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Basic Bread Machine White Bread

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  • #12533

A tried and true basic white bread that will work with most bread machine manufacturer's instructions.


serves/makes:
  
ready in:
  2-5 hrs
Rating: 5/5

32 reviews
3 comments

ingredients

1 1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon bread machine yeast
1 1/2 tablespoon dry milk powder, optional

directions

Add all the ingredients to the bread machine in the order recommended by the machine manufacturer. Select the white bread or basic bread cycle.

When the bread is done, remove the pan from the machine and let it cool for 5 minutes then remove the bread to a rack to cool completely before slicing or storing in an airtight container.

If the dough looks too moist while in the knead cycle, add up to a tablespoon of additional flour.

recipe tips


For a softer crust, brush the top of the bread with melted butter or oil after baking.

Measure ingredients precisely, especially the flour and liquids, for consistent results.

Allow the bread to cool completely before slicing to prevent it from becoming gummy.

Try different sweeteners like honey or maple syrup for a different flavor.

Use leftover bread for croutons, bread pudding, or French toast.

Make sure the yeast is fresh and active.

To check dough consistency, it should be slightly tacky but not overly sticky. Add additional flour or water in small amounts to get the right consistency.

Pre-slicing and freezing the bread can make it more convenient.

common recipe questions


Can I use a different type of flour instead of all-purpose flour?

All-purpose flour is recommended for its balanced protein content, which is ideal for bread. However, you can use bread flour for a chewier texture or whole wheat flour for a healthier option, keeping in mind the texture and rise may vary.

What is the purpose of dry milk powder in this recipe?

Dry milk powder improves the bread's flavor, texture, and crust color. It's optional but recommended for a richer taste. If desired, you can substitute some of the water with milk and omit the dry milk powder.

Is it possible to make this bread without a bread machine?

Yes, you can make it by hand or with a stand mixer. Knead the dough until smooth and elastic, let it rise until doubled, shape, and bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F until golden brown.

How can I tell if the bread is fully baked?

The bread is done when it sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom, and the internal temperature reaches 190 degrees F.

Can I add additional ingredients like nuts or seeds?

Yes, you can add nuts, seeds, or dried fruits. Add these at the end of the kneading cycle or as directed by your bread machine's instructions.

What can I do if my dough is too dry?

If the dough is too dry, add a teaspoon of water at a time during the kneading cycle until it reaches the desired consistency.

How long can I store this bread?

Store the bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, freeze it.


nutrition data

93 calories, 2 grams fat, 17 grams carbohydrates, 2 grams protein per slice. This recipe is low in fat.
Show full nutritional data (including Weight Watcher's Points ®, cholesterol, sodium, vitamins, and diabetic exchanges)


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reviews & comments

  1. Hawaii50 REVIEW:

    Definitely one of the best bread recipes I've made. It rose perfectly and had nice texture and flavor. Good for sandwiches or toasted.

  2. Serge

    I used your adjust the recipe for a 3lb bread. I thought I was wrong to question the 6 cups of flour since your recipe would know better than I. This is th 3rd time only I try my new bread machine that does a 3 lb loaf. Well lo and behold, I was right to second guess the recipe the site is giving me. 1 hr left and I smell and see smoke from my machine. The dough rose so high it slipped over and might have ruined my machine as a huge gob of dough sippled right on the element. No idea if the machine is even any good after this. I used th exact measures given for 3lb. You should review your site recipes measurements. AM SO PISSED.

    • Unfortunately, most recipes that contain a leavening agent can't just be doubled, they need to be adjusted. For a 3 pound loaf of bread, the flour amount would be correct but you would only need 2 teaspoons of yeast, not 3. That's what caused the problem.

  3. Judy REVIEW:

    This bread was the best bread machine white bread yet! So soft,moist and easy to slice. This will be my go to bread recipe for sure!

  4. Grant REVIEW:

    Best recipe I have ever found online and I have tried many. Jason, I have a black and decker as well and have never not had this turn out. I am from Canada and have no affiliation to CDKitchen aside from using their amazing recipe! thanks a lot CDK, also I recommend to use the Powdered Skim Milk!! makes the world of a difference!

  5. Debbie REVIEW:

    This recipe came out great. SO much better than the bread machine recipe for white bread. I wonder if the person who commented named Jason, used bread white flour or regular flour? We used the bread flour, and it made the perfect loaf of soft non-dense bread. Thanks for the recipe.

  6. jason REVIEW:

    Not very helpful, and most comments seemed extremely generic and in fact 3 were the sameas I have seen on other sites. The exact same. Also this recipe turned out doughy and heavy just like the rest. Also noone answered dave: comment 29. It seems his review is the same as mine. Is it just our machines? I use a black and decker 1.5 on basic setting and it doesnt turn out anything close to store bread. Sorry but help please.

    • This recipe is only on CDKitchen so I'm not sure how you'd see the same comments posted elsewhere. The problem may be your bread machine or the ingredients used. Baking recipes often need to be tweaked to work properly depending where you live. Are you in a high altitude? Also, flour varies from region to region in the US depending on where it was produced so the hardness of it could be different with the brand you are using. You said that this recipe turns out "doughy and heavy just like the rest" which implies that you've had trouble making other bread recipes in your machine. Have you tried making the recipes that came with the instruction booklet? If even they don't turn out, then my guess is that your machine is at fault.

  7. Bean REVIEW:

    Uodate,the bread has the house smelling like a bakery, this is the best recipe yet for Basic White Bread, thank you again.

  8. Bean REVIEW:

    I am so excited to make this recipe, I am making it now. It looks good and the reviews are good. I will have to let you know, it seems most bread machine recipes are tasty, but, to heavy and harden very fast..looking forward to this new recipe, thank you.

