Onion and Olive Bread Machine Recipe

Full confession: I've never made a regular loaf of bread by hand. I know, it's a baker's rite of passage to make homemade bread, and it's supposedly so therapeutic and everything. But I was given a bread machine as a gift very early on in the adulting portion of my life and it was just easier to do it that way. And since this Onion and Olive Bread Machine recipe is like making artisan bread in your bread machine, there was no need to make your own by hand!

My family loves this bread machine bread so much so that my bread maker has never seen this much action! And this Bread Machine recipe for Onion & Olive Bread is not only simple to make, it totally rivals the artisan bread from any bakery. So if you don't like making it by hand or buying it, then READ ON... This bread pairs perfectly with my Ham and Macaroni Soup!

🥘Ingredients

You don't need bread flour for this olive bread recipe- all-purpose flour works great. You will need the following simple ingredients for this bread machine recipe:

• Warm water. Make sure you use warm water (not hot or cold) as it activates the yeast.
• Olive oil. Helps the loaf retain moisture, stay soft and it gives the bread a fluffier texture
• All-purpose Flour. In Canada and the U.S. you generally don't need to use bread flour because the protein in our regular flour is so high (11.7%).
• Dried Thyme. Thyme gives this such a unique depth of flavor and pairs well with the onion and olive.
• Dry Minced Onion. Don't try to substitute with fresh onion - it won't work.
• Sliced black olives. I find it's easiest buying the pre-sliced. You can use Kalamata as well.
•  Bread Maker Yeast. You need to use this type of yeast because it's specially formulated for the bread machine and becomes active more quickly than active dry yeast

🔪How to Make Olive Bread Recipe for Bread Machine

** It is really important that you follow your manufacturer's operating instructions for your bread machine when attempting to make any bread. 

1. Step 1: Add wet ingredients (water and olive oil) to bread pan. *Add ingredients in order given - this is critical!

2. Step 2: Next, add dry ingredients (flour, sugar, salt, thyme, dry minced onion) -except yeast *When adding salt, pour it around the outer edge of mixture, away from yeast. *When adding sugar, pour it around the other outer edge of mixture, away from yeast (opposite the salt)

3. Step 3: Add yeast last. Dig a small crater in the middle of the flour,  away from the salt, sugar and water. *Never let the yeast come in contact with the liquid.

4. Step 4: Place the bread pan in the bread machine.

5. Step 5: Set bread machine pan on most appropriate setting - it's usually "normal mode" setting (the same setting I'd use to make a regular loaf of white bread , or "basic mode". If you have the option, choose size (1 lb), then crust color (light is easiest to cut), then press START

6. Step 6: At the fruit signal, add the chopped black olives (it's usually about 10-15 minutes after the cycle starts). When it's done, move to a wire rack to cool.

👪 Serving Size

This Olive Bread Machine recipe makes a 1 lb. loaf. *Don't try to double a bread machine recipe: Using a larger recipe than recommended will likely cause the dough to rise too high. When the pan is not large enough, the dough is in danger of falling. Anytime your bread falls, it will be dense.

🌡️Storing

This olive bread recipe for the bread machine goes really fast so I don't often have to think about storing it. But if I make it ahead, I let it cool completely, then store it in plastic wrap or a large plastic bag or ziplock freezer bag in the fridge. I also use the same bag if I freeze it. It can be frozen for up to 3 months.