Making Perfect Condensed Milk Bread in Your Bread Machine

Preparing Your Ingredients

The beauty of this condensed milk bread machine recipe is in its simplicity, but a few preparation steps ensure success. First, check that your milk is warm but not hot – if you can comfortably hold your finger in it, the temperature is right. Too hot and you’ll kill the yeast; too cold and the yeast won’t activate properly.

Make sure your butter is softened to room temperature. Cold butter won’t incorporate well and can create dense spots in your bread. I usually cut my butter into small pieces and let it sit out for about 30 minutes before starting.

The egg should also be at room temperature. If you’ve just pulled it from the fridge, place it in a bowl of warm water for five minutes. This small detail makes a difference in how well your dough comes together.

Loading Your Bread Machine

Here’s where bread machine recipes get particular – the order in which you add ingredients matters! Most machines work best when you add liquids first, followed by dry ingredients, with the yeast on top. However, some machines are different, so check your manual.

Adding the Wet Ingredients

Pour the warm milk into the bread machine pan first, followed by the sweetened condensed milk. Crack in your egg and add the softened butter pieces. These wet ingredients form the base of your condensed milk bread machine recipe.

Adding the Dry Ingredients

Next, add the bread flour, creating a layer that covers all the liquid ingredients. Make a small well in the center of the flour and add the salt to one side of this well. In the very center, add the instant yeast. This technique keeps the salt and yeast separated until mixing begins, as salt can inhibit yeast if they come into direct contact before mixing.

Selecting the Right Settings

For this condensed milk bread machine recipe, select the “Basic” or “White Bread” setting on your machine. Choose a medium crust color. The loaf size should be set to 1.5 or 2 pounds, depending on your machine’s capacity.

If your machine has a mix-in dispenser for nuts or fruits, ignore it for this recipe. Close the lid, press start, and let the machine do the work.

The Waiting Game

Most bread machines take 3 to 4 hours to complete a basic cycle. During this time, the machine will mix, knead, allow the dough to rise, and bake it to perfection.

Checking the Dough Consistency

About five minutes after the machine starts, take a quick look at the dough. It should form a smooth, slightly sticky ball that pulls away from the sides of the pan.

• If it’s too dry, add water one tablespoon at a time

• If it’s too wet, add flour one tablespoon at a time

Once adjusted, close the lid and let the machine continue.