Mother reveals easy step by step guide to making bread

A mother has shared her step-by-step guide to making your own bread using cupboard basics, as shoppers struggle to find basics including bread and pasta in store.

Dannielle Luttrell from Hobart, Tasmania, took to Facebook page Slow Cooker Recipe & Tips to post her guide to homemade bread, revealing it took just a couple of hours and a handful of ingredients to bake.

The crafty mum used water, milk, butter and flour as her main ingredients, before kneading a dough and placing it in the slow cooker – admitting it was a handy alternative as she couldn’t justify a bread machine due to a lack of counter space. 

Her method quickly went viral, racking up 100,000 likes shares and comments.

Taking to Facebook with a picture of her bread, she wrote: ‘Last night I made.. Bread!! I’ve wanted a bread machine for years but couldn’t justify the extra counter space and another appliance in the kitchen. 

‘This works perfect and tastes so good – one less thing to buy on my weekly shop!’

Calling it ‘the best adapted bread recipe ever’, she shared her method, with followers praising the results. 

One wrote: ‘Omg much better then a bread maker, you don’t have the hole in the bottom from the blade. Thanks for sharing the recipe, must try it’. 

Admitting that she had never thought of making bread this way, another wrote: ‘Wow looks yummy. I’ve owed slow cooker for years but didn’t know ya could make bread!’.

Elsewhere another said: ‘I am like you I want a bread maker but can’t just justify the cost or space but will try this idea’. 

Danielle’s guide to making bread

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup warm water
• 2 cups of warm milk
• 2 Tbsp melted unsalted butter
• 1-3 tablespoons of sugar (add more if you like sweeter bread)
• 3 tablespoons of active dry yeast (conservative side)
• 6 cups of whole wheat flour (or 3 cups whole wheat & 3 cups all-purpose flour)
• 2 teaspoons of salt 1 teaspoon of baking powder 

Method 

‘Grab a big bowl, and stir the 1/2 cup of warm water, 1 (or more) tablespoons of sugar, 3 tablespoons of yeast. Wait for 5 minutes (no longer – mine went all over the place the first time!) – it should be frothy on the top. While your waiting warm 2 cups of milk and 2 Tbsp of butter in microwave.

‘Next, add milk and butter to yeast mixture. Using a standing mixer slowly add the 6 cups of flour, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 1 teaspoon of baking powder. Mix and knead the dough. (I used dough hook once I had incorporated most of the flour for about 5 minutes then kneaded by hand for another 5-7 minutes.)

‘Line your slow cooker with cooking (baking) paper and place in your round ball of dough. I will rise in the slow cooker as it heats through. Cook on High power for 2- 2.5 hours. 

‘Start checking at every 7-10 minutes until top is sponge-y but springs back and no moisture on the top. The bottom should be a nice brown colour as well as sides. I put mine (just the loaf) in the oven on broil/grill for less than 5 minutes to get a nice crusty top too!’ 

‘Make sure it is completely cooked through – my loaf took 2 1/2 hours! Slice and enjoy as whole grain toast or sandwich bread!’