The best thing about having a bread machine at home is you can make all kinds of bread, from traditional to specialty to artisan loaves. You don’t have to be skilled or a professional when an intuitive appliance can do most of the work for you. So, to help you get started (and excited!), I’ve compiled a few delicious bread maker recipes featuring the models from my bread maker review. Get your aprons ready and let’s do some baking!
Breville Custom Loaf Pro: Traditional White Bread Recipe
A recipe for making traditional white bread is something that every bread baker should have in their repertoire. With its simple ingredients and procedures, it’s an excellent starting point for first-time bread bakers. Plus, white bread pairs with almost every spread, deli or nut butter. They make fabulous toasts, too. Here’s an easy recipe using the Breville Custom Loaf Pro Bread Maker. Check out its online manual for more Breville bread maker recipes to try.
Yield: One 750g loaf
Notes: You can do this recipe with the Basic Rapid setting of your machine. When you do, replace dry yeast with the same or higher amount of instant yeast.
Ingredients
- 280ml water
- 15ml (1 tbsp) oil
- 5g (1 tsp) salt
- 15g (1 tbsp) sugar
- 500g (3½ cups) bread flour
- 3g (½ tsp) bread improver
- 15g (1 tbsp) milk powder
- 8g (1½ tsp) active dry yeast
Procedure
- Measure your ingredients then set up your Breville Custom Loaf Pro Bread Maker. Make sure that the collapsible kneading blade is in the upright position.
- Add the ingredients following the order in the ingredients list. Wipe off any spills outside the bread pan.
- Position the bread pan into the machine and close the lid. Use the push-dial to choose the BASIC setting. Choose 0.75kg for the loaf size then select your preferred CRUST setting (dark, medium or light).
- If you want to change the default baking temperature as well as the times allocated for the different phases of bread-making, press the MODIFY button. Otherwise, press START to commence the cycle.
- Once the cycle is complete, your bread maker will sound an alert and automatically switch to a 60-minute keep-warm mode. With oven gloves, lift the lid to open then remove the bread bucket by holding its handle.
- Turn the bread bucket upside down onto a wire rack. Let the bread cool completely before slicing.
Panasonic SD-ZB2512KST: Rustic Sourdough Bread Recipe
The Panasonic SD-ZB2512KST Bread Maker is one of the few intuitive appliances that simplify the sourdough bread-making process. While the process will take 2 days to complete, it’s still easier than making it in the oven. It’s probably your stepping stone to become a home-based artisan bread baker! Be a bread master with more Panasonic bread maker recipes from The Ideas Kitchen.
Yield: One loaf (approximately 600g)
Notes: Make sure to remove the starter from the machine and store it properly to avoid reducing its fermenting power. Storing the sourdough starter in the freezer leads to lost fermenting power while keeping it at room temperature over 30C results in spoilage. A well-made starter should have a sour, alcohol-like smell.
Ingredients
Sourdough starter
- 80g (2/3 cup) rye flour
- 3g (½ tsp) salt
- 60g (¼ cup) plain flour
- 80ml water, at 20C
- 1g yeast (using the sourdough starter spoon)
Sourdough bread
- Sourdough starter
- 320g (1½ cups) strong white flour
- 4g (¾ tsp) salt
- 130ml (½ cup) water
- 3g (½ tsp) yeast, put in the SD-ZB2512KST yeast dispenser
Procedure
Sourdough starter
- We need to make the sourdough starter one day in advance before we can make the bread. Measure your ingredients and mix them in the sourdough cup included with your Panasonic SD-ZB2512KST Bread Maker. Put the lid on.
- Remove the kneading blade from the bread pan then place the sourdough cup in your bread maker.
- Close the lid then press the MENU button to select “27” for the sourdough starter option. Press START to start the cycle, which will take 24 hours.
- Once the cycle is complete, your bread maker will beep eight times. With oven gloves, press the STOP button, lift the lid to open then remove the sourdough cup right away.
- Store your starter in the fridge and use it all up within a week.
Sourdough starter
- Measure your ingredients then set up your Panasonic SD-ZB2512KST Bread Maker.
- Put the kneading blade back into the bread bucket then add the ingredients following the order in the ingredients list. With the Panasonic SD-ZB2512KST, make sure to put the yeast in the yeast dispenser.
- Press the MENU button and select “10” for the rustic sourdough setting.
- Press START to commence the cycle, which should take 5 hours.
- Once the cycle is complete, your bread maker will beep eight times. With oven gloves, press the STOP button, lift the lid to open then remove the bread bucket by holding its handle.
- Turn the bread bucket upside down onto a wire rack. Let the bread cool completely before slicing.
FAQs on Bread Maker Recipes
This section should answer your common issues when baking with a bread maker for the first time.
Can I use my handmade recipes in a bread maker?
As bread makers come with different features and options, it’s quite impossible to give one method to make all your favourite recipes suit any machine. However, with tweaks here and there plus constant experimenting, it’s doable. My two big tips are to make sure your handmade recipe yield matches the capacity of your bread maker and to reorder your ingredients list as recommended by your machine. In most cases, your loaf weight can be estimated based on the flour in your recipe. Here’s my rough guide:
- 450g capacity = 256g to 352g (2 to 2¾ cups) of flour
- 600g capacity = 384g to 512g (3 to 4 cups) of flour
- 900g capacity = 512g to 704g (4 to 5½ cups) of flour
It usually takes a few tries to get the results that you want. Also, keep in mind that your final product may not have the same texture as your original recipe. It’s a small trade-off for the convenience bread makers give. The bread is still near-perfect though and just as fabulous when toasted or grilled.
Should I grease my bread bucket or pan before baking?
Usually, it’s no longer necessary. Buckets or pans for bread makers are typically non-stick to make your freshly baked bread easy to remove. However, if your bread machine manual recommends it, then do so. One thing to always remember is to follow the cleaning and care instructions of your bread pan. Also, make sure to not use any sharp tools like a knife or a metal spatula when removing your bread from the pan. Scratching or damaging its coating can significantly affect its non-stick quality.
Can I use baking powder in place of yeast?
No, because both leavening agents work with a specific set of ingredients to produce distinct baking results. Baking powder is ideal for giving our quick bread, like muffins and scones, a fluffy texture. Yeast, on the other hand, works with our yeast bread recipes to get that high volume and all-too-familiar bread taste and aroma. Make sure to follow the right leaving agent for guaranteed baking success.
What type of flour should I use when making bread?
It all depends on your recipe and the type of bread you are making. Generally, bread flour is the best type to use. It has the protein content called gluten that should give your final product the right height and beautiful shape. If you plan to use all-purpose or plain flour, make sure to choose one with high-protein content. Of course, both flour types will not work for gluten-free bread maker recipes. Taking out the gluten source can affect the texture and shape of your product. However, one way around it is to add other ingredients, like xanthan gum, eggs or corn starch, that will give your bread structure.
