Soft, buttery sourdough bread made in a bread machine is the next best thing since, well, sliced bread. Super easy to make, you just dump the ingredients in and allow the bread machine to do all the work.
Recently, I’ve had some requests for a sourdough bread recipe in a bread machine. SoI bit the bullet and made one that is so delicious.
This bread is a take on my sourdough sandwich bread, but made to fit in the bread machine. It is super light, fluffy, buttery, and everything wonderful you want in a sourdough bread, but totally hands off.
The bread machine does all the work. After you dump in the ingredients, you push some buttons and it goes to work.
It really couldn’t be easier, and if you are wanting fresh baked bread for dinner or lunches (a great way to stretch the grocery budget if you ask me), then you have to try this recipe.
Why You Will Love This Recipe:
Hands off: This is a dump and go recipe. Add the ingredients and push the knead button. Kneading and baking all happens in the bread machine. So if you want fresh bread without yeast, but maybe don’t have the time or ability to make bread by hand, this recipe is a must.
Super simple: Goes along with the whole hands off thing. This recipe couldn’t be simpler.
Delicious: This recipe is one of my absolute favorites. It is so fluffy and buttery with a hint of sweetness. Any sandwich would be happy to have this as its main component.
Tips For Making Bread Machine Sourdough Bread:
- Although you can make this bread from start to finish without ever touching the dough, you have the option to remove the dough from the bread machine after kneading and remove the paddle. This will keep you from having to pull the kneading paddle out of the finished product.
- Though you could get away with just one knead cycle, I actually like to do it one more time. This ensures proper gluten formation for soft bread.
- Spritz the top of dough with water a few times to make sure the dough doesn’t dry out on top during rising. This is an optional step, but also helps the crust to turn golden in the baking step.
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FAQ:
Do all bread makers make sourdough?
Yes! Thought this will depend on the type of sourdough you are trying to make. It will make soft sourdough bread, but not that crusty, no-knead sourdough from start to finish. To get that crusty type boule, it will need to be baked in a dutch oven.
Can you use machine to knead sourdough?
Yes. You can definitely just use the bread machine to knead the dough, and then bake in the oven, if desired.
Is it cheaper to make your own sourdough?
Yes! Making sourdough bread is very inexpensive (about $.75-$1 a loaf by rough estimation using the cheapest organic flour I’ve seen at Costco). Buying a similar loaf at a bakery can cost you easily $7-8 or more.
Ingredients:
- Water – Preferably filtered.
- Unsalted butter – Using unsalted butter allows you to be able to control the salt in recipes.
- Bread flour – Bread flour yields a softer, fluffier bread. All-purpose can be substituted. Bread flour has a higher protein content, which allows more gluten strands to be produced giving you a fluffier bread.
- Granulated sugar – This helps feed the sourdough starter and gives it a slightly sweet flavor.
- Salt – Bread without salt is blah. I promise.
- Active sourdough starter – This is sourdough starter that has been fed within 4-12 hours and is super bubbly and active.
Tools you may need:
Measuring cups and spoons
How To Make Sourdough Bread In A Bread Machine
Add the water and melted butter to the bread machine.
On top of that, add the bread flour, sugar and salt.
Lastly, add the sourdough starter.
Use the kneading function on the bread machine (for my machine this is function 8). Mine is set to knead for 25 minutes. Though you could get away with just one knead cycle, I actually like to do it one more time.
After the first knead cycle finishes, I press the button again and let it knead the dough one more time, for an additional 25 minute cycle.
Next (optional), remove the dough from the dough machine and take out the paddles. That way you don’t have to pull them out later after baking.
Allow the dough to sit in the bread machine for about 6 hours, or until the dough nearly rises to the top of the bread pan.
I like to spritz the top with water a few times to make sure the dough doesn’t dry out. This is an optional step, but also helps the crust to turn golden in the baking step.
After the dough has risen for several hours, I go to the baking function (function 13 on my bread maker) and select the option for dark crust. This makes the bake time one hour.
Allow the bread to cool, then remove from the pan.
