Whether you make this Oatmeal Breakfast Bread in a bread machine or the traditional method, it is a hearty cinnamon bread that makes wonderful toast or french bread.
February 2021 Note: I originally made this recipe in 2015 in the bread maker but since moving abroad and not having a bread machine, I’ve adapted this recipe to be made traditionally as well. You will find directions for both below.
Table of contents
I love this bread because of the oatmeal in it which makes it more substantial for breakfast. Plus, it smells amazing when it is baking or toasting.
This recipe makes 2 loaves so if you have a big family like mine, you’ll go through both in a day or so. If you would like, you can freeze one loaf for later. See the Top Tips section below for how to do that.
Is a bread maker worth it?
Have you noticed my love of my bread machine yet? I’ve made Garlic Bread, Coconut Bread, and use it to mix up the dough for Herb Bubble Bread.
It is a lifesaver when we are going to be gone all day but will be home in time for dinner. I’ll make dinner in the slow cooker, bread in the bread maker, and sometimes even a side dish in another slow cooker. Add fruit and some microwaved frozen veggies and you have a complete meal within half an hour of coming home. To me that is way better than spending $40 or more on eating out!
It’s also perfect if you are not a confident baker. Baking has not been my strong suit so the bread machine has been a big life saver. Have I convinced you yet?
I do realize the initial cost of a bread machine can be high, so look around on yard sale pages or thrift stores. Or you could even ask if someone has one that they don’t want anymore. You never know. I got my first bread machine for $20.
Ingredients
- bread flour
- oatmeal
- water
- active dry yeast
- maple syrup
- apple sauce
- salt
- cinnamon
Substitutions
You can substitute honey for the maple syrup.
Bread flour has a higher gluten content than regular all purpose flour. Gluten is what gives the bread the structure it needs so that as the yeast releases gas the bread rises. I’ve tried this bread with all purpose flour and it is not a good result. Stick with bread flour.
You can use a combination of bread flour and wheat flour but this does result in a much denser loaf. If you do choose to add wheat flour, add vital wheat gluten which will help.
Note: The order which you put the ingredients in is different based on which method you are using. In a bread maker, wet ingredients go in first, followed by the dry with the yeast on top.
How to make this in a bread maker
- Add water, apple sauce, and maple syrup or honey to the loaf pan.
- Then add dry ingredients except yeast. Make a well in the dry ingredients and add the yeast.
- Select the basic or white bread cycle and medium/ normal crust.
Using the traditional method
Although making bread by hand takes some practice, I promise you can do it! Fresh homemade bread is worth the effort! I’m going to walk you through the process with lots of pictures.
- In a large bowl, add the flour, oatmeal, cinnamon, salt, and yeast.
- Using a wooden spoon, mix it until it is well combined.
- To the bowl, add the warm water, maple syrup, and apple sauce.
- Using the wooden dough, stir to mix until you get a shaggy looking dough.
- Dump out the shaggy dough and any extra flour onto a lightly floured surface.
- Knead the dough for 8-10 minutes until it becomes a smooth ball that lightly springs back when poked gently.
- Grease the same bowl you used before with the oil. Place the ball of dough in, turn it once to lightly coat both sides with oil and cover with a towel or plastic wrap.
- Keep the bowl in a warm, dry place and allow to rise until double in size about 60-90 minutes.
- Divide the dough in half and roll each half into a sausage shape.
- Place in a greased loaf pan and cover with plastic wrap or a tea towel.
- Place pans in a warm dry place and allow the dough to again double in size, about 45-60 minutes.
- Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30-40 minutes until crust is a darker golden brown. Turn out the loaves to cool on a cooling rack.
Top Tips
What is the right water temperature for bread?
One of the hardest parts about baking with yeast is properly activating your yeast when making your dough. A cheat to get the right temperature water for bread is to mix equal parts boiling water with cold water. This should result in water that is between 110-120 degrees F.
The water should be like warm bath water. Warm to the touch but still comfortable enough to put your finger in and allow it to stay there.
For best results use a good kitchen thermometer! I use my Thermoworks thermopen all the time not just for cooking meats but for baking as well.
Can I freeze a bread loaf?
Yep! Although you can freeze a whole loaf, I prefer to slice my bread first before placing in a freezer safe bag. This allows me to either pull out just the pieces I need or to reheat it quicker.
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Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups warm water
- 5 teaspoons applesauce
- 1/2 cup maple syrup or honey
- 2 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 1 1/4 cups oatmeal
- 4 cups bread flour
- 2 teaspoons yeast
Instructions
To make in a bread machine
- Add water, apple sauce, and maple syrup or honey to the loaf pan.
- Then add dry ingredients except yeast. Make a well in the dry ingredients and add the yeast.
- Select the basic or white bread cycle and medium/ normal crust.
- Note: you can use wheat flour but I’ve found it results in a very dense loaf.
To make by hand
- In a large bowl, add the flour, oatmeal, cinnamon, salt, and yeast.
