Aroma of Italy in My Kitchen: Easy Homemade Italian Bread (Bread Machine Magic!)

 

 There's nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked bread wafting through the house. And while I sometimes enjoy the hands-on process of traditional bread making, life gets busy! That's why I've fallen in love with making incredibly delicious homemade Italian bread right in my bread machine.

 

This recipe takes the fuss out of baking but delivers that classic Italian bread flavor and texture we all crave. Imagine a loaf with a beautifully golden crust and a soft and slightly chewy interior, perfect for sandwiches, dipping in olive oil, or simply enjoying warm with a pat of butter. And the best part? Your trusty bread machine does most of the work, filling your Ewing home with the most irresistible aroma!

 

This bread is a fantastic staple to have on hand. It's so much better than store-bought, and you control all the ingredients. Plus, there's something truly satisfying about pulling a perfectly baked loaf of Italian bread from your bread machine. Let's bring a little taste of Italy to our Ewing kitchens!

 

What You'll Need:

 

1 ½ cups warm water (around 105-115°F)

1 ½ teaspoons active dry yeast

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon sugar

1 ½ teaspoons salt

4 cups bread flour

1 tablespoon dried Italian seasoning (optional, but adds great flavor)

1 egg, beaten (for egg wash, optional)

Sesame seeds or poppy seeds (optional, for topping)

Let Your Bread Machine Work Its Magic!

 

Add Wet Ingredients First: Pour the warm water into your bread machine pan. Sprinkle the active dry yeast over the water. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until the yeast starts to foam or bubble – this indicates that the yeast is active.

Add Remaining Ingredients: Add the olive oil, sugar, and salt to the bread machine pan.

Add Flour and Italian Seasoning: Carefully add the bread flour on top of the wet ingredients. If using, sprinkle the dried Italian seasoning over the flour. Make sure the salt and yeast are not directly touching at this stage.

Select the Right Cycle: Place the bread machine pan into the machine and close the lid. Select the "Basic" or "White Bread" cycle. Choose your desired crust color (usually "Medium" or "Light"). Set the loaf size according to your machine's capacity (this recipe is usually for a 1.5 or 2 pound loaf).

Let the Machine Do Its Thing: Press "Start" and let your bread machine go through its kneading, rising, and baking cycles. This will typically take around 3-4 hours, depending on your machine and the cycle selected.

Optional Egg Wash and Topping: About 15-20 minutes before the end of the baking cycle, if you desire a shinier crust, carefully remove the bread machine pan and gently brush the top of the dough with the beaten egg. Sprinkle with sesame seeds or poppy seeds, if using. Return the pan to the machine to finish baking.

Remove and Cool: Once the baking cycle is complete, carefully remove the bread machine pan from the machine. Turn the loaf out onto a wire rack and let it cool completely before slicing and enjoying. This is the hardest part, as the aroma will be incredibly tempting!