Bread Recipes

I’ve got all the bread recipes you need, from traditional loaves to braids, stuffed sweet wreaths, challah, biscuits, and so much more.

Don’t be intimidated by baking with yeast, it’s really quite forgiving and just takes a bit of practice! Over the past several years I’ve gone from a total bread novice to finding bread baking quite therapeutic. And I’m a total sucker for sweet twisty breads, like delicious challah and babkas.

Not sure where to start?? Here are a few of my absolute go-to recipes:

You can see a full list of bread recipes in my recipe index or browse visually here. Or pore through the archives below…

Easy Almond Flour Pancakes (Naturally Gluten-Free, Keto, Low Carb)

May 28, 2021

I wasn’t planning to share any more keto recipes, as it’s not really the focus of this blog and I feel a bit tapped out on what I can do there. But then this amazing and easy almond flour pancake recipe came along and…honestly?? They are shockingly good.

While I won’t tell you that these naturally gluten-free pancakes are just as perfect and fluffy as my basic buttermilk ones (scientifically, can’t really be), it’s the first recipe in a while that didn’t feel like I was getting a lesser version of what I really wanted.

These are great just being what they are. They’re moist, have a little fluff to them, and a really nice texture overall. They’ve got a little sweetness. They pack a punch in both protein and fat, but basically no carbs.

And you can make a batch of the batter and keep it in the fridge, just making up a few here and there as needed (I don’t think they’re as great reheated).

And the best part about these keto pancakes? Less than 15 minutes start to finish, including a 5-minute rest of the batter.

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Paul Hollywood’s Chocolate Cherry Bread

March 20, 2021

I’m obsessed with this pink, shaggy mess! Ever since seeing Paul Hollywood make his chocolate cherry bread with Mary Berry on Great British Bake-Off Masterclass, I knew I needed it in my life.

I *have* thrown in the towel on trying to make my loaf look beautiful and neat, though. That shaggy mess becomes this golden, messy monster, and despite making it like 10 times at this point, nothing I do changes that.

But it is DELICIOUS and so its “informal” nature (to use a Mary Berry term) can be forgiven.

What elevates this from a basic loaf of bread is the incorporation of dark sweet cherries and a lot of dark and white chocolate.

The dark chocolate and cherries pair wonderfully, and the white chocolate ends up kind of melting away into gooey sweet pockets of sweet that burst in your mouth. I’M OBSESSED.

I have always started this in my stand mixer, but have tried mixing in the chocolate and cherries both in the mixer and kneading in by hand. Personally the mixer is way better and less messy, so I recommend going that way.

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Super Easy Lemon Poppyseed Food Processor Biscuits

February 14, 2021

Guys, there are few things more magical than fluffy hot layered biscuits fresh out of the oven. But honestly…I’m often too lazy to want to spend time cutting or rubbing the butter into the flour. Which is why these food processor biscuits are my new EVERYTHING.

I mean, even on my laziest morning I can throw some stuff in a food processor, blitz it, pat it out, and throw it in the oven.

I love these perfumed with lemon zest and some poppyseeds, for a subtle flavor that pairs perfectly with honey or jam. But the flavors are totally flexible…try orange zest, cinnamon, chopped fresh rosemary, or anything else that strikes your fancy.

The one thing to know is that my dough is often a bit too wet if I use all the buttermilk called for, so maybe go a little easy at first to see if you need it all. But even if your dough gets too wet and sticky, you can add a bit of extra flour while you roll it out—problem solved.

And in less than 30 minutes, you’ll have hot, flaky, steamy biscuits just begging to be devoured!

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90-Second Keto “Bread” (No/Low Carb)

February 6, 2021

I KNOW. You’re probably thinking, “What is happening here? Who is this person??” Same. But here we are—90-second keto bread.

You might also like: 10 Tips For Surviving a Super Low-Carb Diet (e.g. Keto)

When I started looking for easy keto bread recipes, just to have a vehicle for my almond butter, I had trouble finding one that sounded good. A lot had cream cheese (not my thing, nor do I keep it around the house), or weird ingredients (lookin’ at you psyllium husk), or were overly complex. And then I found this gem.

