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This Bread Machine Bread is my go-to method for a soft, fluffy white loaf with almost no hands-on work. I let the bread machine do the mixing, kneading, and rising, then I bake it in the oven for a taller loaf and better texture. It is easy, reliable, and perfect for sandwiches, toast, and warm buttered slices straight from the pan.
Why I Love This Bread
I love this recipe because it gives me the convenience of a bread machine without the dense, dry loaf I used to get when I baked the whole thing in the machine. My friend Abby convinced me to try using the bread machine just for the dough cycle, and it completely changed the game for me. Now it is my favorite way to make homemade bread because it is simple, dependable, and turns out soft and delicious every time.
🩷 Erica
Table of Contents
- Why I Love This Bread
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- How to Make Bread Machine Bread
- Why This Method Works
- Recipe Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Troubleshooting
- Make Ahead and Storage
- Best Bread Machine to Use
- Ways to Use This Bread
- Using the Dough for More Recipes
- 5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Bread Machine Bread Recipe
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Water: I use very hot tap water (not boiling) to help the dough get going in the machine.
- Egg: Adds richness, color, and a softer texture.
- Butter: I use cold butter straight from the fridge, and it works great here.
- Sugar: Adds a touch of sweetness and helps feed the yeast.
- Salt: Balances flavor and strengthens the dough.
- Flour: All-purpose flour or bread flour both work, with slightly different textures.
- Quick-rise yeast: Helps the dough rise quickly and reliably in the bread machine dough cycle.
Ingredient Additions and Substitutions
- Flour options – Bread flour gives a chewier loaf and often a little more rise, while all-purpose flour gives a softer crumb.
- Whole wheat option – Start with half whole wheat and half white flour for better texture and rise.
- Yeast swap – Instant/quick-rise yeast is easiest, but active dry yeast can work too.
- Butter + salt adjustment – If using salted butter, reduce the added salt a bit if needed.
- Sweetness adjustment – You can slightly reduce the sugar if you prefer a less sweet sandwich bread.
How to Make Bread Machine Bread
- Place the hot water, egg, cold butter, sugar, and salt into the bread machine pan. No need to stir.
- Add the flour on top, then make a small well in the flour and add the yeast.
- Set your bread machine to the dough setting (about 90 minutes) and press start.
- When the dough cycle is done, pour the dough into a greased loaf pan. Smooth the top if needed and tuck in any uneven edges.
- Put the loaf pan into a cold oven. Turn the oven to 350°F and set the timer for 30 minutes. The bread rises and bakes as the oven heats.
- Remove the bread from the oven, take it out of the pan quickly, and place it on a cooling rack. Brush the top with butter and cover with a towel (or store in a bag once cooled) so it stays soft.
Why This Method Works
The secret to this Bread Machine Bread is using the machine for what it does best:
- Mixing
- Kneading
- Rising
Then I bake it in the oven for:
- A taller loaf
- Better shape
- Softer crust and crumb
- More classic homemade bread texture
This is the biggest difference-maker in this recipe.
Recipe Tips
- Use a bread machine with a dough setting so it stops after mixing, kneading, and rising.
- Check the dough early during the first few minutes of mixing. It should look soft and slightly tacky, not like batter and not dry/crumbly.
- Use a 9×5-inch loaf pan for a standard sandwich loaf.
- Do not preheat the oven for this method. The cold oven rise is part of the process.
- Remove from the pan quickly after baking so the sides do not steam and soften too much.
- Brush with butter after baking for extra softness and flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. You can use a full basic/white bread cycle, but I prefer this recipe baked in the oven because it gives a taller loaf and better texture.
You can use instant/rapid-rise or active dry yeast.
Instant/rapid-rise: add it dry to the machine (no proofing needed).
Active dry: you can also add it dry in most bread machines, but if you’ve had trouble with rising, you can proof it first in warm water until foamy.
Tip: If your machine has a yeast dispenser, follow your machine’s instructions.
Yes—the recipe uses tablespoons, which can be more than a single packet. A packet is usually 2¼ teaspoons, so make sure you’re measuring the yeast with teaspoons/tablespoons rather than assuming “1 packet.”
Use hot tap water, not boiling. If you’re worried, aim for roughly 110–120°F (warm/hot but not scalding). Bread machines mix quickly, so the egg gets incorporated fast, but if your water is near boiling, it can cause issues.
Start timing when you put the loaf into the cold oven and turn the oven on. That ramp-up time is included in the bake.
This recipe makes a standard sandwich loaf. A 9×5-inch loaf pan is the most common fit. If using a smaller pan, don’t fill more than about ½–⅔ full before the rise to avoid overflow.
YES! Not only is it cheaper, but you know exactly what is going into it! No mystery ingredients in your sandwich bread.
Broken down, the savings look like this: The average cost of a loaf of basic white bread is around $4 (more or less), making it yourself costs about $1.
(It also tastes better!)
Troubleshooting
- Bread tastes too salty: If you used salted butter, reduce the added salt next time.
- Dough too sticky: Add flour 1 tablespoon at a time during mixing until it forms a soft, tacky ball.