Storage:
Unsliced bread can be stored in a paper or linen bag. Once cut, store cut side down on a cutting board lightly covered or in a storage bag.
Baker’s Schedule:
9 PM: Feed sourdough starter so it will be nice and active the next morning.
8 AM the next day: Add ingredients to the bread machine and allow it to work its magic. Do two rounds of kneading.
9 AMish: Allow the dough to rise for about 6 hours.
3-5 PM: Bake for 1 hour. Usually it will take 6-8 hours for your bread to double to be ready to bake.
6 PM: Slice and serve.
Find More Sourdough Recipes:
- Spelt Sourdough Bread
- Sourdough Oatmeal Cookies
- Best Sourdough Banana Muffins
- Sourdough Pizza Dough
- Sourdough Pumpkin Bread
If you try this recipe and love it, I would love if you could come back and give it 5 stars!
Sourdough Bread In A Bread Machine
Soft, buttery sourdough bread made in a bread machine is the next best thing since, well, sliced bread. Super easy to make, you just dump the ingredients in and allow the bread machine to do all the work.
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 4 cups bread flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon salt
- 1/2 cup sourdough starter, bubbly and active
Instructions
- Add the water and melted butter to the bread machine.
- On top of that add the bread flour, sugar and salt.
- Lastly, add the sourdough starter.
- Use the kneading function on the bread machine. (For my machine this is function 8) Mine is set to knead for 25 minutes.
- Optional: After the first knead cycle finishes, I press the button again and let it knead the dough one more time, for an additional 25 minute cycle.
- Next, I just allow the dough to sit in the bread machine for about 6 hours, or until the dough nearly rises to the top of the bread pan. I like to spritz the top with water a few times to make sure the dough doesn't dry out on top. (Optional , but also helps the crust to turn golden in the baking step.)
- After the dough has risen for several hours, I go to the baking function (function 13 on my bread maker) and select the option for dark crust. This makes the bake time 1 hour.
- Pull the bread out of the bread maker and allow to cool.
Notes
Although you can make this bread from start to finish without ever touching the dough, you have the option to take out the dough from the bread machine after kneading and remove the paddle. This will keep you from having to pull the kneading paddle out of the finished product.
Though you could get away with just one knead cycle, I actually like to do it one more time. This ensures proper gluten formation for soft bread.
Spritz the top of dough with water a few times to make sure the dough doesn’t dry out on top during rising. This is an optional step, but also helps the crust to turn golden in the baking step.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 225Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 267mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 6g
Anonymous says
Thank you for giving us this recipe! I will absolutely try it.
Lisa says
Wonderful! Hope you enjoy.
Anonymous says
This recipe turned out great for me (I have a programmable bread machine so it worked from start to finish)! Do you think it would be possible to make this as a whole wheat sandwich bread at all, and if so what ratio of flour would you use? Thank you so much!
Lisa says
I would try to substitute up to 1/2 of the flour to whole wheat. Usually, this can be done without too many changes to a recipe.
Anonymous says
Thank you so much for this recipe! This bread was so easy and delicious, and with my programmable bread machine, I love starting it before bed and waking up to fresh bread! Do you think this recipe could work with some whole wheat flour added? If so, how much would you suggest, and are there any adjustments to make to the other ingredients/timing? Thank you again!
Lisa says
Glad you enjoyed it. Usually with whole wheat you can substitute about 50% without too much issue. May need a touch more water. I’ve never tried it with hard red wheat (typically found in whole wheat flour from the store), I usually use fresh milled hard white flour.
Bridget says
I’ve tried twice now and I don’t know why my bread isn’t rising 😭 I made sure the water and butter weren’t too hot. Using bread flour. Sourdough started fed within the last 12 hours. Any ideas? I’m going to make it by hand and maybe try again in the future but it’s a little disheartening using so much bread flour and it being wasted (prices are just ridiculous, ya know?) the dog is dragging around a dough puck though 😀
Lisa says
Oh no! So sorry. Have you made successful bread with your sourdough starter before? I’m wondering if your sourdough starter isn’t active enough, maybe the rise time isn’t enough or too much. So many things it could be. I usually turn bad loaves into bread crumbs, croutons, stuffing, strata, bread pudding, etc.