Technically I guess it should be called like…5-minute keto bread since you have to get the ingredients out and stir them together. The 90 seconds is just the cooking time. But still.

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A Home Baker Trying Out Samin Nosrat’s Ligurian Focaccia

January 16, 2021

I’ve been fascinated with the idea of trying out this Ligurian focaccia recipe ever since I watched the first episode of Samin Nosrat’s Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat on Netflix.

I’d intended to just have it on in the background, but found myself mesmerized by the gorgeously-shot slow, close-ups of bubbling dough, shiny olive oil pooling in dimples, flaky salt showering over a pan. It hooked me good.

I’d been meaning to try out this recipe for months, but stalled and hemmed and hawed…something about figuring out the long first rise time and when the final product would be ready (for dinner time, ostensibly) seemed to trip me up. I wanted to actually ENJOY making this, not feel rushed or only half paying attention.

That seems silly in hindsight. But since I had some time over the winter break period to do whatever, whenever, I “scheduled” it for one of those chilly days between Christmas and New Year’s (though I celebrate neither of those) when the time kind of blurs together.

No one is really working, you’re not getting bombarded with emails, and you can just kind of…coast. Drink coffee until it’s time to drink gin. Watch the classic black-and-white “New Moon” for the umpteenth time. Maybe organize your closet. Lose a few hours reading. Wonder if it’s Tuesday or Friday.

Another Ligurian staple: Traditional Ligurian Trofie Pasta by Hand (with Fresh Pesto)

And between doing those things you can do the few steps it takes to pretend you’re as awesome and knowledgeable as Samin Nosrat and throw together this Ligurian focaccia. You’ll mimic her gentle movements, the dreamy glug of olive oil and sprinkles of salt.

Or, honestly, you’ll rush each step but still make sure that it has plenty of time to rise (THIS IS CRITICAL), and still end up with an addictive crunchy, salty bread. Because I learned that this recipe is so simple that if you’re only half paying attention you can still end up in the same place. It takes patience in the rising, but the actual hands-on steps are so easy.

What makes Ligurian focaccia different? Many people consider Ligurian focaccia (focaccia liguria, or sometimes focaccia genovese which is where the dimples are used) to be the most traditional Italian focaccia type, though there are other regional types.

You’ll find it all of the country, sometimes by itself or with toppings, or as the basis for sandwiches as well. If you see “pizza bianca” listed on a menu, this is basically just focaccia (sometimes with a little cheese as well) so don’t be expecting a real pizza.

So let’s try this, shall we?? READ THE POST

Socca (Chickpea Flatbread) with Roasted Veggies & Goat Cheese

December 30, 2020

Be honest…if I say “chickpea flatbread”, does it give you immediate cravings?? I’m guessing that’s a NO. But it should. Socca has been on my radar for several months, but for whatever reason I kept putting off giving it a try.

Then last week I was starving, needed something super healthy, and had nothing in my fridge…I’d gotten back in town late Christmas Eve so everything was closed. I had some veggies clinging on for dear life in my fridge and that was it. So I decided that socca needed to happen immediately.

What is socca?

Socca (called farinata over the border in Italian Liguria) is a traditional Provençal flatbread and street food, somewhere between a pancake and a thick crepe. It’s crazy simple, made with chickpea flour and water, with a little salt and olive oil for flavor.

It’s naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and egg-free, and high in protein from the chickpea flour. Cooked under the broiler, it’s got a charred top and golden, crispy outside, with a soft creamy inside, perfect for topping with whatever your heart desires.

Personally I love garlicky roasted vegetables and soft, salty cheese, but you can top with eggs, fresh veggies, meat, or anything else, or just slice it up into wedges and eat hot and fresh.

It’s satisfying, one of those healthy recipes that still feels a little indulgent. And perhaps most importantly, socca is flexible…as long as you have chickpea flour on hand you can make it, and then just figure out what your refrigerator has to offer for toppings.

