ¼ cup whole wheat flour, which is high in gluten, to make this bread.

Measuring flour tips: To measure flour correctly, use measuring cups designed for dry ingredients. If the flour has been sitting in the container for a while, stir it to loosen and aerate it. Lightly spoon the flour directly into the measuring cup from the container or bag. Use a butter knife to level off the flour. Do not shake the cup, tap the cup with the knife, or pack the flour down. Don’t measure by scooping straight from the bag, or you will end up with more flour than needed, as it will be compacted.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Hands-off and beginner-friendly
  • Uses simple pantry ingredients
  • Perfect for sandwiches and toast
  • Consistent results every time
  • Budget-friendly alternative to store-bought bread

Ingredients for Bread Machine Bread

  • 1¼ cups lukewarm milk
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 2 tablespoons butter, room temperature
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • 3¾ cups bread flour
  • 1¼ teaspoons active dry yeast

How to Make Bread Machine Bread

Step 1: Add Ingredients

Place all ingredients into your bread machine in the order recommended by your manufacturer. This is important for proper mixing and rising.

Step 2: Select Settings

Choose the basic white bread setting and your preferred crust color (light, medium, or dark).

Step 3: Start the Machine

Press Start and let the machine handle the mixing, kneading, rising, and baking.

Step 4: Remove and Cool

Once the baking cycle is complete, carefully remove the bread pan. After about 5 minutes, gently shake the loaf loose and transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

Tips for Perfect Bread Machine Bread

  • Check dough consistency: After a few minutes of mixing, the dough should form a soft ball. If it’s too sticky, add a little flour or a little milk if too dry.
  • Use fresh yeast: This ensures a good rise and fluffy texture
  • Measure carefully: Bread recipes are sensitive to ingredient ratios
  • Room temperature ingredients: Help the dough rise more evenly
  • Remove promptly: Take the bread out soon after baking to prevent a soggy crust

Substitutions & Variations

  • Dairy-Free: Replace milk with water or a plant-based milk and use oil instead of butter
  • Lower Sugar: Reduce sugar slightly without affecting texture too much
  • Whole Wheat Option: Substitute up to half the flour with whole wheat flour
  • Honey Bread: Replace sugar with honey for a richer flavor

Storage Tips

  • Store bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days
  • For longer storage, slice and freeze for up to 2 months
  • Reheat slices in the toaster or microwave for fresh-from-the-oven taste

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Bread didn’t rise well?
Your yeast may have expired, or the liquid temperature may have been too hot or too cold.

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Dense texture?
Too much flour or not enough liquid can cause this—measure carefully.

Crust too hard?
Try a lighter crust setting or remove the bread immediately after baking.

This bread machine bread recipe is one of the easiest ways to enjoy fresh, homemade bread without the extra work. Whether you’re new to bread machines or a seasoned pro, this reliable recipe will quickly become a go-to in your kitchen.

Rolls:

This recipe also makes wonderful rolls (I also use this recipe for fry bread). Follow the instructions using the dough cycle on your bread machine.
When the dough cycle is complete, turn it out onto the floured surface and divide it into 12 pieces.
Flatten them down slightly by pressing with your hand or rolling the pin.
Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
Brush with melted butter.
Bake at 350° for 12-14 minutes.
Oven temperatures vary, so start checking after 10 minutes to see if they are done.

Bread Machine Bread

Course: Bread
Servings: 10
Calories: 234kcal

Equipment

  • Bread Machine

Ingredients

  • 1¼ cups lukewarm milk
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • 2 Tbsp butter, room temperature
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ¾ tsp salt
  • 3¾ cup bread flour
  • 1¼ tsp active dry yeast

Instructions

  • Place all of the ingredients into your bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Most machines want the liquids added first, with the dry ingredients last.
  • Program the machine for basic white bread and press Start.
  • When the loaf is done, remove the pan from the machine. After about 5 minutes, gently shake the pan to dislodge the loaf, and turn it out onto a rack to cool.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 234kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 26mg | Sodium: 211mg | Potassium: 103mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 144IU | Vitamin C: 0.001mg | Calcium: 48mg | Iron: 1mg
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