Sweet, deeply browned onions transform a simple homemade loaf into a savory standout. Your bread machine handles all the heavy lifting, taking the guesswork out of kneading and proofing. The slow-cooked onions fold directly into the dough, creating pockets of rich flavor in every single slice. It's fantastic served warm with salted butter alongside a bowl of soup, or you can use it to build an exceptional grilled cheese sandwich.
Prep
10 min
Cook
3 hr 15 min
Total
3 hr 30 min
Servings
12
Course
Category Baking
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
2 medium onions, sliced
1 cup water
1 tablespoon olive or vegetable oil
3 cups bread flour
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1ΒΌ teaspoons bread machine or fast-acting dry yeast
Instructions
1Melt the butter in a 10-inch skillet over medium-low heat. Add the sliced onions and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they turn brown and caramelize. Remove the pan from the heat and let them cool slightly. Don't rush this step by turning up the heat; slow cooking develops the best sweet flavor.
2Place the water, olive oil, bread flour, sugar, salt, and yeast into the bread machine pan in the exact order recommended by your manufacturer.
3Program the bread maker to the basic or white cycle and select a medium or light crust color. Ensure the delay function is turned off.
4Add 1/2 cup of the caramelized onions when the machine's mix-in signal sounds, or about 5 to 10 minutes before the final kneading cycle finishes.
5Remove the baked bread from the pan immediately after the cycle ends. Let it cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.
Notes
Storage: Keep leftover bread in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Serving: This loaf makes an incredible base for a savory grilled cheese sandwich.
Leftovers: You'll likely have a few tablespoons of caramelized onions left over. Save them to top burgers or mix into scrambled eggs.
Equipment: If your bread machine doesn't have an automatic mix-in alert, check the manual to find out exactly when the final kneading cycle happens so you can add the onions manually.