Bread Machine Milk and Honey Bread

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 06/16/24
Tested by
Carrie Parente
Carrie Parente
Tested by Carrie Parente
Carrie is a food stylist and culinary producer who loves having a table full of guests.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Partially sliced loaf of milk and honey bread

The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 3 hrs 15 mins
Total: 3 hrs 25 mins
Servings: 10 servings
Yield: 1 loaf

This delicious homemade honey wheat yeast bread recipe is made in the bread machine, meaning preparation is almost hands-free. It's a wonderful bread for sandwiches and toast, with a light sweetness that complements a variety of ingredients. And the aroma of the bread as it bakes will have everyone salivating for a slice. You can also make the dough for dinner rolls instead of a loaf, using the dough cycle on your machine.

You will need to consult the instructions for your bread machine as models can differ in the order in which you add the ingredients. (If you have misplaced the manual, most models have the directions available online, along with instructional videos.)

Why Use Milk in a Bread Recipe?

Adding milk to bread dough makes for a richer bread with a velvety texture and softer crust that browns nicely. Milk also adds nutrients and improves the bread's shelf life.

Tips for Making Milk and Honey Bread

  • Make sure your yeast isn't old - Yeast requires special attention to its "use by" date—if the yeast is too old, it will take longer to rise. It can also go bad. Store yeast in the refrigerator or freezer to help maintain its freshness.
  • Different yeast is okay - If you have a type other than active dry yeast, use this conversion: 2 teaspoons active dry yeast equals 1 1/2 teaspoons rapid-rise, instant, or bread machine yeast.
  • Avoid dense bread - To avoid dense bread, make sure to use bread flour instead of all-purpose when using a bread machine.



What You'll Need to Make This Milk and Honey Bread Recipe
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A Handy Dandy Bread Machine
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A Nice Measuring Cup

"This is the Wonder Bread of my childhood dreams. It’s soft, light, and slightly sweet with a beautiful rise and gorgeous crust. Six ingredients and no additives make this the healthiest white bread you can eat, right? I could be talked into making this every week, especially since the bread machine does all the work." —Carrie Parente

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon milk

  • 3 tablespoons honey

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

  • 3 cups bread flour

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

  • 2 teaspoons active dry yeast

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for bread machine milk and honey bread recipe gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

  2. Add the ingredients to the bread machine pan in the order recommended by your bread machine manufacturer. Choose the basic or white bread setting and the medium crust setting. Start the bread machine.

    Bread ingredients added to bread machine

    The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

  3. Remove the hot loaf as soon as it is finished. If you leave it in the machine, it can get soggy. Place it on a wire rack to cool completely.

    Loaf of bread on a cooling rack

    The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

  4. Once cooled, slice the bread and serve, or store it for future use.

    Loaf of white milk and honey bread, slice on a cutting board

    The Spruce Eats / Kristina Vanni

How To Store and Freeze Milk and Honey Bread

  • If you will be using the bread over the next three days, you can store it at room temperature in foil, plastic wrap, or a plastic bag. Choose a cool, dry place to keep your bread loaf.
  • For longer storage, you can freeze the bread. Place the cooled loaf in a storage bag in the freezer and label the bag with the date, contents, and a "use by" date three months in the future. Allow it to thaw at room temperature for an hour.

Feeling Adventurous? Try This:

You can use the same recipe to make milk and honey dinner rolls. Add the ingredients to your bread machine and use the dough setting. Then remove the dough, divide it into 10 to 12 pieces, and shape the dough into rolls on a floured surface. Place the rolls in a pan and let them rise for about 45 minutes or until doubled. Bake the rolls at 375 F for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
214 Calories
5g Fat
37g Carbs
6g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 10
Amount per serving
Calories 214
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 5g 6%
Saturated Fat 3g 13%
Cholesterol 11mg 4%
Sodium 358mg 16%
Total Carbohydrate 37g 13%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 7g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 39mg 3%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 89mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)