Sourdough Bread In A Bread Machine

Tip: click step to get into cook mode

1 ¼ cups water

¼ cup unsalted butter (melted)

4 cups bread flour

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

½ tablespoon salt

½ cup sourdough starter (bubbly and active)

Add the water and melted butter to the bread machine.
On top of that add the bread flour, sugar and salt.
Lastly, add the sourdough starter.
Use the kneading function on the bread machine. (For my machine this is function 8) Mine is set to knead for 25 minutes.
Optional: After the first knead cycle finishes, I press the button again and let it knead the dough one more time, for an additional 25 minute cycle.
Next, I just allow the dough to sit in the bread machine for about 6 hours, or until the dough nearly rises to the top of the bread pan. I like to spritz the top with water a few times to make sure the dough doesn't dry out on top. (Optional , but also helps the crust to turn golden in the baking step.)
After the dough has risen for several hours, I go to the baking function (function 13 on my bread maker) and select the option for dark crust. This makes the bake time 1 hour.
Pull the bread out of the bread maker and allow to cool.