Sour Milk Bread Recipe | Bread Machine Recipes (2024)

Sour Milk Bread Recipe | Bread Machine Recipes (1)

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Last Updated on June 16, 2022 – Originally posted in June of 2010

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Sour milk bread is the recipe that I use most often. We always have it on hand. I love the simple ingredients list and the texture of the bread.

The Man of the House (TMOTH) loves it for breakfast. We don’t have toast every morning, but when we do TMOTH is disappointed if he can’t find milk bread.

What Does Milk Add to a Bread Recipe?

Sour Milk Bread Recipe | Bread Machine Recipes (2)

Why would a person use milk instead of water in a bread recipe?

First of all, milk adds nutrition to bread. Beyond that, milk also contributes some great qualities.

The sugar in milk, lactose, isn’t consumed by yeast. So it stays in the bread making it a little sweeter.

Milk improves the bread’s texture and flavor. The bread is softer, fluffier and richer tasting. It enriches the dough with milk proteins and fat.

Should You Scald the Milk?

Some bakers advise that milk should be scalded before it’s used in making bread.

That’s because milk contains glutathione. That’s a chemical that can prevent the dough from rising properly.

However, I’ve never scalded the milk and my bread has always turned out fine. Maybe the preheat cycle helps with this? Maybe scalding milk was necessary before the era when milk was pasteurized?

I’m not sure. I only know that I’ve had no problems with using milk right of out the refrigerator with this recipe.

In a Hurry?

I normally use active dry yeast in this sour milk bread recipe.

If time is short, you can make this recipe with the quick cycle of your bread machine. If you do this, substitute the active dry yeast with three teaspoons of instant yeast, bread machine yeast or rapid rise yeast.

Instant yeast, bread machine yeast and rapid rise yeast can be used interchangeably.If you’d like to learn more about what yeast to use in your bread maker, check out this article.

Need This Recipe for Another Size of Bread Machine?



Bread machines come in different sizes. So I’m frequently asked how to convert recipes into recipes for bread machines of different sizes. Click here to learn how to convert this recipe into a recipe for another sized machine.

Sour Milk

Don’t have sour milk, but want that tangy taste?

To make sour milk, add one tablespoon of vinegar to one cup of room-temperature milk. (Adjust amounts as needed for each recipe.) Stir and wait about 5 minutes.

Note that you can use either white vinegar or apple cider vinegar to sour the milk.

Type of Milk?

For years I made this recipe using 2% milk. It worked great.

Because of the virus, I’ve been limiting my trips to the grocery store. I’m usually able to get whole milk with a better expiration date, so I’ve been buying that.

I started wondering if the type of milk might make a difference in the bread’s rise. You never know until you try. So I did an experiment.

Sour Milk Bread Recipe | Bread Machine Recipes (4)

These loaves of bread were both made with the quick cycle and rapid rise yeast. The only difference is that the loaf on the left was made with 2% milk and the loaf on the right was made with whole milk.

Sour Milk Bread Recipe | Bread Machine Recipes (5)

Here’s another look at the two loaves of bread. The loaf in the front (#1) contains 2% milk. The loaf in the back (it’s #4 but the flag got cut off in the photo) was made with whole milk.

You get a slightly better rise with whole milk. Either way though, I think you’ll be thrilled with this recipe.

Oil is Optional

You’ll notice that I’ve added oil as an optional ingredient.

The bread tastes fine without it. However, we freeze our bread. We noticed that after freezing, the toasted crust is a little tough without the oil.

High Altitude Instructions

Note that this recipe was tested and developed at sea level. If you’re above 3,000 feet you’ll need to make adjustments. I have a page that gives general information aboutusing your bread machine at high elevations.

Sour Milk Bread Recipe | Bread Machine Recipes (6)

I have since tested this recipe at about 4,800 feet.

After a lot of testing, I can now get a great loaf of sour milk bread at a high elevation.

Here’s how I did it:

  • Lowered the amount of yeast to 1 1/4 teaspoons of active dry yeast.
  • I had better results using the light crust setting instead of the medium crust setting
  • Always check the dough after it’s been kneading for a few minutes! About half the time I need to add a little more flour.

FAQ for This Recipe

Here are some questions that come up for this recipe and articles that should help.

  • Converting Bread Machine Recipes for Differently Sized Machines
  • Can You Substitute Honey for Sugar in Bread Recipes?
  • Bread Flour Versus All-Purpose Flour

Sour Milk Bread Instructions

This is for a two-pound loaf using the basic or white cycle with medium crust.

