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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.
This recipe made the best loaf ever. I am keeping it queued up on my computer! I did make it in the dough cycle and then flip it into a round corning wear baking dish...because I could. I try to do something a little different every time I bake. Today I used honey instead of sugar...because I could.
Pat, I love your approach! 🙂 Thank you for sharing that this recipe worked well with using the bread machine only for the dough cycle and then baking the bread in the oven. I love the addition of honey!
Here are some other variations that you can do using this recipe:
➡️ 1) Cinnamon raisin bread. You can certainly add about 3/4 cup raisins (even pre-plumped ones) and 1 teaspoon cinnamon to the flour (dry mixture). And, proceed with the recipe as is.
➡️ 2) Cheese bread. If adding cheese, I would use about 1 cup of shredded cheese (use Parmesan or Asiago) and add it together with the DRY INGREDIENTS (bread flour). Add the bread machine yeast last. The yeast should not touch the liquid ingredients.
➡️ 3) Bread with herbs. Another variation is to add about 1 tablespoon of Rosemary and 1/2 teaspoon of Italian seasoning (or some other combination of dry herbs, such as thyme) to the flour mixture.
➡️ 4) Garlic bread. Yes, you can add crushed garlic! Add the crushed or minced garlic (about 2 or 3 tablespoons) together with the LIQUID INGREDIENTS, then add dry ingredients (just like the recipe states), then add the yeast last (making sure the yeast is not touching the liquid ingredients).
Hi! First time using a bread machine…i don't know if it makes a difference but is
the water at room temperature or cold?
Sandra, use water at room temperature!
Thank you for this recipe! The ingredients and the proportions are perfect! I tried this twice, one in medium crust setting and the other is in light crust, both came out perfect. I did not sift my bread flour but had no problem at all. THANK YOU FOR SHORTENING MY LEARNUNG CURVE. This is my first time to make a bread loaf.
Ina, I am so glad your first bread-making experience went so well! Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to share such a positive review! 🙂
Just got a new bread maker... Haven't used one in some time. Found your recipe and am giving it a try now.. Thank you for sharing it...
June, I hope the bread turns out well. Homemade bread is the best, so congratulations on your new bread maker!
hi I don't know how many recipes for white bread and I finally found it! I used everything exactly except the flour I only had all purpose (but will change) it was amazing! I actually thought the dough was going to blow the top off the machine I couldn't believe it! thank you! I'll always try your recipes first from now on!
Jeff, you are so kind - thank you! Glad the bread turned out well, even with the all-purpose flour! 🙂
I baked this “easy” non dense bread today and followed exactly the instructions and baked with my Lock & Lock bread machine on Basic program. After 3 hours and 15 minutes I had a solid blob of wet and dense dough that is rock hard ! I even sifted the flower before measuring the 3 cups ! Where could I have gone wrong ?
Dawid, not sure at all what can be a problem here! More details? Such as what kind of flour did you use?
Did you use 1 cup of water (plus 3 tablespoons of water) - not more? And only 2 tablespoons olive oil?
Let me know!
Any chance your yeast was old, or expired?
Hi. I’ve lost my measuring cup. Popping up shop to get one now but is their a weight of the flour you can provide just in case?
Would love weight measurements, much easier!
Love this recipe! Have made this bread many times and it's our favorite for white bread. It's easy and yummy!
Lisa, I am so happy you love this recipe! 🙂 Thank you for such a positive comment and the 5-stars! 🙂
Followed the recipe to a T. This was by far the best bread I’ve ever made in my machine. The lightest flakiest crust not the thick hard crust you normally have. It’s a must try!
Jill, your comment really made my day - thank you for taking the time to share this positive feedback! 🙂
Trying to figure out what I should up the servings to on your recipe to produce a 2 lb loaf! Help! Have been making your 1 1/2 but just isn’t cutting it for our family anymore!
Arianna, for a 2 lb loaf, just increase the amount of all ingredients by a third (1/3). Or, multiply each ingredient by 1.33 - Enjoy!
Amazing! Followed the exact recipe and wouldn’t change a thing. Thank-you so much for sharing!
Tara, I am so glad you loved this recipe! Thank you for your comment and the 5-stars! 🙂
Hi, would we be able to use all purpose flour in this recipe? If so, would the amount of flour change?
Mandie,
Ideally, of course, using bread flour is your best choice. Here is the reasoning behind it:
- 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 a smaller percentage of gluten than bread flour), your loaves will be flatter and denser.
However, I did have comments on this recipe when people used all-purpose flour, and the bread came out well albeit a bit denser. If using all-purpose flour, use only 3 cups of flour, don't put the last 1/4 cup of flour. Also, here is a comment from one of the readers who used all-purpose flour:
"I give it a five because I used All purpose flour, I did not have bread flour. It came out dense, but the taste was wonderful!
Plus it’s humid out and I don’t have central air.
Still a great recipe!"
Love this recipe! Have made this bread many times and it's our favorite for white bread. It's easy and yummy!
Thanks again for such a nice comment! 🙂
I’m totally new to baking but tried this recipe tonight with my daughter (8 years old) we both enjoyed making it and the loaf came out lovely!! Thankyou
Jamie, you are very welcome! Glad you enjoyed making this recipe with your daughter! 🙂
Thank you so much finally bread for sandwiches! My partner was really missing that ‘sandwich softness’. Can you please advise the measurements you would use for a large loaf rather than the 1.5 medium. Thank you
Natasha, I am glad you found this recipe helpful - thank you for such a positive comment! Re: the measurements for a large loaf - increase the amount of all ingredients by a factor of 2 (to double it) or by any other number - depending on how large you want your loaf to be.
What temperature would I use if I wanted to use the dough cycle and bake it in the oven?
Hello! My bread machine asks if I am making a 1 lb, 1.5 lb. or a 2 lb. loaf. Which should I choose?
Kristan, with this recipe I used Basic bread, 1.5 lb loaf, medium crust cycle (3 hrs 15 minutes). Enjoy!
My go-to recipe! So simple and tastes fantastic!! My family loves it! Thank you for sharing!
Ann, thank you for such an enthusiastic comment and the 5-star review! 🙂
How. Much honey do you use. I like a little sweeter bread too! Sounds good. Thanks to you both. I'm going to try tomorrow.
Rosemarie, add 3 tablespoons of honey to the wet ingredients. Top with the bread flour. Make a well and add yeast. Proceed with the recipe.
Not good bread, it doesn't have any flavor