Country White Bread

Country White Bread is a soft and fluffy homemade bread with a tender center and lightly golden crust. Made right in your bread machine using simple ingredients, this homemade white bread is perfect for sandwiches, toast, or serving with dinner.

A while back, I mentioned to my mom that I wanted to get back into making homemade bread. I love the flavor, knowing exactly what goes into it, and being able to try different varieties. My mom had a bread machine she wasn’t using, so she let me bring it home, and it quickly became one of my favorite kitchen appliances. I don't think people realize how easy making bread in a machine can be, whether it's this recipe or my Bread Machine Beer Bread. I spend about 5 minutes adding the ingredients, and a few hours later, I have a warm, fresh loaf of bread. My entire family loves it with dinner, and any leftovers are perfect toasted with butter or my Instant Pot Mixed Berry Jam the next morning!

Quick Look: Country White Bread

• Taste: Classic homemade white bread with a slightly sweet, buttery flavor.
• Texture: Soft and fluffy inside with a lightly crisp, golden crust.
• Total Time: About 3 hours 45 minutes, with only 5 minutes of prep.
• Skill Level: Beginner-friendly since the bread machine does the work for you.
• Tools: Bread machine, measuring cups, and measuring spoons.
• Serving: Perfect for sandwiches, toast, or serving alongside dinner.

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Ingredient Notes

Below are a few notes about the ingredients needed for this Country White Bread recipe. Exact amounts can be found in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• Water: Use room temperature or slightly warm water. Avoid using hot water as it can affect the yeast.
• Butter: Adds flavor and helps create a soft loaf. Butter or margarine can be used.
• Flour: I typically use bread flour, however, all-purpose flour works too. Bread flour will give the loaf a slightly chewier texture.
• Milk: Adds flavor and helps create a soft, tender texture.
• Sugar: Adds a slight sweetness and helps activate the yeast.
• Salt: Adds flavor and balances the slight sweetness of the bread.
• Yeast: You can use bread machine/fast-rise yeast or active dry yeast. Be sure to use the correct amount depending on which type you choose.

How to Make Country White Bread in a Bread Machine

Step 1: Add the water and butter. Pour the water into the bread machine pan. Cut the butter into two tablespoons and place one tablespoon on each side of the pan, in the water. This helps the butter melt and mix evenly into the dough.

Step 2: Add the dry ingredients. Measure and pour the flour on top. Add the milk, sugar, and salt next.

Step 3: Add the yeast and select your settings. Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and carefully add the yeast. Lock the pan into your bread machine and select the correct settings. For my machine, I use the basic setting, medium color, and no time delay. Select your loaf size (1 ½ or 2 lb.), close the bread machine, press start, and let the machine do the work.

Step 4: Remove the baked bread. Once the bread is finished baking, carefully open the bread machine and remove the pan using an oven mitt.

Step 5: Cool the bread. Carefully transfer the loaf to a cutting board and allow it to cool completely before slicing.

Step 6: Slice and serve. Once cooled, slice the Country White Bread and serve as desired. Enjoy!

Bread Machine Tips

• Add the ingredients in the correct order: I add the water and butter first, followed by the flour, milk, sugar, salt, and yeast. If your bread machine recommends a different order, follow the instructions for your machine.
• Measure the flour carefully: Spoon the flour into your measuring cup and level it off rather than packing it into the cup. Too much flour can result in a dense loaf.
• Keep the yeast separate: Add the yeast to the well in the dry ingredients so it doesn’t come into contact with the liquid before the machine starts.
• Choose the correct loaf size: Be sure to select either the 1 ½ or 2-pound setting based on the loaf you are making.
• Let the bread cool before slicing: As tempting as it is to cut into warm bread, allowing the loaf to cool completely makes it easier to slice.

If you enjoy using your bread machine for homemade bread, try my Buttery Bread Machine Rolls or Bread Machine Breadsticks next. Both are family favorites that let the bread machine handle most of the work.

Storage & Freezing

• Room temperature: Once completely cooled, store the bread in an airtight container or bread bag at room temperature for up to 3-4 days.
• Freezer: Wrap the cooled loaf tightly in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for up to 3 months. You can freeze the loaf whole or slice it first to easily grab individual pieces as needed.
• Thawing: Allow the bread to thaw at room temperature. Individual slices can also be toasted straight from frozen.

Country White Bread Recipe FAQs

More Bread Recipes To Try

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