Easy Bread Machine Sandwich Bread. This recipe makes a light, tender loaf of bread.
During the month of March, everyone made sourdough. Except me.
Never one to follow the crowd, I pulled out of my bread machine and made loaf after loaf of white sandwich bread.
It’s not that I don’t love sourdough or that I don’t know how to make it. I just…wasn’t in the mood to deal with it.
Sourdough is a delight but it requires an amount of labor that I didn’t have in me during the early days of the quarantine. It needs feeding and care and, well, I wanted something easy. Something reliable. My needs were simple: I wanted a loaf of bread that tasted great toasted and spread thick with butter and jam. (The fact that I couldn’t find any whole wheat flour also influenced my choice, to be honest.)
A friend had been made a loaf of King Arthur’s Easy Sandwich Bread. Her original loaves had turned out too dense and a bit dry.
So she texted me. I looked at the recipe and suggested she replace the water with milk. It’s a simple swap but milk adds a bit of fat, which makes for a tender loaf of bread and the proteins and sugar help the loaf brown.
She tried it and texted me that she loved the bread. So I decided to give it a whirl.
I hadn’t used my bread machine for years. In fact, I considered it cheating. I used it when testing and developing gluten-free recipes but for wheat-based baking? I’d never used the machine.
No time like the present, right?
The loaf turned out as promised: high with a tender, soft crumb.
At this point, I’ve lost count of how many loaves I’ve made. Each one has come out perfectly. Which, at this time in life, is a gift.
Ingredients for Bread Machine Sandwich Bread
- Flour. Your best bet is to use bread flour. I like King Arthur’s bread flour but I’ve also made this loaf with Gold Medal. Both flours performed really well. Happily, this loaf can also be made with all-purpose flour. The difference is the bread doesn’t rise quite as high and the crumb is slightly softer, which is actually fine for sandwich bread.
- Yeast. Use instant or active dry. Both work. I prefer instant yeast because it’s more reliable than active dry yeast.
- Salt. Salt does two important things in bread baking: it adds flavor and controls yeast growth. Use table salt, not Kosher salt.
- Sugar. There’s a little sugar in this bread. It adds a bit of sweetness, of course, but also helps the loaf to brown and enhances the shelf life of the bread.
- Milk and Half and Half. While this isn’t Japanese milk bread, it does remind me of it a little. It’s soft and creamy. The combination of milk and half and half are responsible for this texture and flavor.
- Butter. As you can see, this is a dairy-forward sandwich bread. The butter adds fat, which not only brings flavor to the loaf, it also makes for a soft, tender loaf of bread.
How to Make Sandwich Bread in a Bread Machine.
My bread machine is fairly fancy, if there’s such a thing for bread machines. It’s a Zojirushi and the thing works like a champ. I put the milk, half and half, and butter in. Then the dry ingredients, and I sprinkle the yeast on top.
I don’t even need to heat the milk and half and half because the machine goes through a preheat cycle.
If your machine doesn’t heat the ingredients, warm the liquids slightly before using.
What You’ll Love About This Bread
- It’s easy. You dump the ingredients into a bread machine, push a button, and three hours later, you’ve got bread. Even when there was little I could do, I was able to make this bread.
- It’s soft and tender. The loaf contains milk, half and half and butter, which gives us a soft, tender loaf of bread.
- It makes a perfect loaf. Seriously. The loaf comes out high and tender. It reminds me of the bread emoji. It’s a cartoon bread!
- It makes wonderful toast. If you love a good piece of toast, this is the bread for you.
FAQs: Bread Machine Sandwich Bread
Can I use all milk?
Yes. If you don’t have half and half in the house, replace the amount called for with an equal amount of milk.
Can I use water?
You can but the loaf won’t be as soft or tasty.
Can I use oil instead of butter?
Yes. Bread made with oil lacks the buttery flavor that I find delightful but oil works.
I don’t have yeast. Can I use a combination of baking powder and lemon juice?
No. Sorry. This bread requires yeast.
Tips for Storage
Store in a plastic container or bread bag on your counter for up to four days.
Once it’s cool, cut the loaf with a serrated knife into slices and freeze.
Other Recipes for Comfort Baking
Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies.
Brown Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies
Bread Machine Sandwich Bread
Ingredients
- 1 cup (225 grams) milk, see note
- ⅓ cup (75 grams ) half and half, see note
- 3 tablespoons (45 grams) softened butter, salted or unsalted
- 3 ¾ cups (450 grams) bread flour, see note
- 3 tablespoons (35g) sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons instant yeast or active dry
Instructions
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Place the ingredients into the pan of a 1 ½ to 2 pound bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer.
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Select the program for basic white bread. Press Start.
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When the baking completes, remove the pan from the machine. Allow the bread to cool in the pan for about 5 minutes. Remove the bread from the pan, sometimes this requires a shake to get the bread out of the pan. Set the loaf on a wire rack to cool.
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Store, in a bread box, bread bag or well wrapped on the counter for 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Recipe Notes
Milk and Half and Half
Use lukewarm milk and half and half if your bread machine does not have a preheat cycle.
Beth Z says
I make this recipe at least twice a week! Basic setting on bread machine, 1.5# loaf size, light crust. I’ve found it is quite useful to weigh your flour (bread flour works best) and use a good instant yeast. Make sure your milk temp is at least 110-115 degrees. This bread makes the BEST BLTs!
Elizabeth says
Glad you are enjoying the recipe!
Melissa J says
I’m new to this bread making adventure as I just bought a bread machine today . Are there any bread recipes for like banana bread or like Amish bread , sweet bread etc ?
Deb says
I make this weekly. It stays fresh in a paper bag for 3 days and gives me 6 slices = 3 sandwiches. Thank you!
Alethea Dunajewski says
Thoughts on using sour half n half?
Elizabeth says
If you mean spoiled half and half, it should not be used.
S says
I made this with water instead of milk, honey instead of granulated sugar, unsalted butter, ran it on the 2 lb loaf medium crust, white bread setting in my cuisinart. It’s DELICIOUS.
KATHLEEN says
A new recipe: inspired baking.
Sam says
Just made this recipe for the first time yesterday, mixed white and grained flour, perfect loaf, lovely and soft, thin crisp crust, will be using this recipe going forward, thank you 🙂
Amy Todd says
How much honey did you use?
Darla says
Did you still use the half and half or did you replace that with water also?
Claudia says
I made this recipe once and loved it. Took me forever to find it again (too many white bread recipes on the internet!) but I’m so glad I did! Bookmarking for posterity.
Elizabeth says
Yay! Glad you found it again! Welcome back.
Ric Rosonet says
I over proofed it, but it is by far the best tasting bread recipe that I have made this year. Been trying different recipes to try and find the perfect sandwich bread for my taste. This is it. I used the whole milk and half and half.
Mary S. says
Can
I use all half and half?
Carey says
This is my new favorite recipe! I cannot stop baking and eating it! I’m so ready to give up on sourdough! Should I change anything to include cheese?
Elizabeth says
What type of cheese do you want to add?
Adam says
Made the recipe with all almond milk (what I had on hand) and all-purpose flour and it turned out amazing. I’m confused about the storage directions, though – is there supposed to be bread remaining by the time it cools? Hot buttered bread is a favorite here.
Sam says
Same here, I did manage to wait long enough not to get my fingers burnt, but yeah, I didn’t cook dinner last night and I’m going to have to bake some more for tomorrow 😅
Charles says
Great bread
jamie cyr says
Can I use bread machine yeast?
Jenna says
I’ve made this recipe a few times now- the first time it came out perfect. Soft, springy, smooth top. Every time since it’s been dense and the top has been rough, like it didn’t fully mix or rise properly. I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong!
Elizabeth says
Hmm…good question! A couple of things come to mind.
1. I’d check your yeast. Just to make sure it’s still fresh and working as we need it.
2. Not mixing sounds like a possible machine issue. If it’s not mixing correctly and, let’s say, not reaching the right temperature during baking, it could cause the rough, dense loaf.
Finally, it it’s not the machine and not the yeast, I’d double check the amount of liquid you’re adding. Too little and the dough might dry.
I hope this helps!
Tami says
I have the same issue..we jokingly call the bread “moon” bread because it looks like the moons surface. I’ve been making bread in my bread machine for almost a year now. After the first perfect loaf, i now get “moon” bread. I even bought a new machine (mine is 20 years old)..same thing. I’ve tried several different thongs..from 2% mile to heavy whipping cream, to different flours, honey vs sugar, abd still the same. Now i wait for the third rise, pause the machine, take out the dough knead to a smoothe ball and put back in the machine. I’ll pause 3 times to get a good rise, then let it continue to bake. No more “moon” bread.
Deb says
I don’t like baking my bread in my bread machine, I use it for mixing and kneading only on the dough cycle. Would you know the temp and time to bake this separately? I’m thinking 375 for 45 min to start. Thoughts?
Susan says
Could I use buttermilk instead of half and half?