I use a small 5-inch cast iron skillet for a single portion of this socca breakfast skillet. You can double or triple it for a larger pan to feed more people, but it’s so easy and fast to make that I wouldn’t try to use it for leftovers. It’s definitely best fresh.READ THE POST

Flaky, Buttery No-Yeast Flatbreads (Using Yogurt)

November 14, 2020

I interrupt this Thanksgiving recipe programming to bring you something I’ve been kind of obsessed with for the past month. With working from home, I’ve been able to play around with some easy but unique recipes for lunch or things that require a little planning ahead for dinner, and these buttery, flaky no yeast flatbreads have been a basis for several delicious meals.

The fact is that Smitten Kitchen rarely leads me wrong. I so appreciate her recipes, the clarity and detail of the steps, the tweaking to make it perfect but still super easy. And these delicious no-yeast flatbreads are no exception.

On the one hand you’ll probably look at this yogurt flatbread recipe and go “wow, that’s a lot of steps”. BUT WAIT…I know it might look fiddly but I promise it’s not. It’s just that the steps are written to be very detailed so you never feel lost. These really are easy and don’t take much hands-on time.

Because I’m only cooking for one, I usually make a half batch, which is five flatbreads in total. And because I can rarely resist eating the first one out of the pan just by itself, tearing pieces off, that leaves me with two fresh and usually two as leftovers.

A couple things that come in handy (though certainly not required) are a scraper tool and a silicone basting brush. I’m also in love with my thin rolling pin, so much easier for this type of task than the traditional fat kind with the handles.

These no yeast flatbreads come together in three easy phases, over the course of a couple hours…but not much hands-on time. I literally do it in between conference calls, about 5 minutes to mix up the dough, and then about 10 to roll them out into the “snails”.READ THE POST

The Best Thanksgiving Recipes: 20+ Of My Family’s Favorites

November 8, 2020

Thanksgiving is a BIG deal in my family. And that includes the food…which is why I feel like I have some of the best Thanksgiving recipes around. You know, the tried-and-true ones that the family requests over and over.

See, I have a big extended family, and we spend the day before baking, cooking, and prepping. The morning of Thanksgiving is always insane—my mom’s up super early with the turkey, then leaves around 10:30 to get down to my grandma’s. I get up a little later, go for a run, finish up all the remaining dishes, and head down around noon.

We eat a huge lunch, then graze all afternoon and have leftovers for dinner. We play football, watch football, play cards, and talk. Chase the kids around.

When you’re cooking for a big crowd (anywhere from 25 to 50 in past years; usually around 25-30 these days), there are some realities in the kinds of dishes that make sense. Anything super time-intensive that doesn’t yield a lot of servings is automatically out.

So these are some of my favorite relatively easy Thanksgiving recipes that I’ve contributed over the years, and it’s all about the sides, breads, desserts, and cocktails. Turkey just…exists. Hope you enjoy and everyone has a safe, happy (American) Thanksgiving with family and friends!

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Addictive Peanut Butter & Jelly Babka

October 18, 2020

Y’ALL. Peanut butter and jelly babka. This is just such an all-time flavor combo, and I’m kind of obsessed with it right now to be honest (stay tuned for a boozy pb&j milkshake comin’ at ya…).

It’s no secret I’m into basically peanut butter anything, but there’s something so comforting about a classic pb&j…this peanut butter and jelly babka is basically a fancy, addictive pb&j sandwich from when you were a kid. It’s what you WISH your sandwich had been.

Don’t be put off by the seemingly-long list of instructions…I’ve been super detailed to help make everything go well, but while this needs plenty of time in rising and baking, the actual *hands-on* parts are not difficult or time-consuming at all.

There *will* be a point when you’re trying to twist the two cut parts together where everything is falling apart, jelly and peanut butter oozing everywhere, and you’re like WHAT HAVE I DONE??? But just push through, the mess doesn’t matter. It’ll be fine. Lick your fingers when you’re done.

One other note of importance, I found I only needed just over 2 1/2 cups of flour to get the right consistency, as I didn’t want to make the dough too dry and tight. Personally I often find babkas drier and denser than I prefer, so I wanted to keep this one light and soft.

