One of the things that I try to avoid is using my oven during the summer – it really heats up my house. Since I don’t have a bread maker, I have been searching for an alternative way to bake homemade bread without making my house unbearable! I came across a recipe for baking it in a slow cooker from the book “Fix It and Forget It” by Dawn Ranck and Phyllis Pellman Good – great book, I’ve adapted quite a few recipes from it.
The bread turned out great – although the next time I make it, I will need to find a better baking dish. As the bread bakes, it forms to whatever container you place it in – I used a disposable foil baking sheet (I didn’t have a loaf pan small enough for my slow cooker). Next time, I want to try making it in a large coffee tin.
It sliced well, and I served it warm with my Simple Baked Apple Butter (recipe here). I hope you try it – it’s wonderful how easy it is!
Whole Wheat Bread
2 cups warm milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey or brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 package active dry yeast
2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
Mix together milk, oil, honey, salt, yeast and half the flour. Beat together for 2 minutes. Add in remaining flour – mix well. The dough will be very wet and soft. Place dough in a well-greased bread or cake pan that will fit into your slow cooker. Cover with well-greased tin foil (very important). Place in slow cooker. Cover cooker and bake on high for 2 1/2 – 3 hours. Remove pan and uncover. Let stand for 5 minutes. Serve warm.
The things I love most about this recipe is that it took almost no time to put together and I didn’t have to turn on the oven! I definitely will be trying out more recipes like this one! In particular, I am working on baking my Hearty Oatmeal Molasses Bread in the same manner.
The total cost for one loaf of this bread is $.65 - VERY budget friendly! You can’t buy bread for that price!
What types of things do you make in your slow cooker? Have you ever tried baking bread or other baked goods in yours? I’d love to hear from you!
You might also like:
What a great idea! Who doesn’t own a crockpot, right? My breakmaker died years ago, and I never got around to replacing it.
Exactly! I was so excited about this recipe – and I’m so glad it turned out!
Wow! I’m going to try this. I do pretty much traditional kinds of meals in the slow cooker. One thing I did during the summer helped with some of the dishes I made. I took the overabundance of summer squash and onions and garlic from our garden and sauteed them, seasoning well with dried and fresh herbs. I then froze batches (approximately 2 pints per bag). All through the winter, if I wanted to start a soup or a stew I just threw one of those bags into the slow cooker as my starter. No need to chop onions, etc. It was a real time saver.
Wow – I love that idea! What a great way to use up all that extra summer squash! I will be utalizing this tip for sure! Thanks so much!
I don’t have a slow cooker
I have been thinking about buying one though, here’s another reason to do it!
Absolutely!
I’ve never had a bread machine- so this idea excites me because not only will I not need to use my oven in the summer- I also don’t have to be painfully patient and careful about waiting for my bread to rise.
Thanks so much for posting this! PS: What is “high” on your crockpot in terms of temperature? I just don’t want to ruin it if I try it…
Thanks!
To my understanding, low is 200 degrees and high is 300 degrees – However, according to the crockpot.com website the difference between high and low is how long it takes for the food to get to the “simmer point” – If you try making this, I would love to hear what you think of it!
What a great idea! I have that same cookbook, so will look that recipe up. Your apple butter also looks amazing. Thanks for stopping by foodforfun. I look forward to reading more of your discoveries.
Thanks! That book is great!
Wow, bread in a slow cooker, I would have never thought of that! Very cool.
I didn’t either until I read it!
Pingback: Cinnamon Swirl Bread « A Modern Christian Woman
on the list…:-)
LOL, Now I must try this in my coffeepot. Although it might take awhile since I don’t eat much bread. Thanks for the post
Sure! If you make it – I’d love to hear what you think!
You Will !!
Great idea, and I’m pinning it to my Pinterest page and to facebook too. I have a lot of friends who feel the same way about their oven and summertime!
Thanks! I think it’s one of the best things I’ve discovered! No more unbearable kitchen heat!
I think it is as well. I was just talking to a few friends the other day about ideas for cooking without using the overn in the summer. This is one they will love!
I’m so glad!
Two of my favorite things are my Kitchen-Aid mixer and my crock pot! I wonder if I have a pan that will fit!
I think you can use any type of pan that fits – I didn’t have any so I ended up using the disposable tin pans because you can kind of mold them to fit….I am on the lookout for a less temporary solution!
ooh good idea! I was pretty much thinking mine would probably end up being the shape of the crock pot lol!
Totally trying this! Who knew?!?!
Right?! I’m so happy I can have fresh baked bread no matter what the temperature is outside!
Wonderful! I’m sharing this gem of a secret. =)
This is so interesting. As much as I use my crockpot, I would have never thought of making bread in it! I definitely should try this soon.
I didn’t either – but I’m so glad I found the recipe!
Wow! I never knew you could make bread in a slow cooker! I live in a tiny studio apartment, so baking in the summertime is not pleasant. I am definitely going to try this!
Please do – and I would love to hear what you think about it!
I love to make home made bread and have had to stop since my oven broke. I will have to try putting the bread in a small bread pan instead of straight in the crock pot like the other recipes I have tried. Thanks for the recipe and idea!
What a great idea – and can’t beat the price!
I know, right?! I was surprised when I totaled it!
Love this idea–thanks for sharing it!! I love the way Crockpots/slow cookers let us manage homemade cooking in our modern day busy lives!
Me too – I love finding new ways to use mine!
This is wonderful! I make my banana bread in the slow cooker and it’s the best — but I haven’t tried regular bread in it… looks like I’ll be doing that now, with your inspiration!
I will have to try banana bread in it – sounds really good to me right now!
Just the kind of inspiration I need in the kitchen!
Thanks! Glad to be of help!
yep, sounds like a plan! living in a rather warm condo and I think this is a fab idea.thanks for posting!
Sure! I am very excited about this recipe too!
How cool! And I think I have a copy of that cookbook around here somewhere…..
It worked out well! I love that cookbook – lots of great ideas!
I have got to tell my husband about this, he is the one who likes to make bread. I never would have thought to use a slow cooker. I might surprise him and try it. Thanks for sharing.
Sure! If you make it – I would love to hear how you like it!
Pingback: Peanut Butter and Hot Fudge Pudding Cake « A Modern Christian Woman
Pingback: Slow Cooker Lemon Blueberry Pudding Cake « A Modern Christian Woman