Tulo

Bread Machine White Bread Recipe

A golden loaf of bread machine white bread with several slices cut, showing an even, soft crumb, next to the bread machine pan it baked in.
Photo by eat kubba on Pexels

Layering the ingredients in the order a bread machine expects, liquids and fat first, flour on top, yeast last and kept away from the salt and liquid, keeps the yeast from activating too early or dying off before the kneading cycle even starts, so the dough rises fully and evenly with no manual kneading required.

Prep
10 min
Cook
180 min
Total
190 min
Servings
12

Ingredients

Servings12
  • 1 cup warm water (110-115°F)
  • 3 cups bread flour
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
  • 2 tsp bread machine (instant) yeast

Nutrition per serving

Calories
140
Protein
4g
Carbs
25g
Fat
3g

Based on the recipe as written, one serving. Recalculates if you swap an ingredient above. An estimate only, exact values depend on the specific ingredients used.

Need different units or a different yield? Try our Conversion Calculator →

Instructions

  1. 1Measure the warm water (110-115°F) and pour it into the bread machine pan first.
  2. 2Add the sugar, salt, and softened butter directly into the water.
  3. 3Add the bread flour on top, spreading it out so it fully covers the liquid underneath.
  4. 4Use your finger to make a small, shallow well in the center of the flour, then add the yeast there, keeping it from touching the liquid or the salt.
  5. 5Insert the pan into the machine, select the Basic or White bread cycle with a light or medium crust setting, and press start.
  6. 6Let the machine run its full cycle, roughly 3 to 3.5 hours total, without lifting the lid, especially during the rise phases.
  7. 7When the cycle finishes, remove the pan right away using oven mitts, since the pan and loaf are still very hot.
  8. 8Turn the loaf out onto a wire rack and remove the kneading paddle from the bottom if it stayed embedded in the bread.
  9. 9Cool the loaf completely, at least 1 hour, before slicing.

Tips & variations

  • Swap 1 cup of the bread flour for whole wheat flour for a heartier loaf, adding an extra 1-2 tablespoons of water since whole wheat absorbs more liquid.
  • Stir in 2 tablespoons of dry milk powder for a softer crumb and slightly richer flavor, a common addition in machine-formulated recipes.
  • To scale up to a 2-pound loaf, check your machine's manual for its maximum flour capacity before increasing quantities, since overfilling can cause the dough to rise past the lid.
  • Use bread machine or instant yeast rather than active dry yeast when possible; it's formulated to work without a separate proofing step, which matters since the machine adds it dry, not dissolved.

Storage & reheating

Store the cooled loaf in a sealed bag or airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. To freeze, slice first and freeze in a zip-top bag for up to 3 months; frozen slices can go straight into the toaster.

Tips from the Tulo kitchen

  • Weigh the flour instead of scooping cups when possible; bread machines are unforgiving about hydration ratios, and a few extra grams of flour per cup can make the loaf dense.
  • If the loaf collapses or has a crater in the middle, try cutting the water by 1-2 tablespoons next time, or check that the yeast isn't expired, both are common causes of over-proofed dough.

FAQ

Why did my bread machine loaf come out dense or heavy?

The most common causes are expired yeast, too much flour from over-scooping the measuring cup, or opening the lid during the rise cycles, which lets heat escape and slows the yeast.

Can I use active dry yeast instead of bread machine yeast?

Yes, but dissolve it in the warm water with a pinch of the sugar for 5 minutes until foamy before layering in the rest of the ingredients, since active dry yeast needs rehydration that bread machine yeast doesn't.

What order do ingredients go into a bread machine?

Most machines want liquids and fat first, flour on top, and yeast last in a dry well away from the salt and liquid, but a few bottom-heating models reverse this, so check the manual that came with your specific machine.

Can I make gluten-free bread in a bread machine?

Yes, if the machine has a gluten-free cycle (shorter kneading, no punch-down), using a gluten-free flour blend with xanthan gum already added or blended in separately.

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