Follow the instructions that came with your bread machine in terms of which ingredients to put in the bread machine first. With most machines, you add the liquids first.

Make sure you check on the dough after five or ten minutes of kneading. It should be a smooth, round ball. If it’s too dry add liquid a teaspoon at a time until it looks OK. If it looks too wet, add flour a tablespoon at a time until it looks OK.

Sour Milk Bread Ingredients

Again, this is for a two-pound loaf using the basic or white cycle. Set the crust at medium.

  • 1 ½ cups sour milk (I make mine with regular, not-sour milk and it works fine. See instructions above for making sour milk.)
  • 4 cups bread flour
  • 1 ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 4 Tablespoons sugar
  • 1 ½ Tablespoons oil (optional)
  • 1 ¾ teaspoons active dry yeast

Sour Milk Bread Recipe | Bread Machine Recipes (7)

Sour Milk Bread - Two Pound Loaf

Sour Milk Bread is our go-to bread recipe. Simple ingredients! Great taste and texture! No wonder this is the recipe that I make the most often. AND you don’t even need to have sour milk!

4.43 from 47 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Bread Machine Recipes

Cuisine: American

Keyword: milk bread, sour milk bread

Yield: 14 slices per two-pound loaf of bread

Calories: 172kcal

Author: Marsha Perry

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups (354.9 ml) sour milk I make mine with regular, not-sour milk and it works fine.
  • 4 cups (500 g) bread flour
  • 1 ¼ teaspoon (1.2 teaspoon) salt
  • 4 Tablespoons (3.9 Tablespoons) sugar
  • 1 ½ Tablespoons (1.5 Tablespoons) oil optional
  • 1 ¾ teaspoons (1.7 teaspoons) active dry yeast

Instructions

  • Note that this is for a two-pound loaf of bread. Use the basic setting with medium crust.

  • Follow the instructions that came with yourbread machinein terms of which ingredients to put in the bread machine first.

  • Make sure you check on the dough after five or ten minutes of kneading. Just pop the top of the bread machine and see how the dough is doing. It should be a smooth, round ball. If it’s too dry add liquid a teaspoon at a time until it looks OK. If it looks too wet, add flour a tablespoon at a time until it looks OK.

Notes

This is a recipe for a two-pound machine. You’ll be using the basic or white cycle with medium crust.

If time is short, you can make this recipe with the quick cycle of your bread machine substitute the active dry yeast with three teaspoons of fast-rising (rapid rise) yeast.

Don’t have sour milk, but want that tangy taste? To make sour milk add one tablespoon of vinegar to one cup of room-temperature milk. (Adjust amounts as needed for each recipe.) Stir and wait about 5 minutes.

High Altitude Instructions: Note that this recipe was tested and developed at sea level. If you're above 3,000 feet you'll need to make adjustments. I have a page that gives general information about using your bread machine at high elevations.

I have since tested this recipe at about 4,800 feet. I found that making these changes turn out a great loaf of bread at my altitude:

  • Lower the amount of yeast to 1 1/4 teaspoons of active dry yeast
  • I had better results using the light crust setting instead of the medium crust setting
  • Always check the dough after it’s been kneading for a few minutes! About half the time I need to add a little more flour.


Metric Measurements:
This recipe was developed and tested using US customary measurements. Metric measurements are calculated automatically.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 172kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 219mg | Potassium: 79mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 43IU | Vitamin C: 0.001mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 0.3mg

All information presented within this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on breadmachinediva.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. I try to provide accurate information to the best of my ability; however these figures should still be considered estimates.

Sour Milk Bread Recipe | Bread Machine Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Can I use liquid milk instead of dry milk in bread machine? ›

What is a good substitute for dry milk in a bread machine recipe? Wet milk and less water; a half teaspoon of sugar; or no milk powder. Bread recipes are really forgiving. Your recipe will still work.

What is the use of sour milk in baking? ›

Sour milk is great for scones and biscuits. In combination with baking soda, it acts as a leavening agent and gives them a slight tang. Note that for sour milk to have this rising effect, the recipe must contain baking soda, not baking powder, which already contains acids.

Can I use milk instead of water in bread machine? ›

Water is a common ingredient, but since many people use the timer on their bread machines, most recipes call for non-fat dry milk or powdered buttermilk. However, if you are mixing your dough right away, you can certainly use fresh milk. Simply replace the water with milk or buttermilk and omit the powdered milk.

