Bread Machine Bread

Have you ever looked at the ingredients for most store-bought bread? Sugar or glucose/fructose is often the second ingredient followed by a lot of ingredients you can’t pronounce, let alone know what they are. But what can you do about it?

You can buy your bread at your local bakery. Local bakeries make bread using ingredients you would use at home. It might be a little more expensive, but you know what you’re eating and are supporting a local business.

Or you can make your own bread. What? Who has time for that? Honestly, it is doable. 

A few years ago, I wanted to start making my own bread, so Santa brought me a bread machine for Christmas. 

“That’s cheating. You’re not really making bread if you use a bread machine,” people said.

I disagree. 

I know there is an art to making bread and I appreciate that. But the bread machine saves me a lot of time and provides me and my family with homemade bread for a lot less money. The house smells great while it’s baking too!

A bread machine will do the entire process of mixing, kneading, rising and baking, but it makes a three-pound loaf that is way too big! 

So, here’s what I do:

Put ingredients in the bread machine loaf pan in the order listed in the recipe. Bread Machine Bread  3 lb loaf or Bread Machine Bread 2 lb loaf.

Select the dough setting and let the machine do its work.

When the machine is done, empty dough onto a floured surface and knead dough to remove air bubbles.  Shape into one pound loaves and put in greased loaf pans.

Place loaves in oven with the light on and cover with greased wax or parchment paper.  Let rise for one hour.

Remove loaves from oven and preheat oven to 350°F.  

Return loaves to oven and bake for 30 minutes.  

Remove bread from loaf pans and cool completely on a wire rack.

When completely cool, lay bread on its side and slice with an electric knife.

Then place in a large freezer bag.

Enjoy!

Here are some more useful tips from Betty Crocker.

Subscribe to Homemaking Jewels today.