So let’s dive in, shall we??READ THE POST

The Best Basic Soft Dinner Rolls

October 6, 2020

You know those holiday gatherings where you have amazing homemade turkey and side dishes and pies and just…so much food?? And then bread was a complete afterthought so someone grabbed a couple packages of rolls from the store?

These are not those rolls. These soft dinner rolls are easy and delicious, and need to become your go-to for any kind of dinner party or holiday gathering.

A really good soft dinner roll is a thing of beauty. Pillowy and a little chewy, they have that awesome texture when you rip them. They don’t try to take over on flavor, but are the best vehicle for piling on butter and honey. And who knew they were so easy to make?!

While these homemade yeast rolls are pretty basic, they can easily be flavored a bit if desired…some garlic, herbs, or honey are all good options. Go nuts!

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Snickerdoodle Banana Bread

August 7, 2020

I have accidentally been keeping this recipe secret waaaaay too long. I know, it’s not the deal we’ve made. So without further ado, I bring you this cinnamon sugar banana bread goodness…that’s right kids, today we’re talking snickerdoodle banana bread!

It’s a long-established fact that I am a sucker for a cinnamon-sugar combo. Seriously. I have a deep, abiding love affair with both cinnamon and almond extract, and I tend to add them to recipes with abandon if I feel it’s warranted.

So it was a no-brainer when I ran across this recipe, was definitely going to happen at some point. And “some point” was definitely going to be during the early days of quarantine.

The original recipe had way too much sugar for my taste, so the biggest change I made to the recipe was backing that off quite a bit. I really like the cinnamon to come through in this banana bread, and the sugar will tend to overpower it if you’re not careful.

With that change made, this bread is basically perfect…not too sweet, warm cinnamon shining through, a ripple of the cinnamon-sugar winding around, and with a really tender crumb.

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Paul Hollywood’s Chelsea Buns

June 17, 2020

It’s hard to tell you how magical these chelsea buns are. Fragrant spices, tart and chewy fruit with a whiff of bourbon, citrus tang. Soft, pillowy dough. Sweet icing. It was truly revelatory.

I’ve wanted to try these out, and decided that Paul Hollywood’s recipe had to be where I start…I only know about them from the Great British Bake-Off, so feels fitting.

What is a chelsea bun?? Chelsea buns aren’t really a thing in the U.S…at least as far as I’m aware. I’d certainly never heard of them before I started watching the Great British Bake-Off.

They are a currant sweet bun from the 1700s, once favored by royalty. Made basically the same way as a cinnamon roll, but stuffed with dried fruit instead and usually with some citrus zest in there. They’re a real British staple.

(Side note, I just went down a rabbit hole about the difference between currants, raisins, and sultanas, soooo…)

And I’m so glad I’ve tried them out, because they were so worth it!

If you’re looking at the ingredients list and thinking “whoa, that’s intense!”…don’t be put off by it. It’s not nearly as complicated or intense as it looks, I promise. I just like to write detailed instructions because I think it makes life easier…and I have step-by-step photos throughout the post so you can see how everything should look.

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Apple Butter Cinnamon-Sugar Babka

February 2, 2020

This is one of those places where I cram a lot of my favorite things into one recipe and see how it comes out. Apple butter, check. Cinnamon-sugar, check. Soft delicious challah dough in a twisty babka bread?? Check.

And I’ll be honest…halfway through making this I was pretty sure it was going to be a disaster.

I can’t remember what gave me this particular brainwave, but it was very likely when I made a new batch of my amazing homemade apple butter and was thinking of all the different ways it could be used.

I’d been browsing challah and babka recipes including peanut butter and jelly, tahini and pistachio, and so many more, and thought…why not apple butter??

So I started looking for apple butter babka recipes and really kind of came up empty. Which I found surprising, because it feels like such a logical and beloved flavor combo. So after finding a few different things that were in the right direction, I set out to figure out something on my own.

I think you’re going to like it…

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Rosemary Olive Oil Bread With Sea Salt

December 22, 2019

Y’all, this is probably the best bread I have ever made. One of the best breads I’ve ever eaten.

