Bread Machine White Bread

This versatile, light, and fluffy white bread is made in a bread machine and tastes great with butter and jam for breakfast or served with soup for lunch. Try it dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar to serve with dinner.

Did you get a new bread machine this year? I had one that was given to us when bread machines first came out – so this year I decided it was time for an upgrade.

So the first thing I did was test out one of the tried and true recipes I had been using for years. I was so pleased when it still worked in the new machine – I just had to share it with you all.

What I love about this recipe is that I can make a loaf from scratch. When my first machine came on the market, you had to buy the “mixes” to pour into it to make a loaf. It made no sense since you could buy a loaf at the store for less than the mix.

So for years, I played with how to make it without the mix and I was so pleased that it worked even with a new maker. YAY! I know you’ll love this as much as we do.

sandwich bread recipe

Here are some commonly asked questions

What is White Bread?

White bread is also referred to as white loaf, sandwich loaf, or just simply white bread. In contrast to “whole wheat” or “wheat” – which refers to bread made with whole wheat flour.

The ingredients in the bread will depend on how you want your bread to taste. Oftentimes, white bread has sugar and milk added, which keep it soft. Salt is added for flavor, while oil, butter, or shortening gives white bread a great texture due to the fat that it adds to the bread.

How to Turn All-Purpose Flour into Bread Flour

You will find that bread flour has about 12 -14% protein while all-purpose comes in between 8-11%. I know that difference in the percentage might not seem like a lot, but it does make a difference in baking. So to make your own bread flour – follow this recipe…

• 1 Cup (minus 1 1/2 tsp) All-Purpose Flour
• 1 1/2 tsp Vital Wheat Gluten

Then whisk the two ingredients together. Super simple! Adding the vital wheat gluten will give the all-purpose flour the added gluten content that it needs to make a beautiful bread recipe.

white bread recipe

Can this be made with all-purpose flour?

Yes – in general, you can swap all-purpose flour with bread flour and use them interchangeably. The result will be similar.

Bread flour has a higher protein level making the dough hold its shape and rise straight up – vs an all-purpose flour that will tend to want to spread out a bit more.

Can I use Gluten-Free flour?

I have not tried that yet. If you decide to give it a go, I would suggest using one that has a 1:1 ratio for the best possible results. Please let me know how it turns out. I’d love to share that with others.

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Ingredients for Bread Machine White Bread

• water warmed to 110 degrees – the warmth helps the yeast to grow. Take care to not let it be too hot or cold ir it will kill the yeast.
• granulated sugar – Sugar makes the loaf softer and inhibits yeast growth.
• table salt – Salt is added for flavor.
• vegetable oil
• bread flour
• active dry yeast

My dough didn’t rise, what happened?

Most of the time this means your water was either too hot or too cold. If it is too hot it will kill the yeast, too cold & it just won’t rise. I find that using a thermometer helps & bringing the water to 115-125 degrees is best.

white bread recipe for bread maker

How to Make Bread Machine White Bread

1. Place the ingredients into the bread machine in the order listed (water, sugar, salt, oil, bread flour and yeast).

To bake completely in the bread machine

1. Program using the white bread cycle.
2. If desired (and if your machine offers this option) when paddle signal sounds remove dough and kneading paddle, reshape dough and place it back into the bread pan to continue the baking process.
3. Allow to cool in the pan for ten minutes before removing and cooling completely on a wire rack.

If making regular loaves or rolls

1. Program to use the dough cycle or follow the manufacturer’s instructions for making dough.
2. Once the dough cycle is complete, punch the dough down and turn out onto a lightly floured surface.
3. Divide into two loaves or twelve rolls.
4. Place in greased bread loaf pans or in a greased casserole dish for rolls and allow to rise until doubled, about 1 hour. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 24 minutes.

How do I properly measure the flour?

The official way is to spoon the flour into the measuring cup & level off. This makes sure the flour isn’t packed tightly into your measuring cup, adding more than you need, as that will make your recipe too dry.

bread maker white bread

What is the best way to store leftover white bread?

Just like you would bread from the store – you want to keep this bread in an airtight container or zip-top bag. Reducing the air to the bread will keep it fresh and from drying out.

I like to keep our bread refrigerated to prolong its life. When we lived in the desert – we would refrigerate it to keep it from drying out in the single-digit humidities.

But now that we live in a more most climate we keep it refrigerated to prevent mold and keep the climate more controlled.

Can the bread be frozen?

Yes – you can freeze this loaf of bread after it has been baked. Just wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then place it in a zip-top bag. Use within 3 months. I have not tried freezing the dough for baking later, so I can’t give an accurate answer on that one.

white bread recipe for bread machine

Why is the cooked dough so dense?

This dough should be light and fluffy as you see in the images here. If you find that your dough is not rising or it comes out more dense, please see the following suggestions below.

1. Kneading. The machine will do all this for you – that is the bonus and the best part about making the bread in the machine. So you shouldn’t have issues with this part.
2. Check that yeast. If your yeast doesn’t proof, it could either be expired or the temperature of the liquid wasn’t the right temperature and the yeast died. If the liquid is too cold and it will take much longer to proof, too hot or expired – and won’t grow at all.
3. Too much flour. Too much flour will make the dough dense. I know the inclination is to add more when the dough is sticky – make sure you are measuring the flour correctly so you don’t end up with too much or too little.

fluffy white bread machine recipe

What is the best yeast?

You can use rapid rise, premium, or whatever you have on hand. I buy my yeast in the bulk section of my store, so it’s not brand-name or anything fancy & it works just great.

Can this recipe be doubled?

So – since you can only make one loaf at a time in the machine- I would say no. But you can make the dough back to back in the machine and then bake all of the loaves together at the same time in the oven.

white bread machine recipe

Products I love when making bread machine bread…

This white bread recipe is SUPER EASY and delicious – and if you’re like me this time of year, then you maybe already have some of these items on hand OR maybe you have never made homemade bread before, & you might be a bit nervous – but you’re going to love it. I have made a list below of the things I absolutely can’t live without when it comes to making this bread machine recipe.

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If you love this easy white bread recipe, you’re going to love these other bread recipes too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

Crazy Bread – Copycat Recipe

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If you love this recipe for homemade white bread made in the bread machine as much as I do, please write a five-star review, and be sure to help me share on Facebook and Pinterest!

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