- Dough too dry or crumbly: Add water 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough is smooth and soft.
- Loaf did not rise well: Usually caused by expired yeast, water that is too hot or too cool, too much flour (packed measuring cup), or a cold kitchen.
- Bread is dense: Often caused by too much flour or weak yeast. Spoon-and-level flour and make sure your yeast is fresh.
- Top browns too fast, middle not done: Loosely tent with foil and bake a little longer. The loaf should sound hollow when tapped, and the center is usually about 190°F.
- High altitude adjustments (3,000+ ft): Bread can rise faster and dry out more easily at higher elevations. If your loaf over-rises, collapses, or turns out dry/dense, try reducing yeast slightly (start with ¼ teaspoon less), adding 1 to 2 tablespoons more water, and checking dough texture early so it stays soft and tacky. Make only one small change at a time.
Make Ahead and Storage
- Make ahead dough: After the dough cycle, shape and refrigerate the dough covered, then let it sit at room temperature until puffy before baking.
- Room temperature: Store fully cooled bread in a bag or airtight container for 2 to 3 days.
- Refrigerator: Store fully cooled bread in an airtight container or bag for up to 5 to 7 days (just note the fridge can dry bread out faster).
- Freeze: Slice first, then freeze in a freezer bag for up to 2 to 3 months so you can thaw slices as needed.
Best Bread Machine to Use
Honestly, it doesn’t really matter what kind of bread machine you have. We got the cheapest bread maker on Amazon that had decent reviews. I think it was under $100. Any basic bread maker will do the trick. Just make sure it has a “dough” option so it will stop once the dough is done.
Ways to Use This Bread
I also love how versatile this Bread Machine Bread is. We use it for toast, and sandwiches like our Club Sandwich or Grilled Cheese. It is also great for French Toast, and even as a base dough for rolls and other recipes. It feels like one of those recipes that makes everyday meals easier.
Using the Dough for More Recipes
We have used this exact dough recipe for all sorts of recipes. Sometimes you have to knead it with some flour to get the right consistency depending on what you are making, but it works like a charm in these recipes:
- Pani Popo (Samoan Coconut Rolls)
- BBQ Cilantro Pizza
- Caramel Monkey Bread
- Pesto Rolls
- Fry Bread
- Bread Twists
5 Star Reviews ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“This is the best bread I’ve ever made! So light and fluffy with just the right amount of sweetness… This will definitely be my go to recipe!” – Vicki
“Awesome, delicious, easy… followed [the instructions] to the letter. It was perfect. Love, love, love it!! My new go to.” – Jan
“First time making bread in years. This is the BEST bread EVER! No joke! So easy. Highly recommend.” – Autumn
If you have been disappointed by bread machine loaves in the past, this Bread Machine Bread method is the one I recommend trying next. Let the machine do the hard work, then finish the loaf in the oven for that soft, homemade texture everyone loves. If you make it, I would love for you to come back and leave a review or tell me how you used it. 🍞💛
Bread Machine Bread
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup water, (very hot)
- 1 egg
- 4 tablespoons butter, (cold- not softened)
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 3 cups flour, (you can use either all-purpose or bread flour)
- 1 tablespoon quick-rise yeast
Instructions
- Place hot water, egg, butter, sugar, and salt in bread machine.
- Add 3 cups flour. Make a small well in the flour and add yeast.
- Set bread machine to "dough" for 90 minutes (1 hour 30 minutes) and start.
- When dough is finished. Pour directly into a greased bread pan. If needed, gently turn the bread or tuck in the edges so the top is smooth (it's ok if it is sticky).
- Place bread in COLD oven and set oven to 350 degrees. Set timer for 30 minutes.
- When finished baking, remove from oven and carefully remove bread from the pan.
- Place on a baking rack to cool and brush the top with butter. Place a towel over the bread or place in a plastic Ziplock bag to keep from drying out.
- Serve immediately or place in a plastic Ziplock bag to keep from drying out.
If Making Rolls:
- Remove dough from bread machine and place on a floured surface.
- Knead in a little flour if dough is too sticky to handle.
- Divide dough into 12 equal pieces. Fold and pinch into dough balls and place in a greased 9×13 glass baking dish.
- Place in a COLD oven and set to 350 degrees. Set timer for 25 minutes.
- Remove rolls from oven and brush with butter.
Equipment
- Bread Machine
Notes
- Use the dough cycle only for best results, then bake in the oven.
- Cold oven method: place loaf in a cold oven, then turn oven to 350°F and start the 30-minute timer right away.
- Dough texture matters: soft and slightly tacky is perfect. Adjust with flour or water 1 tablespoon at a time.
- Bread flour and all-purpose flour both work.
- Quick-rise yeast is easiest, but active dry can work too.
- Use a 9×5 loaf pan for a standard sandwich loaf.
- Remove from pan quickly after baking and brush with butter for a softer crust.
- Store fully cooled bread in a bag/container, or slice and freeze for longer storage.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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We want to hear from you! Please leave a review.
Best bread machine bread ever. Follow the recipe and I bake for 35 min starting with a cold oven. I use dough cycle, bread flour and quick rise yeast . I do not buy bread any more at all.