Chalee says
As if I couldn’t love your recipes enough! This is amazing. Do you think I could let the dough rise in a loaf pan on the counter? I feel like my bread maker makes stumpy loaves. Thank you!
Lisa says
Yes, you definitely can!
Allie says
Hey! My bread machine only has a 1.5 hour dough setting, and warms a bit after 30 minutes. Do I need to do anything differently? My loaf didn’t work as expected.
Lisa says
It needs to rise for 6-8 hours at least for a loaf to come out well. I’m not sure exactly how to adjust that for your particular bread machine.
BigMoney says
Thank you so much for this recipe! It worked magnificently.
Cynthia says
I’m lactose intolerant, can I substitute olive oil for the butter? I wish I didn’t have to…love butter.
Lisa says
Yes that should work just fine!
Vikki Bixby says
Hi! I’m making this now in my machine but plan to bake it in oven. What temp and approximately how long to bake it do you think?
Krista says
I have the same question. I don’t have a bake only function on my bread maker so want to transfer to bake in the oven. Thanks!
Lisa says
I would do 375 for about 45 minutes in a loaf pan. I would also suggest adding an egg wash to give it a golden crust.
Laura says
Love this and can’t wait to try it. I’ve been intimidated by sourdough. Making it in the bread machine- does this give it enough time to ferment the added flour to make to gluten free?
Lisa says
Sourdough bread technically is not gluten free as it will always contain some gluten. It does have less gluten though. It all depends on how you tolerate and how much fermentation you need to make it more digestible.
Sarah Anderson says
I would be curious to know if you think this can be made gluten free this way? I have a gluten free recipe (flours etc)- any experience with this? Or tips?
Lisa says
It would probably need to be adjusted quite a bit if using gluten free flours. I have not personally tried it.
Susu says
If you publish a sourdough cook book and include bread machine options, that would make my year! I finally decided to get a bread maker once I read that you can actually make sourdough breads in them, and I’m so excited to see that you’ve started playing with one yourself! Can’t wait for mine to arrive and be able to stick to my resolution to have only homemade foods in the house! Thanks so much for this recipe! Many blessings!
Lisa says
I’ll take note. I don’t have any plans at the current moment, but you never know what the future holds. Happy baking. Love that resolution.
Kary Taylor says
I agree!!! I would LOVE to have a sourdough cookbook from Lisa! Everything I’ve made so far from her has been so tasty. But I just have all of the recipes printed out and in a folder. A beautiful farmhouse cookbook would be wonderful!
Cathy says
I made this today and it is so yummy! I was wondering if you could substitute honey for the sugar? I have seen traditional recipes that use honey but I wasn’t sure about with the bread machine. I am enjoying reading your blog.
Thank you
Lisa says
I’m sure that will be just fine.
Laurie says
I make mine with honey and it’s delicious! I would also like to try make syrup!
Meagan Ramer says
I just wanted to mention that I’ve made this loaf three times. The first time it was wonderful! Second and third time it was very flat and never rose. The difference was that the first time, I had to move my dough to a second bread machine after the first kneading cycle. I suspect that my particular machine (zojirushi home bakery) overheats the dough with the second knead cycle and ends up killing the yeast. I’m going to try one more time with only one kneading cycle and see if that solves the “brick” issue.
Sue says
Meagan, I have a Zo, too (the larger one). How was your second loaf? What adjustments did you make? What size is your bread maker? Thanks! ~Sue
Sue says
Did you have success in your Zo, Meagan? I’m going to try it this week 🙂 ~Sue
Tanya Ortelle says
Following!
Jane L Breene says
Sounds wonderful. Will this still be easier on gluten intolerant stomach like the traditional sourdough bread. I have gluten free starter. Can it be used. Can gluten free sourdough bread be made In bread machine? Thanks for answering.
I love your post!
