Easy Bran Bread Recipe
This bran bread recipe is good for people who want a little extra fiber in their diet, but don’t enjoy wheat bread. You’ll love how easy it is to make.
Last Updated on November 12, 2024 – Originally Posted March 2017
Note that this bran bread recipe was most recently tested with a Zojirushi BB-PAC20. (Learn more about what bread machines I own and recommend.) I’ve made this bread at sea level and at an elevation of 3,700 feet. It worked out fine at both altitudes.
Featured Comment
I’ve made this 5 times, perfect rise and loaf every time.chewy, slightly dense, perfect toast and sandwiches. ~ Lois
This bran bread recipe is excellent for people who want more fiber in their diet, but don’t enjoy wheat bread.
The fiber comes from bran flakes cereal. However, don’t bother to crush the flakes before you add them to the bread pan. Let the bread machine take care of that for you.
What is bran anyway? It’s the hard outer layer of cereal grain.
Bran is rich in dietary fiber and essential fatty acids and contains significant quantities of protein, vitamins, and dietary minerals.
Note that this recipe also calls for powdered milk. That’s milk that has been evaporated to dryness. It has a much longer shelf life than liquid milk.
I loved the look of this loaf of bread. It was perfectly shaped and perfectly brown.
How to make Bran Bread
This is a recipe for a two-pound bread machine. Use the basic, white setting with medium crust.
Follow the instructions that came with your bread machine in terms of which ingredients to put in the bread machine first. I use a Zojirushi Bread Machine and in that machine, you add the liquids first.
Let the machine crush the bran flakes for you.
Check on the dough after five or ten minutes of kneading. It should be a smooth, round ball.
If the dough is too dry, add liquid a teaspoon at a time until the dough balls up. If it looks too wet, add flour a tablespoon at a time until it looks as expected.
FAQ for This Recipe
- Wondering about the difference between active dry yeast, instant yeast, bread machine yeast and quick rise yeast? I’ve got an article that explains the differences between different yeast types and how to switch between types of yeast.
- Bread machines come in different sizes. Check out my article on how to convert recipes for differently sized bread machines.
- Learn about the differences between all-purpose flour and bread flour.
Easy Bran Bread Recipe – Two Pound Loaf
Again, this is a recipe for a two-pound bread machine. Use the basic, white setting with medium crust.
1 1/2 Cups Water
3 3/4 Cups Bread Flour
1 1/4 Cups Bran Flakes Cereal (don’t crush the flakes)
2 1/2 Tbsp. Sugar
2 Tbsp. Powdered Milk
1 1/2 tsp. Salt
2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
2 tsp active dry yeast
See below for metric measurements, as well as nutrition information, for this bran bread recipe for the bread machine.
Easy Bran Bread Recipe
Recommended Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 Cups (354.88 ml) Water
- 3 3/4 Cups (468.75 g) Bread flour
- 1 1/4 Cups (50 g) Bran flakes cereal don't crush the flakes
- 2 1/2 Tablespoons Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Powdered milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Salt
- 2 Tablespoons Olive OIl
- 2 teaspoons Active dry yeast
Instructions
- This is a recipe for a two-pound bread machine. Use the basic, white setting with medium crust.
- Follow the instructions that came with your bread machine in terms of which order to add ingredients to your bread machine. I use a Zojirushi bread machine, so I add the liquids first.
- Check on the dough after five or ten minutes of kneading. It should be a smooth, round ball.
- If the dough is too dry add liquid a teaspoon at a time until it looks right. If it looks too wet, add flour a tablespoon at a time until it looks right.
Notes
Nutrition
All information presented within this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on breadmachinediva.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. I try to provide accurate information to the best of my ability; however these figures should still be considered estimates.
Hi there! I am glad I discovered your website! Thanks for all the bread machine baking info. I am super new to bread making and though machine bread would be a good place to start. What kind of powdered milk do you use, nonfat or whole? Thank you!
Thanks so much for the kind words, and welcome to bread making! 😊
I use nonfat powdered milk. Whole milk powder should work too, although I haven’t tested this recipe with it. Since whole milk powder contains more fat, it may make the bread a little richer.
This is my major go to bread but sometimes I don’t have the powdered milk because I forgot I used it all and I was wondering have you ever substituted buttermilk powder, since I always have that on hand, instead of the milk powder? Is it going to greatly impact the loaf, like the rise time? Thanks
I haven’t tried buttermilk powder in this recipe, but I think it would be worth trying.
I’d substitute the same amount, 2 tablespoons of buttermilk powder for the 2 tablespoons of powdered milk. I wouldn’t expect it to affect the rise, although it may give the bread a little more tang.
As always, keep an eye on the dough during kneading and adjust if needed. And if you try it, please let me know how it turns out! 😊
I didn’t think I would find a bread that I like more than the egg bread but this recipe is absolutely outstanding. It makes this beautiful gorgeous loaf perfect rise and I love the consistency or the denseness of it I can cut very thin slices, perfect for sandwiches. Thanks so much! I sure have been having a lot of fun and success! The only thing I do differently is I use the light crust.
How about rasin bran. I already have that on the shelf?
I haven’t tried that, but I think it would work as long as the bran flakes aren’t frosted. (The extra sugar might throw the recipe off.) Let me know if you try it. FYI, one thing on my to-do list is to make this bread but to add a half cup of raisins. My thinking is that raisin bran cereal might not have enough raisins. Again, I’d be really interested to hear about your results.
Can this recipe work if you leave out the salt? I’m on a low/no sodium diet, and I do have no-salt baking soda for recipes that call for that. I’m brand new at making bread, and learning as I go.
I’m sorry, I don’t believe it will work without the salt.
I’ve made this 5 times, perfect rise and loaf every time.chewy, slightly dense, perfect toast and sandwiches. Also mixed with kitchen aid mixer, traditional proof and rise. Great recipe. Thanks
I’m so glad you liked it!
I made this bran bread last Monday and made it again today! Delicious! Works well with savory sandwiches and a good old PB&J! This will be a great every day basic bread!
I’m so glad you liked it! Thanks for leaving a comment.
Should I weigh the flour in gms first, I always worry that leveling off cup measures are a different weight than weighed. Thank you for your amazing website and recipes.
I use the scoop and sweep method to measure flour. What I would do is try one recipe using the method that you like best. Be sure to look at the dough a few minutes after it starts kneading to see if more flour or liquid should be added. After that you’ll start to get a feel for what you need to do do (if anything) to make these recipes feel comfortable and work well for you.
I have raw bran…would that work?
I don’t think so. I’d use the cereal.
Interesting question! I haven’t tried that, but I suspect it would work.
Wondering of any of the grain type cereals would work like Wheat chex ?
I’m not sure. If you try it, let me know how it turns out.
there’s a recipe for bread using shredded wheat and flour out there – just google it and you’ll probably find it.
I would assume you can trade out honey for the white sugar?
That should work. Here’s an article on that subject.
We are trying to eliminate white flour from our diet. Do you have any bread machine recipes to recommend? Thank you.
I’m sorry. I don’t have any recipes like that.
This is an amazing,delicious and healthy bread. It is beautiful and tasty. Makes awesome sandwiches,toast. Yum