What does adding milk instead of water do bread? ›

Using milk instead of water in your yeasted bread is an easy way to add a touch of sweetness, making it ideal for challah, dinner rolls, cinnamon rolls, and hot dog buns. Milk sugars not only add a hint of sweetness but also result in a softer, more uniform crumb and ensure a nicely browned crust.

What can I substitute for dry milk in a bread machine recipe? ›

For every 1/4 cup (32 grams) of milk powder, substitute 1 cup (240 mL) of regular milk. You'll also want to reduce the original amount of water called for in the recipe by 1 cup (240 mL). Whole fat, reduced fat, and nonfat milk can all be used in place of milk powder.

How much liquid milk to substitute for dry milk? ›

A general reconstitution of milk with dried powder is 1/4 dry milk and 1 cup water to reconstitute milk. So 2 tablespoons is 1/8 cup to 1/2 cup of water. If you want to replace 2 tablespoons, replace 1/2 cup water with milk. 1 Tablespoon is 1/4 cup milk instead of water.

Can you still bake with sour milk? ›

Souring milk (fermentation) adds good bacteria to the milk which is great for gut health. Soured milk foods include kefir, yogurt, buttermilk, or sour cream and soured milk is also a great option for baking.

What is the difference between spoiled milk and sour milk? ›

Spoiled milk usually refers to pasteurized milk that has gone bad, while sour milk may refer to raw milk that has begun to ferment.

Is buttermilk and sour milk the same? ›

Sour milk is not the same as buttermilk.

Buttermilk is either purposefully cultured to get a sour taste or is the byproduct of butter making. If raw milk sours, it's perfectly fine to drink and that's the way most of the world drinks milk. But if pasteurized milk sours, it's just on its way to going bad.

Why do bread machines use powdered milk? ›

The added protein and sugar from milk powder improves the structure and texture of yeast breads, making them loftier and more tender. It also intensifies the color of the crust, making your breads beautifully bronzed.

Should you use hot or cold water in a bread machine? ›

Too little water, and the bread will be tough. It's also essential to use water that's the proper temperature: The water has to be warm enough to "activate" the yeast and cause the dough to rise, but not so hot that the water kills the yeast. The ideal range is between 105º and 110ºF.

Do you beat eggs before adding to bread machine? ›

First of all, the stirring function of the bread makers is not sufficient to completely mix the eggs so it is better to beat the eggs before adding them into the bread pan.

What does adding egg to bread dough do? ›

Egg has protein, fat, water and while the fat and water soften the crumb, the protein helps with strengthening the gluten and capturing more CO2. Eggs are also helping with leavening the dough which adds to the rise. Doughs that have more egg usually rise more, so go ahead and play around a bit!

What does adding butter to bread dough do? ›

Butter, technically a dough enrichment, tenderizes bread dough and limits gluten development, yielding a softer, more tender crumb and a richer flavor. The butter in this sourdough babka dough makes the interior tender—and delicious. Photo by Maurizio Leo.

Is it better to use butter or oil in bread dough? ›

The spongy texture and moist flavor that oil creates can be a boon to certain recipes. Not to mention oil is cheaper and easier to work with. Butter will always provide superior flavor and that melt-in-your-mouth texture. In many recipes, combining the two gives the best of both worlds.

Why does my bread maker call for dry milk? ›

The added protein and sugar from milk powder improves the structure and texture of yeast breads, making them loftier and more tender. It also intensifies the color of the crust, making your breads beautifully bronzed.

Is dry milk the same as liquid milk? ›

Yes, there are differences between liquid milk and dry milk powder in terms of nutrition. Here are some key distinctions: 1. Water Content: Liquid milk contains a significant amount of water, while milk powder is dehydrated, so it has very little water content.

What is the best method to dry liquid milk into powder? ›

Milk is initially removed of from all fats and cream content. They a method called spray drying is done to convert liquid milk to powder. Spray drying process in simple words a hot metal plate is sprayed with milk and it turns into powder instantly without altering the constituents.

How do you dry liquid milk? ›

04/5Making milk powder using an oven

Pour the milk into a large pan. Then, preheat the oven at 150°F and place the pan in it. Leave the oven slightly open so that the moisture gets out. When the milk is dry, take it out of the pan and grind the pieces in a blender to make powder.

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