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There are many bread machine recipes out there, but if you're looking for just basic and simple homemade white bread - this is the perfect recipe for you!
This is my reliable, "boring", proven recipe for a basic white bread. And, I also provide tips on how to make a homemade white bread less dense in a bread maker. In this recipe, all you do is spend 5 minutes to add ingredients to the bread pan and the bread machine does all the work, on an automatic cycle that is already programmed. That's the whole purpose of the bread maker, right? The end result is a tasty loaf of white bread just of the right density.
I do believe that the day will come when I will use a bread machine for something more sophisticated, but for once this week I am sharing the recipe that doesn't require too much thinking or meddling. Sometimes it's just nice to make certain foods almost on auto-pilot, especially for basic stuff, like white bread.
In the last 3 months I hardly bought any store-made bread, baking about a loaf every week at home, using bread machine recipes. And, I've noticed a couple of trends/issues when making bread: sometimes the bread comes out way too dense, or the loaf does not rise enough and, as a result, comes out even denser. So, here I will describe the homemade bread recipe that works for me to produce a less dense bread in a bread maker, using a basic cycle.
While making bread in a bread machine, make sure to consider these points:
- When you measure flour using cups, make sure not to pack flour too dense in a measuring cup, otherwise you will end up with much more flour than you need, and, therefore, the bread will come out denser. Measuring flour correctly will solve a lot of "dense" issues. The trick that works for me is that I use ⅓ measuring cup to carefully scoop all flour I need into the bread machine (usually about 3 cups), without over-packing it. Another way would be to weigh flour, which I don't do, but it's a solution.
- Use bread flour, not regular all-purpose flour for all bread machine recipes. Bread flour contains a higher percentage of gluten than regular all-purpose flour. Using bread flour will produce taller, less dense loaves. If you use all-purpose flour (which has smaller percentage of gluten than bread flour), your loaves will be flatter and denser.
- When adding yeast, make sure you add it last, and add it on top of dry ingredients (flour). Make sure the yeast does not reach wet ingredients. Basically, make a small indentation on top of flour and add the yeast to the indentation, just like this:
And here is the simple white bread recipe. I started with the recipe that came in a little booklet together with my Williams-Sonoma bread machine, and I tweaked the ingredient measurements based on my preferences. It takes 10 minutes to prepare all ingredients together, and then it takes 3 hours and 15 minutes to bake the bread in a bread machine.
Bread Machine Recipe: How to make homemade white bread less dense
Ingredients
- 1 cup and 3 tablespoons water
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 3 ¼ cups white bread flour
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
Instructions
Important note about properly measuring flour using measuring cups:
- The proper way to measure flour using measuring cups is to aerate it first. This is done either by sifting flour, or aerating it by fluffing it up and whisking it well, then spooning it into the measuring cup, then carefully removing any excess flour with a knife. If you just stick that measuring cup in the bag of flour and scoop some out, you will get a lot more flour than what the recipe calls for. Do aerate the flour, or you will end up with dry dough!
How to make bread in a bread machine:
- Add water and oil into the bread pan. Add salt, sugar. Add flour.
- Make a small indentation on top of flour and make sure it does not reach wet ingredients. Add the yeast to the indentation.
- Keep yeast away from the salt.
- Insert the bread pan into the bread machine, press it down to snap. Close the lid.
- Use Basic bread, 1.5 lb loaf, medium crust cycle (3 hrs 15 minutes)
- When bread is done, remove the bread pan using oven mitts. Turn over the bread pan and shake it to release the loaf. Let the loaf cool on a wire rack for about 30 minutes.
Notes
- The recipe is adapted from Williams-Sonoma bread machine booklet.
- I have recently tweaked this recipe and made a delicious rustic Bread Machine Garlic & Herb Bread (with fresh rosemary and thyme) - worth checking out!
My Other Bread Recipes
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice.
The best recipe! but i added 2 tablespoons+ 1 teaspoon unsalted butter instead of veg oil, 1 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt and 3 cups of bread flour and the bread was so good! A sure winner!
So glad you tried this recipe and liked it! Thank you for sharing your feedback!
Just got our bread maker this morning, and tried this recipe out. Amazed at how good our very first loaf is!!
Fantastic recipe!
So happy to hear that! Thank you for your comment!
I am a use low glucose flour, all purpose and have tried several recipes, yours is very close to the one I use, accept one tsp of yeast, but my bread still comes out like bricks, any suggestions.
Yes.
Go to Safeway and buy a loaf.
Seriously though - you may not have enough Gluten in the flour. Try adding a tsp to the recipe.
Also letting the yeast froth is very important. I personally don't add the salt to the recipe until I'm ready to start mixing. Reason: Salt kills yeast!
Great recipe thanks!
Important to sift flour! I used a mesh strainer as I do not have a sifter with me. I think this made a huge difference. I followed this recipe exactly only basic bread machine setting is about 3.5 hours for medium crust, still perfect.
Using Hamilton beach bread machine. Added yeast dry.
So glad you found this recipe useful!
Perfect recipe for a great, basic loaf. There are occasions where something artisanal will not do. I’m so happy with the results. Thanks for the terrific recipe!
Always stir well the wet ingredients before adding the flour . Try a tablespoon of honey to replace the sugar. I use only a half teaspoon of yeast , and use water at room temperature to keep the loaf from puffing up.
So happy to hear you found this recipe useful!
I LOVE THIS BREAD! This recipe is perfect. Going in “the book” for sure.
So happy to hear that! Thank you for the comment!
My 1st time using bread machine. Can't find bread machine mixes in the stores around my area. Will the machine eventually start to stir the mix at this setting? Mine has been on this setting for over an hour with no mixing, is this normal,?
Did you remember to put the paddle in the machine before starting it the paddle is what turns the dough.
Hi where can i find julias bread recipes please thankyou....angela
Do you have any other bread recipes? For bread machine.
Great recipe, very easy, and comes out exactly like you describe. Very light, makes great toast, French toast, sandwiches, .........
Thank you for sharing,
You are very welcome! Glad you found this recipe useful!
Sorry for the confusion, your recipe answered my question.
I am glad you found this recipe. Enjoy! 🙂
I am about to attempt this simple recipe. However my bread maker wants to know if this recipe is for a 1, 1.5 or 2lb loaf.
Can you tell me??
Use Basic bread, 1.5 lb loaf, medium crust cycle (3 hrs 15 minutes).
Absolute perfection! Light as a feather, soft with nice crust. I may have just bought my last loaf of bread from the grocery store, and thank goodness since you can spend upwards of $4.00 a loaf.
I can’t wait to try your other recipes!
Thanks for ideas for Christmas gifts for all my Nieces and nephews!!
Any recipes for orange cranberry bread?
So glad you liked this recipe! Homemade bread is the best!
We loved the bread. Best recipe I've tried.
Thank you! Glad to hear that!
A Great recipe. It's back to front for my bread maker for the ingredients, but it works. I don't have to worry about storing the bread, it's gone before it gets a chance to cool.
This is rapidly becoming my go to bread. Faster than grabbing a loaf of the supermarket shelf and paying for it.
The only thing missing from the recipe is that this is a medium loaf.
The only thing I have changed is the yeast has a seperate dispenser on my machine, so I let it drop the yeast in just before it starts as I leave the ingredients in the machine over night so when I get up the house smells of fresh hot bread and even better after I get ready it has cooled enough to let the feasting begin.
Thank you for sharing this great little recipe.
Thank you, Craig, for such a thoughtful comment. Glad you found this recipe helpful! Freshly made homemade bread is the best!
Tried this bread the other day and it was much better than the one that is recommended with the machine I have but after 1 day is was very dry and not really edible, if anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate it.
I would suggest storing your bread in an air-tight container (or freezer bag). Keep it refrigerated.