Lisa says
I’ve never tried making regular sourdough bread with a gluten free starter so I’m not sure it would work. I would think so. Not sure if gluten free sourdough would work in a bread machine. This bread would be better for those gluten sensitive as long as it fermented long enough. Some people can only tolerate grains that have been fermented for 18-24 hours. It would depend on how you handle gluten.
Shirley Hallman says
Why not just use the regular white bread cycle on the machine (mine is an Emeril T-Fal)? It goes though a couple of knead and short rest cycles before going to the rise cycle. Maybe not enough time for it to rise as the whole mix, knead, rest, and rise cycle is only 2 hours and 20 minutes. Mine does not have a bake setting. It does have a warm setting which it says can be used to warm, make crustier, or finish baking in case of a power outage (can be set for up to 70 minutes).
Lisa says
Unfortunately, sourdough bread typically takes at least double the time to rise compared to conventional yeast. For the first rise, sourdough will need 6-8 hours or more of rise time.
Madison Andra says
What mixer would work best to knead multiple loaves of sour dough every other day? My kitchen aid bowl doesn’t stay on the plate more than a couple minutes. Doing it by hand is very tedious in my season of life right now. I have been making sour dough constantly and don’t plan to stop! your blog has helped me learn so much about sour dough!
Lisa says
The highest capacity I’ve used is the Bosch mixer.
Donna says
Hi, Love your recipes. Thank you for sharing.
Question on the Sourdough bread in a bread machine. Is your recipe for a 1.5 lb loaf or a 2 lb loaf?
My machine asks you to pick the loaf size. I have a KitchenArm & a Westbend 3lb loaf bread machine.
Thanks,
Donna
Lisa says
My machine asks you to pick the loaf size. I have a KitchenArm & a Westbend 3lb loaf bread machine. 2 lb!
Geraldine rooney says
Hi many thanks for loaf recipe in the bread machine
Would you have any gluten free recipes for bread i could try in the bread machine?
Could I use rice flour or lentil flour?
Many thanks
Geraldine
Lisa says
I have not personally tried it, but I would think it would work for any recipe.
Melissa says
Hey Lisa! I tried out this recipe today and for some reason my dough ball deflated, the first knead cycle we got a big dough ball, second knead cycle it completely fell apart, left it to rise for 6-7 hours & it rose a little but not to the top of the bread pan. I went ahead and baked it and it’s definitely editable but not sure where I went wrong. I have the same bread machine & used King Arthur bread flour ☹️🤔
Lisa says
Hmm that is so strange. I wonder if it was over kneaded and that is why it fell apart. Sorry that didn’t work for you.
Andy M says
Just curious from the other side of the pond (!) I would have thought the butter and q large sugar measure (at least twice as much as recipes I’ve used) would lose the slightly sour taste of a sourdough…not being sweet and rich is its main attraction! Recipes I’ve seen use a small amount of sugar and maybe a glug of olive oil.
Different tastes I guess!
Lisa says
The bread doesn’t end up sweet at all after fermenting.
Lisa L says
Thank you for posting this! My bread maker doesn’t have the exact functions necessary, but I was able to knead it with the dough setting and then I used the express bake setting after it rested. It looked a little weird because the express function had a knead cycle programmed into it as well and I wasn’t able to choose a dark crust color. I’ll definitely try it in a loaf pan next time, it was very tasty!
Lisa says
Glad it still worked out for you even with the different functions.
Carla H. says
Thank you for this reccipe! You mention removing from the bread machine and baking in the oven but don’t give details. If I wanted to cook in a loaf pan, about how long would I bake and at what temperature?
Lisa says
Hi there! I bake the bread in the bread machine. You have the option to take out the dough from the bread machine after kneading and remove the paddle. This will keep you from having to pull the kneading paddle out of the finished product. But I still put it back in to bake. Hope that helps!
Lindsay Longworth says
Wondering if there is a healthier sub for the butter or no oil at all.. ?
Lisa says
I’ve only tried this with butter. I do suggest using grass-fed butter for more nutrients!