• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About
  • Vegan Recipes
  • Flexitarian Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • Contact

Inspired Epicurean logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Vegan Recipes
  • Flexitarian Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About
    • Vegan Recipes
    • Flexitarian Recipes
    • Lifestyle
    • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Vegan Recipes » Sides

    May 14, 2020 Flexitarian Recipes

    Slow Cooker Bread

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Slow cooker bread with slice and butter
    Table of Contents

      Add a header to begin generating the table of contents

      Making Slow Cooker Bread

      If you are a homemade bread fan, I want you to save this recipe, make it when you have some extra time, and let me know if you agree with Cliff...it makes your home taste like a bakery or in his words, a Subway restaurant (random, I know). I was craving a rustic bread that could be enjoyed as toast, a panini, or just warmed with some butter. It may have taken over a month, but I guess I joined the isolation baking club that has been taking over social media. I love the concept of cooking "low and slow," which is why the crock pot is front and center in our house. When I traveled more for work, it was a life saver to prep in the morning, hit the road, and have something delicious waiting when I got home. You can't just leave slow cooker bread for the day, but I think it is a great way to make bread from scratch with little to no maintenance. This recipe makes a bread with mild crust and light, slightly spongy interior that we just love. Note that we enjoy an artisanal appearance, so the slight dip in the middle just added to its charm. If you want a more uniform finished product, you can insert a loaf pan into the slow cooker, or bake in the oven. 

      Advantages of Baking in a Slow Cooker

      Though there is not one primary advantage of baking in a slow cooker, I believe there are a few that can really prove useful. First, you can make homemade bread without leaving it to proof, or rise (that's an oversimplification), overnight or for several hours. Slow cooker bread rises while baking at the low temperatures. In my opinion, one VERY useful benefit is freeing up space in the oven if you have a multi-part meal to prepare. Homemade bread is often overlooked as too difficult or time consuming, especially if getting ready to entertain a crowd. I love this recipe because it is simple, allows you to leave it alone for a few hours, keeps the oven available, and SMELLS DELICIOUS WHILE BAKING. 

      Disadvantages of Baking in a Slow Cooker

      Unless you have a loaf pan that fits in the slow cooker, the bread will be a little more oval and flat than a traditional loaf. Again, this is best for a more artisan appearance. With traditional bread-making, the rise of the loaf benefits from the quick burst of heat in the oven. However, you WILL get some rise and can easily transfer the bread to the top rack of the oven for a few minutes at 475ºF to brown the top. 

      Pro Tip:

      Serve your finished bread in a cast iron skillet (pre-sliced, so a knife doesn't hurt the finish of the pan) for a rustic aesthetic on the dinner table.  

      A few notes before you begin: 

      • Slow cooker bread without a loaf pan will be larger and a little flatter than your traditional bread loaf.
      • My "secret ingredients" that add flavor similar to sourdough are both honey and apple cider vinegar. The hints are subtle, so it easily pairs with any dish. 
      • I've mixed this by hand and using the stand mixer - both will work well, but I found mixing by hand to make the dough a little easier to work with. 
      • When kneading (it requires very little), it does help to add a little oil to your work surface and hands. 
      • You are welcome to bake this in a loaf pan, either nestled in the slow cooker or in the oven. 
      • The dough will be wet and sticky - avoid the temptation to add too much flour to the dough when preparing it to place in the slow cooker.
      • Parchment paper will make it easier to remove from the slow cooker. 
      • The apple cider vinegar adds subtle fruity notes (as mentioned earlier), but also makes the bread crumb more springy.
      Close up image of slow cooker bread crumb

      Slow Cooker Bread

      Melanie Lorick
      Low maintenance bread that is both flavorful and easy to make - let the slow cooker do all the work for you!
      5 from 1 vote
      Print Recipe Pin Recipe
      Prep Time 1 hr
      Cook Time 2 hrs
      Course Side Dish
      Cuisine American
      Servings 10 people

      Equipment

      • Slow cooker

      Ingredients
        

      • 3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour keep a few extra tablespoons on hand for brief kneading
      • 1 ½ cups lukewarm water ¼ cup reserved for yeast fermentation
      • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
      • 2 tablespoons honey
      • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
      • 1 packet active dry yeast
      • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
      • ⅛ cup olive oil for keeping dough moist for kneading

