The bread machine is the kitchen tool I would choose if forced to narrow my favorites down to just one. With it, I can taste and see the results of my not very demanding bread-baking endeavors.

All of the following recipes could be made by hand or with a stand mixer, but why bother? Each time I use the machine, I find it hard to believe that the resulting loaves are not as good as or better than any store-bought bread.

And these recipes do not require yeast as an extra ingredient; that’s included in the recipes’ first steps.

The 16 Best best bread machine recipes

1. Classic White Bread

Timeless and classic, white bread is a staple made from basic ingredients like warm water, sugar, active dry yeast, vegetable oil or melted butter, bread flour, and salt, producing a loaf that’s soft and fluffy.

Ingredients

1 cup warm water (110°F/45°C)
2 tablespoons sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil or melted butter
3 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Dissolve the sugar in warm water in a small bowl, and then stir in the yeast. Let it rest for about 5-10 minutes. When it is ready, the mixture will be foamy.

2. Combine the yeast mixture, vegetable oil or melted butter, bread flour, and salt in the pan for the bread machine. Choose the Basic or White Bread setting, and start the machine.

3. When the cycle for making bread is done, take the loaf out of the pan, cool it on a wire rack, and then slice it.

2. Whole Wheat Bread

Nutritious and hearty, whole wheat bread starts with whole wheat flour. To the flour, I add honey, olive oil, and an egg.

The yeast is what makes it rise and gives it structure; after all, the loaf has to stand up to whatever you throw at it (or spread on it).

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast

Instructions

1. Pour the warm water, honey, and olive oil into the compartment for liquids in the bread machine pan.

2. Add the whole wheat flour very carefully, and then follow it with the salt.

3. Create a tiny well in the flour and place the yeast there, keeping it separate from the wet components.

4. Place the bread in the machine and set it to whole wheat. Start the machine and, once complete, remove the loaf from the pan and cool it completely on a wire rack before slicing.

3. Sourdough Bread

Homemade sourdough bread is a treat. It is made with a variety of ingredients, including all-purpose flour, an active and bubbly sourdough starter, and the basics of bread making: water, salt, and sugar.

There’s also a touch of vegetable oil to make the bread tender and, for some, a little yeast to get the rise going.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sourdough starter, active and bubbly
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon yeast (optional, for extra rise)

Instructions

1. In the pan of the bread machine, combine the sourdough starter, water, and sugar. Stir gently to mix.

2. Add the flour, salt, and vegetable oil. If you are using it, add the yeast to the mixture to aid in the rising process.

3. Program your bread machine for the dough cycle. When the cycle is complete, turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and shape it as desired.

4. Put the molded dough into a greased loaf pan, cover it, and let it rise until it is twice as big as it was before. Bake in a preheated oven at 375°F (190°C) for 30-35 minutes or until it is a deep golden brown.

4. Rye Bread

A hearty bread is made from a blend of rye and bread flours, olive oil, and molasses; it is called rye bread. It is well-suited for making a wide variety of sandwiches.

It also makes a wonderful accompaniment to many soups and stews.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons molasses
1 cup rye flour
2 1/2 cups bread flour
2 teaspoons salt
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

Instructions

1. Include in the bread machine pan the following: water, olive oil, and molasses.

2. Place the rye flour and bread flour in layers above the liquid.

3. Keep the salt and active dry yeast apart. Sprinkle them on top, but don’t mix them yet.

4. Put the machine on the whole wheat or basic setting and start it. Let it bake according to the machine’s instructions.

5. Multigrain Bread

This is a nutritious, delicious, and wholesome loaf of bread that I make combining bread flour with whole wheat flour, sunflower seeds, rolled oats, and flaxseed. I sweeten the dough with a bit of honey and enrich it with a small amount of olive oil.

The following formula makes one 10-inch long, 4-inch wide, and 5-inch tall loaf.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
3 cups bread flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup rolled oats
1 tablespoon flaxseeds
2 teaspoons active dry yeast

Instructions

1. Pour the water, honey, and olive oil into your bread machine pan, then add the salt.

2. Into the pan, layer the bread flour, whole wheat flour, sunflower seeds, rolled oats, and flaxseeds.

3. Add active dry yeast to the dry ingredients by making a small well in the mixture.

4. Adjust your bread machine to the setting for whole wheat or multigrain. Begin the cycle. After it is completed, cool the bread on a wire rack. Then slice.

6. Brioche

Brioche is a soft, rich bread made with key ingredients like warm milk, melted butter, and eggs. These combine with all-purpose flour, sugar, salt, and yeast to form a delightful, fluffy-textured loaf.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup milk (warm)
• 1/3 cup butter (melted)
• 3 large eggs
• 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
• 1 tablespoon active dry yeast

Instructions

1. Add the warm milk, melted butter, eggs, flour, sugar, salt, and yeast to the bread machine pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer.

2. Choose the dough cycle and turn on the machine. After the cycle is finished, place the dough onto a surface that is lightly dusted with flour.

3. Form the dough into a loaf and position it into a greased loaf pan. Cover it and allow it to rise in a warm location, until it has tripled in dimension, approximately 1 hour.

4. Set your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and bake for 25-30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped. Let cool before slicing.

7. Focaccia

Focaccia is an Italian flatbread composed of basic components such as all-purpose flour, warm water, olive oil, and yeast. It is generally sprinkled with coarse sea salt and garnished with fresh rosemary prior to baking, which brings out its pleasing golden hues.

Ingredients:
3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups warm water
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for drizzling
Coarse sea salt and fresh rosemary for topping

Instructions

1. Mix and Knead:Add the warm water, olive oil, salt, sugar, flour, and yeast to a bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Set the machine to the dough cycle and start.

2. Shape and Rise:When the cycle is done, take the dough out and press it into an oiled baking pan. There should be ample oil in the pan; otherwise, you’re going to have a very tough time getting your braided plait out of the pan after baking. Cover the loaf with a damp cloth and stick it in a warm spot. Let it rise until doubled, about 20-30 minutes.

3. Prepare for Baking:Set the oven to 400°F (200°C) to warm up. Take the dough and use your fingertips to dimple the surface all over. Drizzle with your best olive oil, and then shake some coarse sea salt and fresh rosemary over the top.

4. Bake:Cooking time is 20-25 minutes. You know the focaccia is done when it turns golden brown. After removing from the oven, place the focaccia on a wire rack to cool for a few minutes. Then you’ll want to tear into it while it’s still warm; it can also be served at room temperature.

8. Banana Bread

Banana Bread is a traditional baked item that makes use of ripe bananas, melted butter, sugar, and vanilla extract. Its uncomplicated prep and comforting crumb put it high on the list of my baking choices.

And yet, until recently, I had never made it.

Ingredients

3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/3 cup melted butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions

1. Add the bananas, butter, sugar, vanilla, baking soda, and salt to the pan of the bread machine.

2. Add the all-purpose flour on top of the mixture of bananas, without stirring.

3. Select the “Quick Bread” or “Cake” setting on the bread machine and turn it on.

4. When the baking cycle is finished, take out the baking pan and allow the banana bread to cool before cutting it into slices.

9. French Bread

Bread that is French is a classic staple made with simple ingredients like warm water, active dry yeast, bread flour, sugar, salt, and olive oil. Of all the types of bread, it, more than most, is known for its crusty exterior and soft, airy interior.

Ingredients

1 cup water, warm (about 110°F/45°C)
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 3/4 cups bread flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

1. In a bread machine, warm water is added, and the yeast is sprinkled on top. It is allowed to sit for about 5 minutes until it becomes frothy.

2. In the order recommended by the machine’s manufacturer, put the bread flour, sugar, salt, and olive oil into the bread machine. Choose either the “French Bread” setting or the “Basic White Bread” setting, and start the machine.

3. When the baking cycle is done, take the bread out of the machine and allow it to cool on a wire rack before cutting and serving.

10. Ciabatta

Ciabatta is an Italian bread recognized for its rustic look and light, soft texture. It has a very simple ingredient list that includes bread flour, salt, sugar, instant yeast, water, and olive oil.

Unlike many other kinds of bread, ciabatta has no flavoring ingredients to mask the wheat, olive oil, and salt that are the unmistakable, tasty components of this bread.

Ingredients

2 cups bread flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
1 tsp instant yeast
1 1/4 cups water
1 tbsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Add the water and olive oil to the bread machine. Place the ingredients into the machine pan in the following order: water, olive oil, bread flour.

2. At the two corners of the frying pan, separate from each other, add the salt and the sugar. Then, in the center, make a small well and add the instant yeast.

3. Put the bread maker on the dough cycle. When it’s done, typically after about

1.5 hours, you’ll have a nice dough.

4. After the cycle is complete, remove the dough to a floured surface, shape it into a rectangle, and let it rest for 20 minutes before proceeding to bake.

11. Gluten-Free Bread

Bread that is free of gluten is made without wheat or other grains that are related to it. It uses a blend of flours that are free of gluten and scheme, plus essential ingredients like yeast, sugar, and various oils, to create a texture that is bread-like and satisfying.

Ingredients

2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour blend
1 1/2 teaspoons xanthan gum
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 packet (2 1/4 teaspoons) active dry yeast
1 cup warm water (about 110°F)
1/4 cup vegetable oil

Instructions

1. Combine warm water, sugar, and yeast in a small bowl. Sit it for about 5 minutes until it becomes frothy.

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the gluten-free flour, xanthan gum, and salt, and whisk them together.

3. Incorporate the yeast combination and the oil into the dry ingredients. Mix them well together until they congeal into a doughy substance.

4. Scoop the dough into the bread machine, set it to the gluten-free cycle, and follow the machine’s instructions to bake the bread. Allow the loaf to cool before you slice it.

12. Cinnamon Raisin Bread

Cinnamon raisin bread is a delightful, made-from-scratch loaf composed of basic bread ingredients (like flour, water, and yeast) and a few special additions. In this case, those inclusions are the exciting flavors of ground cinnamon and sugar, which are mixed with the raisins (even more sugar!) to make the filling for the bread.

Ingredients

• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 3 cups bread flour
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 3/4 cup raisins

Instructions

1. Add the softened butter and water to the bread machine pan.

2. Add the bread flour, sugar, salt, and cinnamon to the pan. Keep the yeast separate from the salt.

3. Create a tiny depression in the flour, and into that, add the yeast.

4. Choose the “Sweet” or “Basic” bread setting, select the knob for the proper crust color (if your machine has one), and start the bread machine. When it beeps to indicate that it is time to add the fruit (after it has mixed and kneaded the dough but before the first rise), add the raisins.

13. Herb and Olive Oil Bread

Herb and Olive Oil Bread is a delightful homemade loaf featuring bread flour, olive oil, and Italian seasoning. This bread is perfect for any meal because it is so flavorful.

If you want to bake bread at home, you should definitely try out this recipe.

Ingredients

• 3 cups bread flour
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 1/4 cups warm water
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons dried mixed herbs (e.g., Italian seasoning)
• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

Instructions

1. Combine warm water and sugar in the bread machine pan. Sprinkle the yeast on top and allow it to proof for about 5 minutes until it is foamy.

2. The bread machine pan gets the olive oil, salt, and flour added to it. The dried herbs are then sprinkled on top.

3. Choose the Basic or White Bread option and press the Start button.

4. When the baking cycle is done, take the bread from the pan and allow it to cool on a wire rack until you’re ready to slice it.

14. Cheese Bread

Bread Cheese is a delightful homemade bread that is made with bread flour, warm water, softened butter, sugar, salt, and active dry yeast. It’s a quintessentially North American bread, with a savory twist—shredded cheddar cheese—that brings it closer to the profile of a classic American bread.

Ingredients

1 cup warm water
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
3 cups bread flour
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

Instructions

1. Put the warm water, softened butter, bread flour, sugar, and salt in the bread machine pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer.

2. Top with the active dry yeast.

3. Choose the “Basic” or “White Bread” cycle and start the machine.

4. Once the cycle for kneading has finished, add the cheddar cheese, which has been shredded, and continue with baking according to the machine’s cycle.

15. Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin Bread is a delightful quick bread made with canned pumpkin puree, vegetable oil, eggs, and sugar. All-purpose flour, baking soda, and ground cinnamon come together in this recipe to create an autumn treat.

Ingredients

• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. In a bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, vegetable oil, eggs, and sugar. Whisk them together until smooth and well mixed.

2. In yet another bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and ground cinnamon. Stir in the dry mixture until just combined.

3. Place the batter into the pan of the bread machine. Program the machine to the equivalent of “Quick Bread.” Turn on the machine.

4. After the cycle has finished, check the bread for doneness. Cool it in the pan for 10 minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

16. Sweet Potato Bread

A delightful homemade bread that includes mashed sweet potatoes, milk, melted unsalted butter, bread flour, brown sugar, salt, and active dry yeast fills the world with the aroma of a freshly baked loaf. Sweet Potato Bread is such a bread, and its sweetness, for it is near the threshold that defines a dessert, is in perfect balance with the complex flavors it offers.

Ingredients

• 1 cup mashed sweet potatoes
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 2 cups bread flour
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast

Instructions

1. In the bread machine pan, place the sweet potatoes that have been mashed, the milk, and the melted butter.

2. Over the wet ingredients, add the bread flour, the brown sugar, and the salt.

3. Create a tiny depression in the center of the flour and drop the yeast into that hole, taking care it does not make contact with the liquid ingredients.

4. Program the bread machine for the basic or white bread cycle and turn it on. Allow the machine to perform its preset functions of kneading, letting the dough rise, and then baking the bread.