Great tasting bread but it didn’t rise very much and didn’t cook all the way through after the recommended 30 minutes starting in a cold oven.
Best bread maker recipe I have found! This is my go-to recipe for baking bread. The crumb is perfect and allows you to thin slice for sandwiches. Make according to recipe and you can’t go wrong. I scrape down the flour during the first couple minutes. Dough will seem very sticky and wet but that’s ok. Don’t add anything! I love that you can pop it into a cold oven and it bakes perfectly. Looking forward to using this recipe for rolls for Thanksgiving.
My husband says I knocked this one out of the park. It looked so good I couldn’t wait until it was cool for me to have a little slice with butter. Great recipe!
I make this bread twice a week now. I add 1/3 whole wheat flour to my three cup mix. I also add a heaping tablespoon of gluten flour to help it rise better with the whole wheat. I let my incredible Breville machine do all the work. I end up with a 3 lb loaf . My my machine allows for three different size loaves and I set it for the 2 lb but always end up with three. The loaves come up to the top of the window and are perfect in every way! Thank you so much for this great recipe that I will use forevermore. I’m planning to try rolls, cinnamon rolls, Pizza and anything else I can think of with this basic recipe. I’ll let you know.
So glad you like our recipe! Thank you!
Help please !
I followed your recipe as shown but the dough did not form. I added 6 more spoonfuls of baking bread mix and it just stayed like a thick pudding.
What a waste.
I am getting so frustrated as this is my third unsuccessful attempt
Diane
What is the baking bread mix that you added?
So far, my favorite bread recipe. I made it exactly as directed and it turned out perfect. Very soft but dense at the same time. Will be making again and I’m going to make it into buns too. Wondering how this recipe does after freezing?
We haven’t tried freezing this bread, but most bread does great in the freezer!
Best bread machine dough recipe I’ve tried!!! So good! Thank you!!
Can I sub milk for water in this recipe?
We haven’t tried it that way, so I can’t say for sure. Let us know how it turns out if you do try it!
I have made this recipe twice with milk and and it turned out great both times. The second time, I used a little less sugar, salt, and yeast to satisfy my personal taste. You may know that substituting milk gives breads a softer crust. It may not rise quite as high as with water, but it will still have decent oven spring (if not over proofed in the machine – use the “poke test”) and a soft interior with no large holes. It will also brown more quickly. Keep an eye on it near the end.
I have made the bread machine bread my grown son’s love it. Of so do I an it’s so easy. So fluffy and better then the bread machine bread ever was. Thank you so much for this recipe. I have told several friends how good and easy it is
Wow, my bread turned out amazing!! I had to alter recipe a little since I’m at a high altitude…3 extra tbsps H2O, 25% less yeast, and increased temp to 375…turned out just perfect!! Finally found an easy recipe to follow, thank you! New to this and had been struggling and thinking of giving up…not anymore!
So tried this 3 different ways and all turned out good
First followed recipe exactly and baked in the oven.
Next followed recipe exactly but cooked it in the bread maker entirely ( was good but think I preferred the suggested way though)
Next again followed recipe but added 2 tablespoons of everything bagel seasoning half to the liquid and half to the flour as I wasnt sure which tonadd it to (cut the salt back slightly as its in the everything mix…and cooked entirely in the bread maker…Husband and I both thought it elevated the bread even more…think I will try adding a bit more next go round (it was an experiment lol)
How long for 2 mini loaves? I’d like to try and divide the dough, in 2 loaves each 5 x 3 pans, to give to some folks who live alone.
We haven’t tried it that way, so I can’t say. Maybe look up a recipe for mini loaves and base the baking time on that?
Wonderful recipe. Thank you for posting. Followed recipe to the letter and baked a delicious soft load.
Do we also turn the roll dough in the greased pan before baking (to coat all sides), like the bread loaf?
You don’t need to add that step in for the rolls, just make sure you place them in smooth side up!
What size bread machine is this recipe made for? Mine is only a 1.5lb bread maker.
That should work!
If I wanted to bake it in my bread machine, what size loaf is this recipe?
I’m not sure since we don’t bake this recipe in our bread machine.
I cannot get over not having to let the dough rise a second time; ie: remove dough from machine, knock down and let rise again. Have I missed something, or do I take the dough from the machine, straight into bread pan and then into the oven? Thank you, from London, England.
Question. So I do not let it rise twice in the breadmaker?? I take it out after the first rise?
Thank you
Amazing recipe! I substituted bread flour and let the machine do everything with the basic, full program adding a tiny bit extra flour during the first kneading cycle. The bread texture, smell, color and everything was picture perfect. So soft, fragrant and beautifully plump and delicious. Love that this is just 3 cups of flour too! Thank you!
I made this bread Saturday and it is absolutely delicious. I just let my bread maker do the whole thing (bake it as well) and it is the best bread I’ve made since I got the machine 4 months ago. Thanks so much!
I followed the directions exactly and my bread is not very sturdy. It’s really falling apart even with thick slices. Anybody have any suggestions on what I might have done wrong? I used APV and quick rise yeast
I let mine cook 36 min you might try that.