Amy says
Probably. It might make the dough stiffer. I used 50/50 buttermilk & whole milk (half cup each), then 1/3 cup evaporated milk in place of the half and half. The only issue was I had to check the dough ball during first knead and add over 1 TBSP additional milk to it because it was very firm and dry with the thicker liquids. I wanted to try the buttermilk for some flavor and use up some of that and the evaporated milk I had leftover from other baking. I never have half and half on hand because nobody here uses it. The bread was soft and very flavorful.
Coll says
Ive just bought my first bread maker and looking for a sandwich recipe.
Ive never heard of milk half an half, can you explain it please?
Thanks
Elizabeth says
It’s a premixed combination of half cream and half whole (full fat) milk.
Tel864 says
Look on the grocery store shelf where the milk is. It’s been there for many years.
Heather Tropez says
Can I use all 2% milk? I don’t have whole milk or half and half.
Elizabeth says
Yes! Just be sure to replace the milk and half and half with the 2% milk. The loaf won’t be as soft but it will still be tasty!
Amanda says
My family LOVES this bread! I’m so glad I found your recipe. Thank you!
Lori says
Can I use heavy cream in place of half and half?
Susan barlow says
Excellent bread
Karen wride says
Can you use powdered milk instead of liquid milk?
Todd says
Was looking for a soft fluffy bread that goes well with tuna fish. FOUND IT! My new sandwich bread.
Anthony says
Still taste nice without the half and half – great recipe
Edod says
This bread is very good. The milk and half and half makes a softer bread than water. I halved the sugar as it was too sweet for me for more savory sandwiches. Also, always weigh ingredients, you’ll get a better crumb.
Amie Templin says
I use this recipe once a week to use in my daughter’s school lunch. It has always turned out great and she loves it!
I was wondering though if you have tried it with some wheat flour added?
Elizabeth says
I have! Whole wheat flour works really well. Depending on the flour, it might need a splash more milk. If your machine starts “thunking” while it needs, add a bit more milk. A tablespoon or so usually is perfect.
Cindy says
This bread is amazing! It’s soft and doesn’t have so many holes that jam goes through. It reminds me of Wonder bread. I call it my ‘wonderful bread’. I made a 2 lb. loaf and it was tall enough to cut in half horizontally and then cut vertically so I got double the amount of slices.
Karan Godwin says
This is, by far, the best sandwich bread recipe I’ve come across. It smells and tastes like the bread my mother made growing up! Soft, thin crust, absolutely perfect! I don’t use half and half, so substituted it with whole milk and heavy cream. Other than that, I followed the recipe as stated…along with warming my milk and cream before putting into the machine. Will always use this recipe from now on…made 3x already and each loaf was divine!
Dave Hay says
Does this work better as a 1.5 or 2# loaf?
Thanks
Elizabeth says
I prefer a 2 pound horizontal pan. That said, if your machine has a 1 ½ capacity, this bread bakes nicely. The recipe is too large for a 1 pound machine.
Cheryl says
Is there a way to freeze half of the dough before completing the baking process in the bread machine, or can I cut the recipe in half. I live alone and I don’t need that much bread baked at one time.
Thank you
Elizabeth says
While you can freeze it, that’s not my favorite. Sometimes the yeast gets a bit sluggish or die after freezing. I’d bake the entire loaf. Let it cool and then freeze half of the baked bread.
Howard says
This bread tastes amazing.
I used almond milk (all I had) along with the half and half and love the higher protein in this bread. Unfortunately, the loaf was so big that it opened the bread machine when it was rising and it did not bake. I tried to save it by letting it rise again in the regular oven for a bit and then baking it. It worked! Tastes great with an amazing texture. I am going to try and make just the dough next time in the bread machine and then see if I can let it rise manually and bake it in a bread pan in the oven. Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated
Elizabeth says
Hi Howard,
I’m glad that worked! What machine (make and model) are you using? Let me know and we’ll see if we can solve this problem!
Jenn says
I did everything as noted here and made sure I added the ingredients as the booklet said. The bread did not mix and came out bumpy. Smells great. Looks awful and is super dense. 2# machine. I am at a loss.
Can I take it out after the second rise to form the ball by hand and plop it back in?
Elizabeth says
Bumpy and lack of rise sounds like it could be one of two things.
Maybe your machine struggled to mix the dough. Have you used the machine before?
If you have and the motor is fine, I wonder if there was accidentally either too much flour or too little liquid added? That could also cause this to happen.
You can always remove the dough from the machine, knead it and then return it to the machine. But you shouldn’t have to do that. Hopefully we can get to the bottom of this for you!