Bread Machine Cheese Bread

August 20, 2025 Sarah

This loaf of bread was a winner – it came out of the bread machine about 30 minutes before the boys got home from school, and 90% of it was eaten by all 3 of them in minutes. It’s got a nice texture, heavier than most bread, but satisfying.

Bread Machine Cheese Bread

Ingredients:

1 cup + 2 Tbsp milk
4 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
360 grams all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1½ tsp fine sea salt
1 cup fine shredded cheddar cheese
1½ tsp bread machine yeast

Directions:

If using a Zojirushi bread machine, add the listed ingredients, ensuring the yeast is nestled into the flour on top.

Set the machine for a basic loaf.

When the kneading cycle begins, check the dough to see if it needs more flour.

Once baked, remove it promptly and knock it out. Let it cool on a wire rack before enjoying it.

Store in a plastic bread bag and eat within 24 hours for optimal taste and texture.

If using a regular bread machine, follow the method for adding the ingredients (including using warm water as called for).

Makes a 2-pound loaf.

~Sarah

Recipes

Rich Bread Machine Rolls

January 28, 2025 Sarah

The boys prefer rolls to bread for lunches, so I often try new recipes. These rolls are enriched with butter and egg, giving a rich roll.

Rich Bread Machine Rolls

Ingredients:

1 cup water
2 Tbsp unsalted butter, diced
1 egg
400 grams all-purpose flour + more as needed
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 tsp fine sea salt
1 Tbsp dry active yeast

Directions:

Add ingredients in the order listed to the Zojirushi bread machine or as directed for other bread machines. (Zoji machines have a warming cycle; if using a brand that doesn’t use a room-temperature egg, use water at the temperature called for and melt the butter.)

Select the dough cycle. During the first kneading, check the dough for wetness. If necessary, add a bit more flour. The dough cycle on Zojirushi machines takes 1 hour and 50 minutes.

Near the end of the time, preheat a heating pad to medium. Lightly oil a 9″ x 13″ glass baking dish with avocado or olive oil, and let it warm on the pad.

Lightly flour a work surface. Punch the dough out and shape it into a rectangle. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rest for 10 minutes.

Cut dough into 14 to 15 pieces, gently shape into balls, and place in the baking dish.

Spritz a piece of plastic wrap with a bit more oil and cover the rolls.

Let rise for 40 minutes on the heating pad.

In the last 10 minutes, preheat the oven to 375°.

Uncover the rolls, and bake for 15 minutes or until golden on top.

Let cool on a rack, or serve warm. If storing, once fully cooled, stash in a glass container or ziptop bag. Eat within 24 hours for the best taste, or wrap and freeze.

~Sarah

Recipes

Bread Machine Buttery Rolls

December 19, 2024 Sarah

The boys have a couple more days of school before winter break, so I made rolls for lunch today. These are buttery and full of flavor. They’d be great for slider-sized rolls and also perfect for a holiday dinner.

Bread Machine Buttery Rolls

Ingredients:

1 cup milk
½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
2 Tbsp granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1½ tsp fine sea salt
480 grams of all-purpose flour + more as needed
2¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)

Directions:

Place eggs on the counter, slice the butter, and let soften at room temperature.

Add the ingredients in order, ending with the yeast on the flour.

Set for dough (our machine takes 1 hour 50 minutes).

5 minutes before, set a heating pad too high. Lightly butter a 9×13 pan and set it on the heating pad.

Take the dough out and set it on a lightly floured work surface. Pat it out into a rectangle (about the size of the pan). Cut it into 15 sections. Form each piece into a ball and place it in the pan.

Lightly spray plastic wrap with avocado or olive oil and cover tightly.

Let rise for 45 minutes.

With 5 minutes left, preheat oven to 350°.

Uncover and bake for 15 to 18 minutes or till golden on top. Let cool on a wire rack.

Makes 16 rolls.

Notes:

We use a Zojirushi bread machine, which has a 15-minute preheat cycle. If you use another brand of machine, preheat your milk as directed (at 110° or so) and possibly melt/cool the butter for best results.

~Sarah

Recipes

Bread Machine Rolls

December 8, 2024 Sarah

I am finding that the boys like rolls more than loaves of bread. Rolls freeze and thaw fast, so they’re a great way to have bread on hand for their school lunches, and anytime they want a carb treat.

They are also easy to make with a bread machine. You just add the ingredients, check on the dough in the first kneading cycle, and then form the rolls. Hands-on time is less than 15 minutes.

And children think you are a god because….warm rolls and butter are both peasant and royalty food. All at once.

Bread Machine Rolls

Ingredients:

1 cup water
2 Tbsp unsalted butter, sliced
1 tsp fine sea salt
3 Tbsp granulated sugar
¼ cup dry milk powder
390 grams of all-purpose flour*
2¼ tsp or 1 packet dry active yeast

Also:

1 large egg white
2 Tbsp cool water

Directions:

Add to a Zojirushi bread machine in the order listed, starting with water and ending with flour. Sprinkle the yeast on top, ensuring it doesn’t touch the liquid. Set the machine for the “Dough” setting. It will take 1 hour and 50 minutes in this machine.

If using other brands, follow the directions as called for and the temperature of water needed. If using a different brand of machine, melt the butter first.

See the notes section below and watch if the dough needs more flour during the first kneading cycle.

Set the dough on a lightly floured work area and divide it into 12 sections.

Roll each section gently into a ball.

Set the rolls on a large baking sheet that was lightly oiled. Cover the rolls with plastic wrap lightly misted with oil.

Let rise for 40 minutes. (In cool temperatures, use a heating pad set to medium under the tray.)

Preheat the oven to 350° for the final 10 minutes of rising time.

Whisk the egg white and water, and brush over the rolls.

Bake for about 15 minutes and check. The rolls will be lightly brown on top.

Transfer to a cooling rack.

Store in a plastic bag to keep it fresh once cooled.

Makes 12 rolls.

Notes:

*The flour you need depends on the type of flour used and the humidity. The brand can even play into it. This is why I weigh out rather than scoop flour.

Start with 390 grams and add more if needed during the kneading cycle. You want the dough not to be wet or sticky but tacky when pressing a finger against it.

~Sarah

Recipes

Bread Machine Hearty Rolls

December 5, 2024 Sarah

I took the dough for my recent water bagels and decided to see how it would work as a simple roll, not a light dinner roll, but rather a hearty one for lunches to make a sandwich with.

The boys were quite happy with them, though I found them heavier than I like – but since I am not eating sandwiches, I was happy with the results if they liked them.

Bread Machine Hearty Rolls

Ingredients:

1½ cups water
2 tsp fine sea salt
3 Tbsp granulated sugar
510 grams of all-purpose flour*
1 Tbsp dry active yeast

Directions:

If using other brands, follow the directions as called for and the temperature of water needed.

See the notes section below and watch if the dough needs more flour during the first kneading cycle.

Set the dough on a lightly floured work area and divide it into eight sections.

Roll each section gently into a ball.

Set the rolls on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover the rolls with plastic wrap lightly misted with oil.

Let rise for 30 to 45 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 425°.

Bake for about 14 minutes and check. The rolls will be nicely browned on top.

Transfer to a cooling rack.

Notes:

*The flour you need depends on the type of flour used and the humidity. The brand can even play into it. This is why I weigh out, rather than scoop flour.

Start with 510 grams and add a bit more if needed. You want the dough not to be wet or sticky but tacky when pressing a finger against it. Bagel dough is denser than regular bread dough.

Makes 8 rolls.

Store in a plastic bag to keep it fresh once cooled.

~Sarah