It took me a couple tries to perfect this loaf of bread, to get the flour ratio dialed in. That might be the only downside to bread machines, is that since you are not kneading the dough, you might not add enough in. But at the same time, the base ingredients are cheap in bulk, so if I feed the compost pile once in awhile, I can live with that. Because I love bread machines. They make it so easy to have a fresh loaf of bread that has only clean ingredients, and costs just a fraction of a loaf of even cheap bread.
Do weigh flour. This is one area of baking I never back down from.
This loaf has the darkness molasses brings, and the heartiness of oats. It pairs well with butter and a hot bowl of soup on these cold nights.
Bread Machine Country Bread (2 pound loaf)
Ingredients:
- 1½ cups water
- 2 Tbsp olive or avocado oil
- 1/3 cup molasses
- 570 grams all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup rolled oats
- 2 tsp fine sea salt
- 1 Tbsp active dry yeast
Directions:
If using a Zojirushi bread machine:
Add the water, oil and molasses to the bread pan. Add the oats, salt and flour. Top with the yeast.
Turn on machine for a basic loaf (this is a 2 pound loaf).
Once baked, remove immediately and knock out of pan, let cool on rack before slicing. Store bagged, use within 24 hours for best taste.
If using a different brand of machine, make sure it can handle a 2 pound loaf. Follow directions for temperature of water to use, if your machine doesn’t preheat the liquids (ours does). Water and liquids first, then dry, ending with yeast on top.
~Sarah