Freshly baked bread, still warm from the oven, is one of life’s simple pleasures. The smell of yeast and flour as loaf bakes is intoxicating. But buying bread from the store just doesn’t cut it. You want to make homemade bread to enjoy and share with friends and family.
We’ve got you covered. We found 9 scrumptious bread recipes that you need in your life right now. From sweet banana bread to classic pita bread, there’s a recipe here for every bread craving. The ingredients are simple, the instructions are easy to follow, and the results are delicious. What are you waiting for? Roll up your sleeves, preheat the oven, and begin baking! Your kitchen is about to smell amazing, and you’ll soon have a fresh loaf of homemade bread to enjoy.
Check it out yummy and quick desserts.
Flatbread recipes: pita bread, tortilla, lavash
Bread is comforting, filling, and delicious. Some of the easiest breads to make at home are flatbreads. Here are a few recipes to try:
Flour tortillas
Warm tortillas are ideal for wrapping around fillings to make burritos or quesadillas.
To make tortillas, mix flour, baking powder, salt, shortening, and warm water. Knead until smooth and let rest for 15 minutes. Roll out the dough and cook the tortillas on a hot, lightly oiled griddle for about 1 minute per side. Brush with more oil and flip, and your warm tortillas are ready!
Pita bread
Pita bread is a soft, slightly puffy flatbread perfect for scooping up hummus or filling with meats and veggies. To make pita bread, combine flour, yeast, salt, and warm water. Knead into a smooth dough and let rise for 1 hour. Punch down the dough and roll it out into circles, about 1/4-inch thick. Cook the pitas in a hot, dry skillet for 1-2 minutes per side until they puff up.
Lavash
Lavash is a soft, thin Armenian flatbread perfect for scooping up dips, wrapping around meats, or eating on its own.
To make it, mix flour, salt, water, and olive oil. Knead into a dough and let rest for 30 minutes. Roll out the dough into circles, brush with oil, and sprinkle with herbs if desired. Bake at 400 F for 3-5 minutes until lightly browned.
With some flour, yeast, and a few basic ingredients, you can easily whip up a variety of delicious flatbreads at home. Experiment with different shapes, toppings, and cooking methods for endless variations.
Savory Bread: Garlic Bread, Focaccia, and More
Once you’ve mastered the basics, it’s time for savory bread. Garlic bread, focaccia, and cheese bread are always crowd-pleasers.
Garlic Bread
What’s pasta night without garlic bread? This simple side requires just a few ingredients:
- French or Italian bread loaf
- 3-4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Mix the garlic, butter, cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper. Slice the bread lengthwise and spread the garlic butter on both sides. Wrap in foil and bake at 350 F for 15 minutes. Uncover and broil for 2-3 minutes until golden brown. The aroma alone is worth it!
Focaccia
Focaccia is a bread perfect for mopping sauces or dipping in olive oil. To make it:
- Mix 1 1/4 cups warm water, one packet of active dry yeast, and 1 tsp honey. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
- Add 3 cups flour, 2 tbsp olive oil, and 1 1/2 tsp salt. Knead into a smooth dough.
- Coat a 9×13-inch pan with oil and add the dough. Cover and let rise in a warm spot for 1 hour.
- Uncover, dimple the dough with your fingers, and sprinkle with rosemary, sea salt, and red pepper flakes.
- Bake at 400 F for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Brush with olive oil and enjoy!
With various herbs, toppings, and cheeses, the possibilities for savory bread are endless. Get creative and make your bread as garlicky, cheesy, or spicy as you like! Buon appetito!
Sweet Bread: Banana Bread, Pumpkin Bread, Zucchini Bread
When you’re craving something sweet but want healthier options than cookies or cake, breads are a great choice. Here are some scrumptious sweet bread recipes to satisfy your craving.
Banana Bread
This classic quick bread is moist, flavorful, and filled with mashed bananas. To make it, mash 2-3 ripe bananas and add to a batter of flour, baking soda, salt, sugar, eggs, oil, and vanilla. You can also add extras like walnuts or chocolate chips. Bake for 50-60 minutes at 350 F. The sweetness of the bananas means you only need a little added sugar. Enjoy a slice with butter, cream cheese, or your favorite topping.
Pumpkin Bread
For fall, make pumpkin bread with canned pumpkin, spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, flour, eggs, oil, and sugar. Add raisins, chopped nuts, or streusel topping for extra flavor. Bake at 350 F for about an hour. The pumpkin provides moisture and natural sweetness so that you can reduce the amount of added sugar. Serve warm with butter, whipped cream, or cream cheese.
Artisan Bread Recipes: Rustic Boules, Fougasse, Crusty Rolls
Want to make homemade artisan bread that will impress everyone? These rustic recipes are surprisingly easy and yield bakery-quality results.
Fougasse
Fougasse is a flatbread from Provence, France, with a shape that resembles an ear of wheat or a leafy branch. To make fougasse, roll 1 pound of bread dough into an oval shape, roughly 1/4 inch thick. Use kitchen shears or a sharp knife to cut out designs in the dough, then let it rise for 30 minutes. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with herbs before baking at 400 F for about 20 minutes until golden brown. Fougasse is perfect for tearing apart and dipping in olive oil, soup, or stews.
Crusty Rolls
There’s nothing quite like warm, homemade rolls straight from the oven. To make crusty rolls, combine 3 1/2 to 4 cups of bread flour, 1 1/4 cups warm water, 1/4 cup olive oil, one tablespoon of honey, and 1 packet of active dry yeast. Knead the dough, then let it rise for 1 hour. Punch down the dough and shape it into rolls. Place rolls on a greased baking sheet, cover, and let rise for 30 minutes. Brush with egg wash or melted butter and bake at 400 F for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Enjoy crusty rolls with butter, jam, cheese, or your favorite sandwich fillings.
Conclusion
So, there you have it, 9 drool-worthy bread recipes that you need in your life. With a mix of sweet and savory, classic and creative, you’ll never run out of inspiration. Now it’s time to tie on your apron, fire up your oven and get baking. What are you waiting for? Pick a recipe or two and get started. Happy baking and on Appetit! Once you’ve tried a few of these tasty breads, you’ll be hooked.