Bread machine settings – 1.5 lb or 2 lb loaf, light color and "basic/white" bread setting.

Unplug your bread machine.

Remove the bread pan from the unplugged bread machine (so when you add the ingredients, they can not accidentally spill into the machine).

Soften the butter. FYI - I like to use a microwave to semi-melt the butter for better mixability.

Pour the milk, honey & softened butter into the bread pan and then add the other ingredients. Place the instant yeast/bread machine yeast in last and the yeast should not touch the liquid (until the bread machine is turned on and the ingredients start to be mixed together by the bread machine). FYI - Many bakers like to make a crater/pocket in the top of the flour to hold the yeast so the yeast does not contact the liquid or salt in the bread pan.

Put the bread pan with ingredients back into the unplugged bread machine.

Plug in the bread machine. Enter the correct settings (1.5 lb or 2 lb, light color, basic/white bread) and press the "start" button.

When the bread machine has finished baking the bread, unplug the bread machine and remove the bread pan from the bread machine. Wear oven mitts as the bread pan & bread machine will be hot.

Remove the bread from the bread pan and place the bread on a wire cooling rack. Use oven mitts when removing the bread as the bread & bread pan will be hot.

Optional - Right after removing the bread from the bread pan (while the bread is still very hot), brush on 1 or 2 tablespoons of melted butter on the top crust of the bread. This creates a more buttery top to the bread. Use a pastry brush to brush on the butter.

Let the bread cool on the wire cooling rack for 1-2 hours before cutting.

Please read the recipe's tips section on Bread Dad for extra information on how to make this recipe successfully.