There is no one right way to make bread, and there are endless variations on the classic recipe. Whether you’re in the mood for a sweet loaf or a savory boule, these bread recipes will have you baking up a delicious loaf in no time.
1. Basic Homemade Bread
Ingredients:
- 1 and 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- 1 tablespoon of sugar
- 3 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 cup of water
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, combine the flour and salt. Mix well.
- Add the sugar and olive oil, stirring until the ingredients are combined. Mix in the water until the dough is wet but not too sticky.
- On a lightly floured surface, knead the dough for about 10 minutes or until it is smooth and elastic. Place the dough on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until bread is golden brown. Let cool on a wire rack before slicing.
2. Banana Bread
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 2 ripe bananas, mashed
- 1/4 cup of butter, melted
- 1/4 cup of white sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and flour a loaf pan. In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir in the mashed bananas and melted butter until well combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar, egg, and vanilla extract.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until just blended. Pour batter into loaf pan and bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown on top.
3. Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 medium)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter and flour in one 9×5 inch loaf pan. Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
- In a large bowl, beat the butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add the granulated sugar, beating until well combined. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then beat in the mashed bananas. Stir in the vanilla extract. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just blended. Stir in the chocolate chips. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool bread in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes before removing to finish cooling on wire rack.
4. Gluten-Free Banana Bread
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 1 mashed banana
- 1/4 cup gluten-free flour mix (I used Bob’s Red Mill)
- 1 tsp baking powder
- pinch of salt
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 egg
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a loaf pan with cooking spray. In a medium bowl, combine almond milk, mashed banana, gluten-free flour mix, baking powder, and salt. Mix well. Add olive oil and egg and stir until well combined.
Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow bread to cool in a loaf pan for 10 minutes before removing it to a wire rack to cool completely.
5. Irish Soda Bread
Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- pinch of salt
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 cup plain whole milk
- 2 tablespoons Irish whiskey
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a 9×5-inch loaf pan with butter. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter on medium speed until creamy. Add sugar and beat until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in egg until well combined.
With the mixer on low speed, add flour mixture alternately with milk in two parts, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Beat just until combined after each addition.
Pour batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool bread in a pan for 5 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely.
6. Japanese Milk Bread
Ingredients:
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup oil
- 1 large egg
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon poppy seeds
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour in one loaf pan.
- In a small bowl, whisk together milk, sugar, oil, and egg. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add the milk mixture to the flour mixture until just blended. Blend in poppy seeds and melted butter. Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan.
- Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
7. Lemon Blueberry Bread
Ingredients:
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1/4 cup arrowroot powder
- 1/4 cup wheat germ
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- zest of one lemon
- juice of one lemon
- 1/2 cup blueberries, fresh or frozen
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a loaf pan with butter. In a medium bowl, combine the almond flour, arrowroot powder, wheat germ, and baking soda. Stir in the lemon zest and juice. Mix in the blueberries.
In a small bowl or glass jar, mix together honey, butter, and vanilla extract. Pour the mixture into the loaf pan. Bake for 30 minutes or until bread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Pumpkin Bread
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon molasses
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9×5 inch loaf pan. In a medium bowl, combine butter, flour, baking powder, and salt. Stir in pumpkin puree until well combined.
In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, molasses, and vanilla extract. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix until just combined. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
Bake for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow bread to cool before slicing and serving.
9. Sourdough Bread
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of water
- 1/2 cup of sourdough starter
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1 loaf of bread
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a small bowl, combine the water and sourdough starter. Mix well and set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine the olive oil and salt. Stir until the salt is fully dissolved.
- Pour the mixture into a bread pan and let it rise for 30 minutes.
- Bake the bread in the preheated oven for 25 minutes or until golden brown and firm to the touch.
10. Special Banana Nut Bread
Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 bananas, mashed
- 1/4 cup walnut halves, toasted (see instructions below)
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter and flour in a 9×5 inch loaf pan. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
In a separate bowl or in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy. Add the eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract and beat well until combined.
With the mixer on low speed, add the banana mixture to the dry ingredients and mix well. Stir in the walnut halves.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes before inverting it onto a new wire.
Bottom Line
There are many different types of bread recipes that can be enjoyed. Whether you are looking for savory or sweet bread, there is surely a recipe that will fit your needs.
By taking the time to try out a few different recipes, you can discover what you like the best and then make it your own. There is nothing quite like the smell and taste of freshly baked bread, so why not give it a try?
