Bread without a Bread Maker

Preparation: 70 mins (50 mins resting total)
Cooking Time: 30 mins

I've had a bread maker on my wish list, but we've just discovered we don't need one. I made this using my mix master to quickly and easily make the dough. Keep an eye on time and you can make bread while doing other things as well. It only takes about 20 minutes total prep!!

For this first try I used Lauke German Grain bread mix as it came with yeast and we weren't sure if the mix master would make good bread or not. The Lauke bread kit comes with flour and yeast for 4 loaves of bread. It is so simple!

Put approximately 600g bread makers flour, 2 tsp yeast and 410ml warm water into the mix master and mix on the dough setting for about 6-10 minutes. I think I did it for about 8 minutes, or until the dough was even, the flour all mixed in and the machine was able to go through without difficulty. The box says more kneading provides better bread.

Next I pulled all the dough onto a lightly floured surface and gave it 3-4 hand kneads to form it into a ball and placed it back into my mixing bowl. I covered it with foil and let it sit for 40 minutes. Leave it in a warm, draft free place so it can rise. It says it should double in size. Mine increased in size but not by as much as I was expecting, but I still got a great end result.

Pre-heat the oven around half way through the breads resting time to 200C

Next, punch down the dough, then pull it out and knead it for 2-3 minutes on a lightly floured surface. Form into shape and place in an oiled loaf pan. Let it rest for another 10 minutes to rise again.

Pop the tin in the oven for about 25-30 minutes. If you knock on the top it should sound hollow when done. Take it out and shake it straight onto a wire rack. Try to allow it to cool before cutting as this will give a moist loaf. If you can't help yourself and have to try it straight away it will probably dry out quicker, but the temptation of warm bread is hard to resist!!

Notes: The bread was not always fully cooked. Last bread came out well - try this next time: 50 min first rise, 30 minute second rise, 35 min bake