I know, I know—that’s a bold statement. But I’m being completely serious. As I’ve said previously on this blog, I’m not a huge bread person. I can take it or leave most bread, and would rather have dessert or wine or even a good veggie side dish. But this bread changed my mind.

I first tested out this rosemary olive oil bread many years ago on Thanksgiving weekend, trying to come up with new ways to feed a bajillion people. It’s become a family favorite and staple at Thanksgiving and even normal weekend family events.

One thing I like about it is that it’s really flexible. The first time I made it, I was under the gun time-wise and so had to cheat and force the timings a bit for both the first and second rise. But it’s a very forgiving recipe and has always turned out well. What I’ve laid out here are ideal timings, but don’t be put off by them.

I’ve made a few tweaks to the original recipe, like adding sea salt on top (rather than the dried rosemary it called for). I do believe that fresh rosemary in the dough makes a huge difference, so strongly recommend you use it if at all possible. The bread flour called for is nice and adds a great chewy texture, but if you don’t have bread flour then just substitute more regular flour. I quite like this using mostly white whole wheat flour, but that’s your call…all-purpose works fine as well.

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How To Make Amazing Grilled Pizza…And My Go-To Pizza Dough Recipe

August 3, 2019

Ever since I bought my house last year and was able to get a proper grill (not the electric nonsense I had before), I’ve been working on becoming a total grillmaster. That means all the usual things like learning how to make moist and flavorful chicken, steak, fish, and vegetables.

But one of my favorite things to experiment with has been grilled pizza, so I wanted to share what I’ve learned and provide my best tips for how to grill pizza. I won’t claim to be an absolute expert, but I’m super happy with how it turns out for me!

The beauty of grilled pizza is how versatile it is…you can seriously top it with just about anything, as long as it’s already cooked or mostly cooked. From veggies to protein to fruit to cheese to chocolate, you can’t go wrong.

I’ve outlined my grilled pizza dough recipe below, and then at the bottom of the post I have a list of tips for how to grill pizza—both making and grilling the dough!READ THE POST

Heavenly Dark Chocolate Orange Babka

July 21, 2019

Even though I made this at least a month ago, I’ve been dreaming about it ever since. And forcibly restraining myself from making it again. Because this chocolate orange babka is what dreams are made of.

As a flavor combo, chocolate and orange will always be a winner—particularly this kind of dark chocolate. One thing I really love about this recipe is that it uses a challah dough as the base, which makes the final result lighter and softer. I often find babkas a bit denser and drier than I like, so I was drawn to this particular recipe.

This is my happy place…

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Small-Batch Traditional Wholemeal Irish Soda Bread

April 28, 2019

Once upon a time, I made soda bread quite a bit. It was back when I found real yeast bread quite daunting, and so often stuck to quick breads. But I realized recently that it had been probably 5 years at least, possibly more, since I’d made it at all. I was in the mood for a really hearty bread slathered with rich butter and jam, and so decided to go back to basics with a true whole wheat traditional Irish soda bread.

Now, there are a LOT of soda bread recipes out there, many of which are amazing. But to be a traditional Irish soda bread, it should have JUST 4 ingredients—flour, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk. Anything else, and it’s not the traditional kind (apparently, anything else makes it a tea cake…). The beauty of this type of recipe is that you can be struck with a craving for fresh bread, and be sitting in front of a steaming slice of it in under and hour. Here’s to instant gratification.

I have a bunch of different takes on soda bread that I want to try, but figured we’d start super pure and simple. One important note, this recipe just makes one small-ish loaf (that still feeds plenty of people)…most recipes make two large loaves, which is way too much for little ol’ me. Hence, the “small-batch” moniker in the recipe title.

My first experience with soda bread was on a trip to Ireland several years ago, where we were spoiled every morning at our B&Bs with freshly made soda bread and homemade jam. While I don’t typically love super crusty breads, I fell in love with this basic and delicious traditional food.

