How to Bake Bread in a Crock Pot (Slow Cooker)

by In The Kitchen With Matt

32K17538

Intro: How to Bake Bread in a Crock Pot (Slow Cooker)

In this instructable I will show you how to make bread in a crock pot (slow cooker). This easy crockpot bread recipe is incredible. If you find yourself without the use of an oven, or you want to just try something new, bake your bread in a crockpot! This method should work with any bread dough. Let's get started!

Make sure to check out my other instructables! :)

If you have any questions, comments put them down below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Follow the easy steps or watch the short video tutorial, or do both!

STEP 1: Ingredients/Tools

Print the recipe here!

Use your favorite bread dough, below is a link to an instructable for my favorite white bread dough.

https://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-Amazing-Whit...

Ingredients (Bread Dough):

  • 1 cup of water (235ml)
  • 2 1/4 tsp. of active dry yeast (6.5g)
  • 1/3 cup of granulated sugar (66g)
  • 2 Tbsp. of Canola or Vegetable oil (30ml)
  • 3 cups of Bread Flour (you can use all-purpose)
  • (380g) 3/4 tsp. of salt (4g)

Tools:

The above links are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

STEP 2: Place Bread Dough in Crock Pot

In this instructable I will bake one loaf in the oven traditionally following my instructable in the previous step, and then I will bake the other loaf in the crock pot, then compare the two loafs for you. First divide your dough into two parts (if you are using my bread dough recipe), and place in 8x4 inch bread pans. The 8x4 inch bread pan is the size that fits in my crock pot. If you have a smaller crock pot already, you can just use parchment paper, and place that in the crock pot, then place your whole dough in it, the resulting loaf will be a round loaf as opposed to a sandwich loaf. Place the loaf in the crock pot and cover it. Then turn the crock pot on "High". We want to bake it for 2 to 3 hours depending on the size of your loaf. This size will take around 2.5 hours. We bake it until it is golden brown. If you wish you can check it with a thermometer to make sure it is baked completely. You want the inside to be around 200 degrees F. (93 C)

STEP 3: Remove Loaf

Once the time is up, we remove the lid and using oven mitts take the bread out of the crockpot and let it cool on a rack.

STEP 4: Side by Side Comparison

Now let's compare the two loafs. First the traditional bread takes far less time to bake. But that was to be expected. The sides of the loaf that was baked in the crock pot are a bit browner and a bit more crispy then the traditional loaf, the tops look a bit different too. When sliced you can see the color is a bit different, using the same ingredients, same dough. The taste is crunchy on the outside, nice and soft on the inside, pretty awesome! Have fun and make your own bread in the crock pot! :) Enjoy!

STEP 5: Video Tutorial

You can print the recipe here on my website.

Now watch those steps in action by checking out the short video tutorial!

31 Comments

robinmccoy042 8 months ago

I don't have a thermometer, so I wanted to ask if inserting a knife into the center to see if it comes out clean will work? Also, we're having a rainy spell right now so I was wondering if the rain/ humidity will affect the bread? Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!!

peterwalker 6 years ago

Hi Matt, Thanks for an interesting idea. Just a general question to satisfy my curiosity (I am too scared to try it out in case it flops!) - all the bread recipes I have read call for one to punch down the dough after the first rising then put it in the loaf pan and allow it to rise again - but what happens if one just lets it rise in the loaf pan and then once it has doubled in size, put it in the oven?

In The Kitchen With Matt 6 years ago

So you mean knead the dough then let it only rise once in the bread pan then bake? I think it will be a bit more dense of a bread that way, the two rises help to get a lighter texture, like rebatto said. With that said, have you seen my instructable on no-knead dutch oven bread, it is pretty awesome. Again kind of like what rebatto was saying - https://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-No-Knead-Bread/

peterwalker 6 years ago

Thanks Matt; I am trying your no-knead Dutch oven bread later today!

relbatto 6 years ago

has a coarse texture is all, remember though you have to shape the loaf rolls into a rectangle, fold the outer thirds in , put the seam down and let it rise before baking it.if you have a kitchen aid you can just mix it with a dough hook , shape it and wait till its ready to bake. it will feel a lot lighter, and there's no magic in a loaf pan , call it an artisan bread and let your friends think you paid big bucks...always let it cool on a rack or the bottom gets wet.

peterwalker 6 years ago

Thanks relbatto, appreciate the advice.

Rayman1961 6 years ago

What size Crock Pot are you using?

In The Kitchen With Matt 6 years ago

I am pretty sure it is a 6 quart one. I can't remember, and it doesn't say on it haha. I just measured and it holds 1.5 gallons so 6 quarts I guess.

JanetM110 6 years ago

Would it come out so crunchy if you put is on a small wire rack so it isn't on the bottom of the cooker?

In The Kitchen With Matt 6 years ago

You can also adjust the baking time, in this demonstration it was a bit overcooked I think. Other times they didn't turn out as crunchy, but yes a great way to soften it up, is when you take it out of the bread pan, rub some butter around it. I don't know if a wire wrack on the bottom of the pan will help, but you can always try it! :)

relbatto 6 years ago

if you want a soft crust, simply leave it on the rack to cool ( so it doesn't get soggy bottom) and run a stick of butter lightly over the outside top,while its hot .. this traps rising steam and makes the crust soft. ...store in a plastic bag when its barely warm.resist the temptation to eat it right out of the oven or crock pot...if you can... its still cooking inside.cooking oils work if you are out of butter or terrified by anti butterists....

obillo 6 years ago

How about putting the dough in directly--i.e., with no loaf pan? Possibly you could do it right away OR after a second rise. What do you think?

In The Kitchen With Matt 6 years ago

Yep with no loaf pan, use parchment paper, and maybe some cornmeal on the bottom. Then put the kneaded dough after the first rise in (shape like ball), then it will continue to rise for the second time in the crockpot and heat up all at the same time if that makes sense? So yes put it in after first rise and it should turn out great!

mooster 6 years ago

What happens if you preheat the crock pot before you put the dough in? Intuitively, that seems necessary, though the timing would be different perhaps.

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