My mother-in-law gave me my first bread machine 3 years ago. Since then, I can confidently say I have made at least 150 loaves of bread. NONE of them have been as soft and tasty as this one! If I could manage to slice it perfectly even, it could easily replace our favorite sandwich bread from the store!
Best Ever Homemade Sandwich Bread
Ingredients
2 cups warm water
2 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp salt
2 1/2 Tbsp butter, softened
5 1/2 cups bread flour (AP flour will also work, but bread flour is better)
1 Tbsp yeast
Directions
- Place ingredients into the bread machine in the order they are listed above, making a well in the flour for the yeast.
- Select your machine's dough cycle
- After dough is ready, punch down and knead a few times. Divide dough in half and place 1/2 in a bread pan. If you do not have a bread pan, you may simply shape and bake on a baking sheet.
- Spray a sheet of plastic wrap with cooking spray or olive oil and cover loosely. Allow dough to rise for at least 45 minutes. Bake at 375 degrees for approximately 30 minutes, or until well browned.
Questions? Tips to share? Thoughts? Comment below and I will do my best to respond and answer any questions.
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Hmmm I let my bread machine bake my bread too. Is that where I'm going wrong? Should I be putting it in the oven? I do find it a little dense out of the breadmaker.
ReplyDeleteI always find that the bread ends up a little dryer and more dense than it should be when baked directly in the bread maker. I do it when I need to just start it and the slow cooker and come home to a dinner that is already done. I recommend just running it on dough cycle and baking it in your oven whenever you have the time :) It will actually be done sooner in the oven, but will require a little hands on time.
DeleteThanks for the advice! I'm going to try baking it in the oven.
Delete4 steps to make bread that sounds so easy.. i will print this for my daughter..
ReplyDeleteI make the absolute worst bread! I am going to try this. I can't find a recipe that works. Maybe this will be it!
ReplyDeletejust be careful measuring and make sure it is well browned and you will do great with this recipe!
DeleteThis looks great. Is it soft and doughy inside, or more toast like, like french bread? I want a bread machine now.
ReplyDeleteIt is soft inside, but not doughy. It has a light texture. I am going to share a french bread recipe sometime soon though ;)
DeleteI don't have a bread machine! What can I do?
ReplyDeleteNot to worry at all! If you have a stand mixer with a dough hook you can put the warm water, sugar, and yeast in the mixer bowl, stir and let sit for 5 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and knead with dough hook for 8 minutes. Allow to rest for 10 minutes, then knead with dough hook for 8 more minutes. Allow to rise 30 minutes, then punch down dough and carry on with step 3. If you don't have a stand mixer either, your can mix by hand. Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl (much larger than needed to hold the ingredients themselves. Knead 10 minutes and allow to rest 10 minutes, covered loosely with a clean dish towel. Knead 10 more minutes, then allow to rise 20 minutes. Punch down and work for an additional 2 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes then Carry on from step 3.
DeleteThe only way I can get my bread to rise is if I do it automatically with the bread machine! I haven't tried taking it out to bake it, I think I would like the final result better.
ReplyDeleteI turn the oven on for a few min., then turn it off and set a pan of hot water on the bottom shelf and the dough on the shelf above it. Have had great results.
DeleteSounds really delicious! I just wish I had a bread machine. Love the hot new bread, it tastes and smells so good.
ReplyDeleteI have always wanted to make my own loaf bread. I wonder if I can make the dough with my kitchenaid?
ReplyDeleteI think our bread machine is the best thing we got for our wedding! I also wish I could cut it better! Excited to try out your recipe for my next loaf :)
ReplyDeletemmm, I can almost smell it baking!! Not much beats the smell of freshly baked bread!
ReplyDeleteI have not made home made bread in the longest time. You have inspired me. I think I will try to make some bread to go with my homemade soups.
ReplyDeleteLooks so yummy! I love fresh bread, but I gave my bread maker to my college daughter so I need to go and get a new one :)
ReplyDeleteI love homemade breads. I guess I need to get involved a lot into baking. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
ReplyDeleteHomemade bread would be my choice anytime a day. I loved how nice the house used to smell when my granny was baking bread.
ReplyDeleteWow! That looks amazing! I love homemade bread :)
ReplyDeleteHomemade anything is the best. And bread? Wow. Looks amazing. Amber Nelson
ReplyDeleteI love homemade bread, I haven't made it in a while though
ReplyDeleteI make bread all the time having made thousands of loaves. This is my favorite white bread recipe: 2 c. milk, scalded, 1 stick unsalted butter, 2 eggs, 1/4 c. water, 2 pkg. yeast, 1/4 c. honey, 4-5 c. flour Dissolve yeast in warm water with 1 tab. honey, allow to ferment. Meanwhile scald milk and put hot in mixer bowl w. paddle, add chopped butter and allow to melt. add salt and eggs when milk has cooled. Add rest of honey and start adding 1/2 flour. Mix then add in yeast mixture then add in rest of flour until it begins to pull away from the edge of bowl Switch to a dough hook and mix 4-6 min until dough is smooth and elastic. Remove to a floured table and knead by hand a couple of times. My mother taught me that the dough should feel like a newborn baby's bottom. Smooth and a bit springy!. Put in sprayed bowl and allow to rise until doubled. gently deflate and allow to rise a second time. Form into 3 loaves and put in greased pans. Allow to fully rise (1-2" over top edge) Brush with egg and top with seeds of choice (I like white poppy seeds) Bake at 375F 20-25 min uncovered, cover w/ foil and bake another 15-20 min. until bread reads 200 F on instant read thermometer. Immediately remove from pans and cool on a wire rack. Because of the eggs, butter and honey this bread will stay fresh 4-5 days. I have made this recipe over 100 times and it is still one of my favorites, enjoy!
ReplyDeletemmmm mmmm! I will have to make this recipe! I love baking bread, and I think I am better than average at it, but I sure would like to taste some of your bread! You are very lucky to have had your mother to teach you about making bread! My mother, while good at making 7 or 8 dishes, is not what I would call a great cook, or any kind of baker. I am going to try this recipe! Hopefully I can do it justice :) Thank you so much for sharing!
DeleteThere is no salt in your recipe Anonymous... How much salt?
DeletePizza dough
DeleteDoes this make 2 loaves? I was confused when it said divide it into two and put half in the bread pan. Does that leave half for a 2nd loaf? I'm making it now and just want to make sure.
ReplyDeleteGreat recipe. I love this bread. I've been looking for a dairy and soy free recipe, I just replaced the butter with earth balance soy free buttery spread. Can't even tell the difference. It makes wonderful rolls and hot dog buns too!!
ReplyDeletefound this recipe on a pinterest board (a pin by Crosby Michelle). hmmphh, i thought, and had to try it to test that claim of best ever.
ReplyDeleteso i tried it, substituting 1-1/2 cups of white white flour (along with 1-1/2 tsp of gluten) for that amount of the bread flour. well, i ended up with 2 beautiful loaves of wonderful bread - light with great texture, had a great ham sandwich last night and look forward to more sandwiches later today, and french toast tomorrow. i do also intend to try the recipe posted by Anonymous on April 25, 2014 at 8:07 PM. this best ever sandwich bread, in the bread machine, is so easy to do that it would be a shame for anyone who owns a bread machine not to try it. i've been making bread for about 30 years, this is one of my new favorites. thanks, frugalmommychristine, for posting this.