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Norwegian Skillingsboller (Cinnamon Bun Pastries)

March 31, 2019

I’ve been lucky enough to visit Norway a couple of times over the past year, and have quickly fallen in love with the country’s mind-blowing landscapes and delicious baked goods. Yes, scenery and pastries—that’s basically what I’m here for.

Most recently, I spent a few days in charming Bergen over the holidays, and made it a point to visit as many coffeeshops and try as many different pastries as possible (all in the name of research, of course). And as soon as I got home, I knew I had to try out some of the recipes myself. So behold, Norwegian skillingsboller!

Skillingsboller (skillingsbolle is singular) are basically Norway’s take on cinnamon buns, and technically these are really specific to Bergen. It translates to “penny bun” (kanelbolle would be “cinnamon bun”, and you’ll see that all over Norway as well), and they are truly everywhere in Bergen.

Want to see all about my Norwegian adventures? Here you go!

I tweaked the original recipe a bit and added the cardamom, letting it steep in the milk and butter mixture to give extra flavor. That cardamom is a flavor I fully associate with Scandinavian pastries, so I felt it was necessary (but too much will overpower the buns).

These are actually WAY easier than they look, and the end result is less sweet than regular American cinnamon rolls. It’s just lightly sweet and much more subtle (and also lower calorie, as a result), perfect for having as an afternoon snack with your coffee.

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Simple Rosemary Unleavened Bread

March 24, 2019

When it comes to the Days of Unleavened Bread, it’s hard not to just go back to my old favorite recipes, rather than branching out a bit. But every year I try to make myself try at least one new unleavened recipe, to see if I can find a new tradition to add to my annual recipe repertoire. And this super simple rosemary unleavened bread recipe is one of the best I’ve tried in years!

Disclaimer: I keep the Days of Unleavened Bread (the week following Passover) as laid out in the bible, so I avoid leavening (sometimes called a rising agent). This can be things like yeast, baking powder, etc. (definition here). My understanding is that some Jewish people (particularly Orthodox Jews) may keep these days differently and also avoid flour and certain grains. I can’t speak to that in any way, and only you know how you keep the Days of Unleavened Bread. So please don’t send me angry comments, you have been warned 🙂

This recipe comes courtesy of my bestie (a.k.a. my Cheese) out in California. I love a handwritten recipe! The main change I’ve made is using white whole wheat flour, as I like the taste better and is healthier. It’s also a little more true to how the Israelites would have made their unleavened bread. I’ve done it basically half and half, using a cup of white flour and a cup of the white whole wheat, and that still tastes great too.

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Chai Spice Banana Bread

March 3, 2019

In a true signal of adulthood, I buy bananas about every other week solely to let them get overripe and bake with them. But here’s the thing—I don’t actually like banana bread. It doesn’t appeal to me at all. So what I’ve ended up doing as a non-banana bread lover is accidentally starting a tradition of finding souped-up banana bread recipes to bring you.

Chai spices have been a favorite flavor combination of mine since I was in college and discovered Starbucks’ chai lattes (grande nonfat no-water chai, please!). So when I saw this recipe I knew I had to give it a try…the fragrant combination of the traditional cinnamon and ginger, with the warmth of cardamom and kick of black pepper and cloves is just divine.

So here’s another amazing OTT (over the top) banana bread recipe for you, and it’s definitely going in my regular rotation. I’ve linked to a few of my favorite other banana bread recipes at the bottom of this post if you’d like to give them a try as well!

One thing I’ll tell you up front—don’t be intimidated by the number of ingredients in the recipe. The lazy person in me kept me from trying this recipe for quite a while after I’d bookmarked it, but everything comes together very quickly and simply.

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Swedish Vanilla Cardamom Bread

February 3, 2019

Ever since spending a few days in Sweden sailing the Gothenburg archipelago and devouring fresh smoked herring and cardamom-laced pastries the entire time, I’ve been meaning to try my hand at Swedish baking myself. This recipe initially came to me as a simple Swedish vanilla bread, but to me that was leaving out the most iconic flavor of Swedish baking, ground cardamom.

