Bread Machine Italian Bread

a sliced loaf of italian bread from a bread machine

4.85 from 13 votes

You'll love this easy recipe! Just add the ingredients to the bread machine and program it. In a few hours, a delicious, fresh loaf of Italian bread will be ready!

Prep Time5

Cook Time3 20

Course: Bread

Cuisine: Italian

Servings: Makes 1 ¼-lb loaf

Calories: 131kcal

Author: Mamma C

Equipment

bread machine

Ingredients

9 ½ ounces lukewarm water (1 cup + 3 Tablespoons, 90-100 degrees F)
1 Tablespoon olive oil
3 cups bread flour (measure by spooning into cup and leveling off with a knife)
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 ½ teaspoons instant yeast (or fresh, active dry yeast added without proofing)

Instructions

Make sure the kneading paddle of your bread machine is pressed down all the way. Add all of the ingredients to the bread pan in the specific order stated in the instructions for your machine. (Most machines say to add the liquids first, then the flour and sugar. The salt should be added to a corner of the pan. Make a well in the center and add the yeast last.)
Lock the bread pan into the machine by turning it counterclockwise into place (or follow the instructions for your machine). Make sure the handle of the pan is down and close the lid. Plug in the bread maker and press the Basic or White bread button. Set the bread color to Dark. Press Start, and the machine will begin mixing the dough.
Depending on your machine, it should take about 3 hours and 20 minutes for the bread to be finished. Don't open the lid during that time. When the bread is done, remove the pan (wear oven gloves/mitts) and let it sit for five minutes. Then, shake the pan gently and turn it over to release the bread onto a cooling rack. Wait 30 minutes before slicing it.
Store the bread in a plastic bag or sealed container at room temperature for up to a couple of days, or it will start getting dry. For maximum freshness, slice the bread and freeze it in a zip-top plastic bag the same day you make it, after it has cooled.

Notes

Bread Machine Italian Bread will turn out with a golden brown, lightly crispy crust. It won't be as dark and crispy as traditionally baked bread, since the bread maker doesn't get as hot as an oven.

You could use the machine just to mix, knead and let the dough rise, following the instructions in your machine's manual. Then you'd need to let the dough rise a second time according to the directions in this recipe for Homemade Italian Bread. Then, follow the baking instructions for that recipe, which calls for using a pan of hot water on the bottom rack of the oven to create steam.

Nutrition