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 â…“ 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
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.
Helen
I have just baked my first bread in a breadmaker. Quite happy but 2 problems outer crust is very crispy and texture a bit dense. Do I need to alter yeast or other ingredients at sea level ? I usually sift flour for baking bug a friend said not to worry for bread. You comments tell me I'm right to sift flour.
Julia
Do sift the flour - that might be the reason your bread had a dense texture.
Cynthia Holcomb
Finally a bread machine recipe that is easy and delicious! This is so good and I'm glad I don't have to use dry milk (I never have it) and eggs (why do I need eggs for a plain ole loaf of bread?!). Thanks again, this is now my go to bread!
Julia
So happy to hear that, Cynthia! This is exactly what this bread recipe was meant to be - just a simple recipe for the most basic bread loaf. So happy you've been using this recipe! 🙂
Parker
Julia my hubby wants the bread to be holey
How do I get them? Ciabatta is too problematic for me I want the bread maker to do it all.ur help will b very appreciated.thanks
Parker
Perfectly written.i always sift the flour after measuring.however I tweaked the recipe by adding 3 level teaspoons of full fat powdered milk.also added 2 teaspoons of salted butter besides the veg.oil
Julia
Thank you! I am glad you enjoyed the recipe. Yes, sifting the flour is so important! And, thanks for sharing your additions.
John
I decided to try this as my first attempt at baking bread with my new machine. The loaf turned out perfectly, so you can trust that Julia's recommendations work to a tee. Sifting is definitely the key, and I was amazed how much of my originally measured four remained. Thank you!
Julia
Thank you, John! I am so glad you've been able to make a good loaf of bread with this recipe. Thank you for stopping by and leaving your thoughtful comment!
Joey
Tried this recipe out, turned out great! Any chance you have a recipe for 2lbs loaf??
Julia
I am glad you liked the recipe! Unfortunately, I don't have a recipe for 2 lb loaf.
Mary Law
This is THE BEST basic white bread!!!
Julia
Thank you! So happy you liked it! 🙂
Megan
Mine came out a little to 'tall'. It was pushes up against the glass of the breadmaker. It was my first time making bread, so I think the mistake might have been mine? I'm using a Regal breadmaker. Bread was delicious.
Julia
So glad you liked the recipe and that the bread turned out well. 🙂
Mary Ann Lawrence
Instead of using the cups can you give me the measurements please xx
Ruth
I love this bread! I've made it twice and it came out great. Do you know how much a serving is?
Yogesh
Thank you for breaking my "curse" I have baked many loaves and they have consistently come out like a brick. Till now, finally have a "go to" recipe that works . . .
Julia
So glad to hear that! 🙂
Adam Wilson
How warm must the water be?
Julia
Room temperature.
Francesca Guill
Just made it! It is fluffy! Love it!
Julia
Glad you liked it!
Vera
Best basic white bread recipe I have used! Thank you for the tips on how to measure flour accurately - it made a huge difference!
Julia
Vera, you're very welcome! I am glad you found this recipe useful.
Amy
Crazy good! I measured my flour - I think this is essential! My only complaint is that it didn’t make a 2-pound loaf!!! Thanks for the recipe!
Julia
Thank you, Amy, for stopping by and trying the recipe! Glad you liked it! 🙂