This straightforward bread machine recipe is perfect for making a delicious 1.5-pound loaf of bread with minimal effort. Using simple ingredients, you can enjoy fresh, homemade bread right from your kitchen.
Ideal for beginners, this recipe requires just a few basic steps and is customizable with your favorite add-ins like herbs, cheese, or nuts.
Creating the Perfect Loaf
Baking a 1.5-pound loaf of bread at home can be a rewarding experience. The aroma of freshly baked bread fills the kitchen, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. With a bread machine, the process becomes simple and efficient, allowing anyone to enjoy homemade bread with minimal effort.
This recipe yields a soft, fluffy interior with a golden-brown crust, perfect for sandwiches or toast. The combination of warm water, sugar, and yeast sets the stage for a delightful rise, while the bread flour ensures a sturdy structure.
Essential Ingredients
To create this delicious loaf, you’ll need just a handful of ingredients. The foundation includes warm water, sugar, vegetable oil, salt, bread flour, and bread machine yeast. Each component plays a vital role in achieving the desired texture and flavor.
Using high-quality bread flour is recommended, as it contains more protein than all-purpose flour, contributing to the bread’s structure. The yeast is essential for fermentation, which helps the bread rise and develop its airy texture.
Step-by-Step Process
The process begins by pouring warm water into the bread machine pan. Following this, sugar, vegetable oil, and salt are added. It’s important to layer the ingredients correctly, placing the flour on top of the liquid ingredients to ensure proper mixing.
Next, a small well is created in the center of the flour to add the yeast. This helps to activate the yeast without direct contact with the salt, which can inhibit its growth. Once everything is in place, select the appropriate settings on the bread machine, including the loaf size and crust preference.
Baking and Cooling
After starting the machine, it will handle the mixing, kneading, rising, and baking automatically. This hands-off approach allows you to focus on other tasks while the bread bakes to perfection.
Once the baking cycle is complete, carefully remove the loaf from the pan and let it cool on a wire rack. Cooling is crucial, as it allows the bread to set properly and enhances its texture.
Serving Suggestions
Once cooled, the bread can be sliced and served. A rustic wooden cutting board adds a charming touch to the presentation. A few slices arranged beside the loaf, along with a small dish of butter, create an inviting setup.
This bread is versatile and can be enjoyed in various ways. Whether slathered with butter, used for sandwiches, or toasted for breakfast, it’s sure to please everyone at the table.
Storing Your Bread
To maintain freshness, store the bread in a cool, dry place. Wrapping it in a cloth or placing it in a bread box can help keep it soft. For longer storage, consider freezing slices and toasting them directly from the freezer when needed.
With this straightforward recipe, you can enjoy the satisfaction of homemade bread anytime, bringing warmth and comfort to your kitchen.
Simple Bread Machine Recipe
This recipe yields a soft and flavorful 1.5-pound loaf of bread that is perfect for sandwiches or toast. The process takes about 3 hours from start to finish and serves approximately 12 slices.
Ingredients
- 1 cup warm water (110°F)
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups bread flour
- 2 teaspoons bread machine yeast
Instructions
- Add Ingredients: Pour the warm water into the bread machine pan. Add sugar, vegetable oil, and salt.
- Add Flour: Carefully add the bread flour on top of the liquid ingredients, ensuring it covers the water completely.
- Add Yeast: Make a small well in the center of the flour and add the bread machine yeast.
- Select Settings: Place the pan in the bread machine and select the ‘Basic’ or ‘White Bread’ setting. Choose the 1.5-pound loaf size and light crust preference.
- Start Machine: Close the lid and start the machine. The bread maker will mix, knead, rise, and bake the bread automatically.
- Cool and Slice: Once baking is complete, carefully remove the bread from the pan and let it cool on a wire rack before slicing.
Cook and Prep Times
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
- Servings: 12 slices
- Calories: 120kcal
- Fat: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 22g