- Using a wooden spoon, mix it until it is well combined.
- To the bowl, add the warm water, maple syrup, and apple sauce.
- Using the wooden dough, stir to mix until you get a shaggy looking dough.
- Dump out the shaggy dough and any extra flour onto a lightly floured surface.
- Knead the dough for 8-10 minutes until it becomes a smooth ball that lightly springs back when poked gently.
- Grease the same bowl you used before with the oil. Place the ball of dough in, turn it once to lightly coat both sides with oil and cover with a towel or plastic wrap.
- Keep the bowl in a warm, dry place and allow to rise until double in size about 60-90 minutes.
- Divide the dough in half and roll each half into a sausage shape.
- Place in a greased loaf pan and cover with plastic wrap or a tea towel.
- Place pans in a warm dry place and allow the dough to again double in size, about 45-60 minutes.
- Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30-40 minutes until crust is a darker golden brown. Turn out the loaves to cool on a cooling rack.
OH my I made this today and it’s wonderful I used Cinnamon and Sugar mixed in place of the Cinnamon just because I was out of it. But yummy! Thank you so much for posting this, I will 100% make it again!
eek, total fail. I don’t know where the problem is/was but the bread is ugly and not edible 🙁 I had all the ingredients and I thought it would be fun to have a nice sweet bread warm from the machine. Unfortunately, things didn’t turn out as expected.
Hi Naomi, I am so sorry you had a hard time with the bread. I have found that sometimes breadmaker bread making can be challenging.
It sounds like the dough might have been too dry and so not everything mixed together properly. The humidity levels in your home can affect how much water is needed. When I make bread in Arizona my dough needs more water, when I made it in Georgia it didn’t need as much. Next time you can add a tablespoon of water at a time if it seems to dry when it first starts mixing in your breadmaker. The dough should form a ball that cleans the sides of the pan.
Hopefully these tips help you and you can try again.
Good luck!
Jade
Also, my son asked where the raisins were. It would taste great with raisins.
I agree it would taste great with raisins. My family is not big on raisins so I usually leave them out.
Made this bread last night it was so nice to wake up too! It is definitely a keeper. And I can confirm that it does make great french toast. Thank you for sharing this recipe. I need a good bread knife now.
I made this recipe today as we were out of bread and I was too lazy to go to the store. I recently bought a Zoriushi bread maker and I have been making lots of bread. This recipe by far is the best bread I have made so far. I used local honey instead of the maple syrup and it is to die for. Thank you so much for this amazingly wonderful recipe. I can’t wait for toast tomorrow morning.
I’m so glad you loved it Lois. It really is a staple in our house and makes fantastic toast and french toast!
My Hubby bought me a West Bend bread maker from Walmart and I have used it more often then when I had my old one. Mine even has a setting for making jam which is so simple. I love oatmeal so I am going to try this recipe tomorrow.
Mine also has a setting to make jam but I’ve never used it. I guess I was kind of afraid to. Do you have a recipe for making jam? I love my bread maker. It seriously is such a lifesaver!
There is nothing like the smell of home made fresh bread filling the house….yum!!!
Thanks for linking up to Marvelous Monday on Smart Party Planning.
Is there anything better than fresh baked bread?? Thanks for sharing at Pin-Worthy Wednesday!
Looks wonderful! Thanks for sharing on Tasty Tuesdays!
Okay I definitely have to convince my mom to buy a bread machine so I can make this delicious bread!
It looks great!
Sounds delicious, I love making my own bread. I’ve never used a bread maker before, but will now be on the lookout for a used one 🙂
It’s a super handy machine to have around in the kitchen.
I make homemade bread at least once a week and the flavor is superior (not to mention the nutrients.) Your version looks quite tasty!
Thanks Kristen. That’s awesome that you make bread every week. I’m usually good about making it every other week.
I’m a sucker for bread. Any bread. Seriously. It it comes in loaf form I will eat my weight in it. This bread looks FABULOUS! I love the oatmeal in there. YUM!
I’m with you Christie. There are few things in life as good as the smell of fresh made bread. Maybe right behind fresh made cookies!
I so wish I hadn’t given away my bread machine now!! I can’t for garage sale season – I’m going to be on the lookout for one now. 🙂
Good luck Jenny! I hope you can find another one.
That sounds great! We haven’t had a bread machine in years…the last one we had vibrated right off the counter and broke. It’s quite possible it may have had help from a furry family member. At any rate, we’ve been without one ever since. I’m sure I could adapt this though!
Oh I’m sure you could adapt it Michelle. I do make bread from scratch as well but it’s nice to be able to come home to the smell of fresh made bread when we have been gone all day.
This recipe just made me post on Facebook to see if any of my friends have a bread maker they don’t want anymore 🙂 🙂 🙂
If they do, I’m going to make this first thing when I get one 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing with Tasty Tuesday today, Jade!
Awesome Lena! I hope you find one soon!
I need to try this sometime, looks fantastic!