  9. Courtney REVIEW:

    This recipe convinced me not throw away my bread machine. I ate myself sick. I blame you.

  10. Jim REVIEW:

    Great tasting bread. Some bread machine recipes yield a very dense loaf. This one was light and moist.

  11. Leigh REVIEW:

    How many servings or slices does this make? Can't calculate calories per slice if I don't know how many slices to cut the load into!

  12. Guest Foodie REVIEW:

    This is my favorite, foolproof, bread machine bread recipe. Never fails and turns out perfect every time. I make it at least once a week because it gets eaten up so fast in my house.

  13. ross REVIEW:

    I have never posted a review about any recipe but I have to say wow this is the very best bread I have ever made:)

  14. MamaD REVIEW:

    Wonderful recipe!!! I have 3 sons and make a lot of bread. This is the best white bread that I have ever made!! I have a machine that makes a 3 lb loaf and this recipe made a huge loaf as is. Do not adjust this recipe to make it bigger. Thankyou thankyou thankyou for sharing this :-)

  15. Freeman REVIEW:

    A fantastic recipe and a fantastic result. Excellent white bread. A little bit, a little less salt, 1 1/3 tespoon, but at mixing a little flour. Played perfectly. The taste super. Thank you.

  16. tiannasgamma

    The first time I made this bread it was heavy and not very good. This time I added more yeast and used the sandwich setting on my bread machine. The bread was delicious and nice and light. We loved it.

  17. Suzi527 REVIEW:

    I recieved a bread machine for Christmas so I have been trying different recipes. For white bread this is my favorite! As other reviewers mentioned this bread is so nice and soft. It is also very easy to put together with only a few ingredients. I used the light crust setting on my machine. This recipe is a keeper and I don't see a need for me to try any more white bread recipes! Thank you for sharing :) gotta love the internet!

  18. Dave

    I tried this recipe yesterday and followed it to a tee. However the loaf was "doughy". I've had this problem with other recipes as well. What do you think I am doing wrong? I'm using a panasonic sd-rd250. It has 2 size settings: medium and XL. Any help would be appreciated.

  19. wendy girl REVIEW:

    This is the best bread so thank you for this recipe, I make it 2 to 3 times a week, my husband can not get enough. I also passed this recipe on to a friend. He was using a recipe that came with his bread maker, his bread is always so heavy. he also loves this recipe. So thank you for such a great bread recipe.

  20. Yogibear REVIEW:

    This recipe is fantastic! Much better than the one that came with the bread machine. It is light and almost fluffy, not heavy and wet as others that I've tried. I made the large loaf and followed RJ's note. This recipe is a "keeper"!

  21. HeatherWmn REVIEW:

    This is the only bread machine recipe that I've tried that has worked perfectly the first time and produced the bread exactly as advertised. I HIGHLY recommend this recipe to especially the beginners out there, as this will give you a reason for having acquired your bread machine!!!

  22. Heather REVIEW:

    I make this recipe about 2 times a week, since my husband and I don't buy storebrand bread. This recipe is by far the best bread recipe I have ever made. Not only that, but I have past it on to my sisters, Mom, and almost every person who has ate this bread at my house. Absolutely everyone loves it. Thank you so much for posting it!!!! ~~

  23. Rob's Mom REVIEW:

    This recipe was very easy (not sure why it is rated as a 3 difficulty). I think the recipe turned out pretty well. My only suggestion is to use less salt (I used sea salt), otherwise it was perfect. Thank you for this resource.

  24. brian REVIEW:

    was good bread though i do have to say made 1 with bleached flour and one with the bread flour and the one with the bread flour rose much higher just personal experimentation, but good recipe 2 thumbs up and a right on..

  25. ajb2dance REVIEW:

    I just made this tonight and it was great! I have not used my bread machine to make loaf bread for a few years (only for other things) because I couldn't find a good recipe. Now I have. The crust was soft and the loaf was so light; just like store bought only better!! I will be making this instead of buying bread from here on out.

  26. ladybread REVIEW:

    I was having trouble with my old recipe for some reason (in a rut I guess) so I tried this one and it is the new family fav! It was easy, and turned out fluffy and delicious. Five stars.

  27. ladybread REVIEW:

    This is the very best bread I have ever made. It has a nice light taste. My machine just finished and I am going to make another!

  28. KammyLocheart REVIEW:

    This is the beast white bread recipe i have ever made! It's so close in texture to store bought bread. I will be making this a Lot! Thank you for the recipe!

  29. arioli REVIEW:

    It was soooooooo good!! I bought this machine 2 days ago and read all the negative reviews about the recipe that came w/ the machine. So I looked for a good and easy basic white bread just to try. It came out perfect!! Thank you thank you

  30. gomo REVIEW:

    The most simpliest recipe for a bread machine I have ever used. The bonus of the whole thing is that the bread tastes great. Highly recomend this recipe to anyone.

  31. gaz REVIEW:

    This bread was the best I ever made with my machine. The comment about lowering the salt was helpful and for once I feel like I made a loaf of bread instead of a just a small square

  32. gomo2010 REVIEW:

    I pretty well have switched from bought bread to this receipe. I have tried others but this one is the best. Other people have tried it and always have had great comments. Some even want me to bake a loaf for them.

  33. Guest Foodie REVIEW:

    it was okkkkkkaaaaaaay, very gooooooooooood

  34. Lin REVIEW:

    The ingredients are super simple and the loaf turned out to be really soft, this recipe is a definite keeper!

  35. kate REVIEW:

    Bread was lovely!, my mum left me in charge of making a white loaf with the breadmaker for the kids sandwiches but I lost the recipe she left me!! One search on the net and I found and tried this. No could tell the difference (shes vey proud of her bread) so thanks for that! kate x

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