      Instructions
       

      • Proof the packet of active dry yeast by combining with ¼ cup warm water, at a temperature between 105 and 110ºF. Add one teaspoon of granulated sugar and stir. Allow to sit for about 10 minutes so the yeast activates and doubles in size.
      • In a bowl or stand mixer, combine flour and yeast until combined. Then add apple cider vinegar, honey, salt, and remaining water. Stir for a few minutes, until the mixture is consistent and no more dry flour is visible.
      • Allow to sit for about 30 minutes to allow the flour to absorb liquid and flavor.
      • Lightly oil your work surface and hands, and knead dough for about 5 minutes. You can use a stand mixer with a dough hook. The dough will be wet, but should be "springy" and resume its shape after manipulation.
      • Add the dough to parchment paper and form into a ball (it will be difficult to do, so just keep it in a similar shape. Lift the parchment paper with dough and add to the slow cooker. Cook on high for about 2 hours, or until the interior temperature reaches about 200ºF.
      • Once the bread is firm to the touch, transfer the parchment paper and bread to a baking sheet. Place under broiler set to about 475ºF for about 5 minutes to brown the bread. Pay close attention so as not to burn bread. Remove and allow to cool on cooling rack until ready to serve.
      • TIP: Transfer the bread to a cast iron skillet for a rustic presentation at your next gathering.
      Keyword bread
      Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

      If you are a fan of sourdough, the honey and apple cider vinegar offer a flavor very similar to the "sour" notes in a traditional sourdough. Pair this with some "lighter" chicken salad and enjoy! And, until next time, cheers to your #hearthhealthhappiness. 

      text instructions to share your pictures with me on instagram

      More Sides

      • air fried potatoes and carrots on cutting board for serving
        Air Fryer Potatoes and Carrots
      • air fryer sweet potato cubes on board with ketchup in background
        Air Fryer Sweet Potato Cubes
      • overhead image of air fryer frozen asparagus after cooking on wood board with lemon wedge
        Air Fryer Frozen Asparagus
      • overhead image of red lentil pasta salad ingredients in serving bowl
        Red Lentil Pasta Salad

      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. cherryrlacsina says

        May 16, 2020 at 10:44 pm

        i never thought about use my slow cooker for baking bread. it looks delicious!

        Reply
        • hearthhealthhappiness says

          May 18, 2020 at 6:37 pm

          Thanks so much! It's a favorite in our house and I love using the slow cooker when I need to either be out of the kitchen for a little while OR when the oven has been slotted for something else. Never hurts to have options!

          Reply
      2. Ann says

        May 17, 2020 at 2:01 am

        I love sourdough bread! I searched Google a few weeks ago for sourdough bread recipes, but this one looks pretty easy to follow and make compared to the others. I'll have to try this when I have the urge for home cooked bread. Thank you for sharing!

        Reply
        • hearthhealthhappiness says

          May 18, 2020 at 6:39 pm

          I do, too! And, the beauty of this is that it tastes like sourdough without actually using sourdough starter. If you try it, let me know how you like it! 🙂

          Reply

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

      Primary Sidebar

      Get the latest recipes, sustainable living tips, and more!

      Content straight to your inbox

      Thank you!

      Melanie Lorick Hair Half-up looking at camera

      Welcome! I'm Melanie - the founder and content creator of Inspired Epicurean. I share delicious vegan recipes (with a few flexitarian recipes from my pre-vegan days).


      Our lifestyle content is crafted to bring eco-friendly and sustainable ideas more mainstream. Learn more about what Inspired Epicurean has to offer in the about me section. Pull up a seat, friends. Cheers!

      More about me →

      Popular

      • Stacked cookies on wire rack
        Banana Tahini Cookies (Vegan, Gluten Free)
      • side image of stacked peanut butter cookies with bite taken from cookie on top
        2-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
      • side image of air fryer bananas ready for serving
        Air Fryer Bananas
      • side image of sliced blackberry lemon bread on cutting board
        Blackberry Lemon Bread (Vegan)
      Cookd Pro: A Genesis Child Theme for Food & Lifestyle Bloggers

      Footer

      Stay Connected

      • Bloglovin
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • Pinterest
      • Twitter

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      About

      • About Inspired Epicurean
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms & Conditions

      Newsletter

      • Sign Up! for emails and updates, plus download your free ebook!

      Contact

      • Contact

      Copyright © 2023 Cook'd Pro on the Cook'd Pro Theme

      Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions