How to Make Bread Machine Recipes by Hand 

We recently got a note from reader J.A. in Honolulu, Hawaii. She asked, “I don’t own a bread machine. Could you please tell me how to make the dough for bread machine recipes without a bread machine?”

And she’s not the first to wonder. Let’s set the record straight.

I don’t own a bread machine, either, but my favorite dinner roll recipe starts out in a bread machine (these surprising recipes do, too). Any bread machine recipe can be made by hand if you follow the steps common to most yeast bread recipes. This method is for recipes using active dry yeast.

How to Convert a Bread Machine Recipe into an Oven One

Step 1: In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water (110° to 115°).

Step 2: Add any of the wet ingredients such as eggs, additional liquid, sugar, honey, herbs, salt and most of the flour. (Be sure you’re measuring your flour correctly for the best results.) This will be a sticky dough to start with.

Step 3: Beat until smooth. You can do this by hand or with a mixer, whatever is easiest for you.

Step 4: Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough that pulls away from the sides of the bowl. This can vary depending on the humidity levels in your home. Here’s how to know if you’re using the right flour for the job.

Step 5: Turn your dough out onto a lightly floured surface, then knead it until smooth and elastic.

Step 6: Place the dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray to keep it from drying out, turning once to coat the top.

Step 7: Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled. (If you run into a snag, we’ve shared 9 ways to troubleshoot your dough, too).

Step 8: Punch dough down (hint: you’re just removing the air bubbles) and shape the dough accordingly. Let it rise one last time and then pop it into a preheated oven to bake as directed in the recipe.

That’s it! Super simple. Take the plunge and purchase one of our picks for the best bread machines of the year.

Ready to bake bread? Start with these simple 5-ingredient recipes.

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Crusty Homemade Bread Crackling homemade bread makes an average day extraordinary. Enjoy this beautiful crusty bread recipe as is, or stir in a few favorites like cheese, garlic, herbs and dried fruits. —Megumi Garcia, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Go to Recipe

Country White BreadAnytime is the right time for a comforting slice of homemade bread. These loaves are especially nice since the crust stays so tender. This white bread recipe is my husband Nick's favorite. He makes most of the bread at our house. —Joanne Shew Chuk, St. Benedict, Saskatchewan

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Taste of Home

Feather-Light BiscuitsI usually used a glass as a cutter so the biscuits are bigger than average size, and I always baked some extras to send home with the kids. They liked to split them and fill them with cheese or peanut butter and strawberry jam. —Eleanore Hill, Fresno, California

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Taste of Home

Big-Batch Dinner RollsHere’s a home-baked roll you can make for every holiday. Just mix, knead, shape and par-bake, then pop 'em in the freezer. They’re ready to finish baking when guests are on their way. —Mary Jane Henderson, Salem, New Jersey

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Pull-Apart Bacon BreadI stumbled across this recipe while looking for something different to take to a brunch. Boy, am I glad I did! Everyone asked for the recipe and was surprised it called for only five ingredients. It's the perfect treat to bake for an informal get-together. —Traci Collins, Cheyenne, Wyoming

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Hurry-Up BiscuitsWhen I was young, my mom would make these biscuits with fresh cream she got from a local farmer. I don't go to those lengths, but the family recipe is still a real treat. —Beverly Sprague, Baltimore, Maryland

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Pull-Apart Caramel Coffee CakeThe first time I made this delightful breakfast treat for a brunch party, it was a huge hit. Now I get requests every time family or friends do anything around the breakfast hour! I always keep the four simple ingredients on hand. —Jaime Keeling, Keizer, Oregon

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Taste of Home

Garlic-Cheese Crescent RollsUpgrade your basic crescent roll recipe! Here's a recipe that just couldn't be much quicker or easier and is sure to add a nice touch to any dinner. The garlic and Parmesan flavors really come through. Enjoy! —Lori Abad, East Haven, Connecticut

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Taste of Home

Savory Party BreadIt's impossible to stop nibbling on warm pieces of this cheesy, oniony bread. The sliced loaf fans out for a fun presentation. It's one of the best savory appetizers I've found. —Kay Daly, Raleigh, North Carolina

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Basic Homemade Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Basic Homemade BreadIf you'd like to learn how to bake bread, here's a wonderful place to start. This easy white bread bakes up deliciously golden brown. There's nothing like the homemade aroma wafting through my kitchen as it bakes. —Sandra Anderson, New York, New York

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Bacon-Wrapped BreadsticksI first tried these breadsticks at a restaurant and the owner was kind enough to share the recipe. When I made them for my family, not a crumb was left and everyone was asking for more! —Wendy Domres, West Bend, Wisconsin

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Quick and Easy Bread BowlsImpress all your friends by serving cream soups or dips with this bread bowl recipes. It's one of the most popular recipes on my blog, yammiesnoshery.com. —Rachel Heidenreich, Marshall, Michigan

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Rustic Cranberry & Orange BreadStudded with cranberries, slices of pretty bread make the perfect holiday brunch treat. —Megumi Garcia, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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No-Fuss RollsWith only 4 ingredients, these delicious rolls are ready in no time. They're fantastic with herb butter or jam. —Glenda Trail, Manchester, Tennessee

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Taste of Home

Bacon Crescent RollsThe mouthwatering aroma of warm bacon from these three-ingredient rolls will draw folks to the table. These are fun for children to prepare and such a cinch to assemble with ready-cooked bacon. —Jane Nearing, Indianapolis, Indiana

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French LoavesMy kids love to help me make this delicious bread recipe. It's quite easy, and they enjoy the fact that they can be eating fresh bread in about two hours! —Denise Boutin, Grand Isle, Vermont

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Taste of Home

Pull-Apart Garlic BreadPeople go wild over this golden, garlicky loaf whenever I serve it. There’s intense flavor in every bite. —Carol Shields, Summerville, Pennsylvania

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Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits Recipe photo by Jamie Thrower for Taste of Home

Homemade Buttermilk BiscuitsThe recipe for these four-ingredient homemade buttermilk biscuits has been handed down for many generations. —Fran Thompson, Tarboro, North Carolina

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Potato Pan RollsMy family loves these rolls and requests them often. They don't take long to make because you use quick-rise yeast. —Connie Storckman, Evanston, Wyoming

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Monkey BreadBoth of my boys really enjoyed helping me make this butterscotch monkey bread when they were young. It seemed to taste twice as good when they helped fix it. It's one of our favorites for breakfast or as a snack. —Carol Allen, McLeansboro, Illinois

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Taste of Home

Monkey Bread BiscuitsI came up with an easy, savory—instead of sweet—dinner version of monkey bread featuring garlic and Italian seasoning. —Dana Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona

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Scottish Oatmeal RollsMy family likes rolls that can hold up to scooping gravies, sauces and more. This recipe is a favorite. The oatmeal in the dough gives it a Scottish touch. —Peggy Goodrich, Enid, Oklahoma

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Savory Biscuit-BreadsticksI love to experiment in the kitchen with simple ingredients like refrigerated biscuits. The results are usually a big hit—these super fast breadsticks are an example. —Billy Hensley, Mount Carmel, Tennessee

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Grandma's BiscuitsHomemade biscuits add a warm and comforting touch to any meal. My grandmother makes these tender biscuits to go with her seafood chowder. —Melissa Obernesser, Utica, New York

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Mom's Italian BreadI think Mom used to bake at least four of these tender loaves at once, and they never lasted long. She served the bread with every Italian meal. I love it toasted too. —Linda Harrington, Windham, New Hampshire

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Taste of Home

Mom's Buttermilk BiscuitsThese fluffy buttermilk biscuits are so tasty slathered with butter or used to mop up every last drop of gravy off your plate. I can still see Mom pulling these tender gems out of the oven. —Vera Reid, Laramie, Wyoming

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Taste of Home

Parmesan-Ranch Pan RollsMom taught me this easy recipe, which is perfect for feeding a crowd. There is never a crumb left over. Mom used her own bread dough, but using frozen dough is my shortcut. I make a wheat bread dough version with poppy and sesame seeds that’s popular, too. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho

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Home-Style Yeast BreadEveryone likes the tender texture and slightly sweet taste of this homemade bread. When I'm in the mood to bake, I usually double the recipe and share loaves with friends. The dough also makes lovely rolls. -Launa Shoemaker, Landrum, South Carolina

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Easy Parmesan BiscuitsThis recipe is simple but a delicious addition to any meal. The children love to dip the ready-made biscuits in butter and coat it with the cheese. Warm from the oven, one biscuit per person usually isn’t enough. —Linda Becker, Olympia, Washington

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Extra Quick Yeast RollsMaking homemade rolls usually takes a lot of ingredients and time, but this recipe makes it so simple. The rolls come together quickly and freeze well too.—Eleanor Paine, Junction City, Oregon

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