So I did us all a favor and made it Swedish vanilla cardamom bread 🙂

So I’ve been playing around with this recipe for a while, both in tweaking the flavors, but also in getting the texture to turn out correctly. The original recipe had way too much flour, which resulted in a much drier dough than I liked, and overall it’s taken some trial and error to perfect. But the time was worth it, and this recipe results in a lovely simple subtly-spiced bread. It’s not really sweet at all, just a nice snack at any point in the day.

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Peanut Butter Banana Bread

December 1, 2018

Elvis was onto something.

Not that it was news to me, but peanut butter and banana will always be a magic combo. This bread just emphasizes the point. That’s right, friends, we’re talking about peanut butter banana bread today!

I’ve gotten to the point where I now just buy bananas every couple weeks, knowing full well I have no intention of actually eating them while they’re good. So expect some more tasty banana treats coming your way!

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Orange Cinnamon-Sugar Twist Bread

September 20, 2018

Every time I go to Chicago for work lately, I’ve stayed at The Godfrey for convenience, and had a lovely run along the River Walk in the early morning. Then, as a reward, I’ve stopped at Beatrix and gotten the biggest latte they have a morning bun.

Their morning buns are an inspiration, like a cinnamon roll’s way cooler cousin…dough that’s slightly sweet with some lamination and a hint of orange zest, a cinnamon-sugar filling that’s positively gooey inside, and some sugar on the outside. No frosting, nothing overly sickly. Perfection.

So I’ve been lingering on this particular recipe on Pinterest lately, since it ticks the same flavor boxes as my beloved morning buns. I finally decided to tackle it a couple weeks ago and was SO happy I did!

One of the biggest changes I made was adding orange zest into the dough itself, versus just in the glaze. That slight hint of orange in the dough with a subtle cinnamon-sugar filling is just sublime. Additionally, I adapted the glaze by eliminating the butter and decreasing the amount quite a bit. I think the changes work SUPER well and make it a little less sweet, which is more my style.

I’d also recommend not being daunted by the number of steps in the recipe. It’s not a difficult recipe, and other than braiding the split layered dough ropes (it’s a bit messy!), it’s totally doable as long as you have the time. Don’t rush it and it’ll be a breeze!

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Cinnamon-Walnut Challah…And Some New Digs

June 16, 2018

Oh hello there!

Yes, I know it’s been a hot minute since last we met here. But things have been a little insane around here, due to relocating (in my tiny Corolla), living in a temporary furnished apartment for a couple months (with the WORST kitchen supplies! Also, the cats were not fans…), house hunting, finalizing my move from Atlanta, and closing on a house here in Louisville. Oh yeah, and starting a major new job. So yeah, a lot’s been happening.

But I have a mountain of deliciousness to make it up to you today.

The great news is that I’m back in a fully-functioning kitchen and raring to go. I had to have them pipe in a propane line and install a new gas range because I was not dealing with that electric stove nonsense. Isn’t she pretty????

So that’s where I’ve been hiding for the last couple months. And without further ado, I bring you the yummiest stuffed challah bread you’ve ever had. Butter and walnuts and cinnamon and brown sugar meld into a magical mess inside a soft enriched dough (yes, I’ve been watching GBBO). But it’s surprisingly easy to pull together and got rave reviews from my co-workers. Totally worth the little bit of extra effort.

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Spiced Chocolate Tahini Swirl Bread

March 5, 2018

This is one of those cases where I randomly saw something on Pinterest on a Sunday and was like, UM YES. It just got stuck in my head, and I *had* to make it that very day. Sometimes I can get intimidated by braided breads, but for whatever reason that weekend I decided that I would kick this bread’s butt.

And overall, I was very happy with how it turned out. The dough itself was lovely and soft, and the combination of the warm spices and the gooey chocolate (I used part semi-sweet, part dark) was just heavenly on a cold winter morning. I took it work and it was devoured.

And honestly, the braiding was too scary either. I still struggle to get the ends really pinched together and the insides totally baked and not doughy, while not overcooking things. I’ve applied every Paul Hollywood technique I know. I’m guessing it’s a “practice makes perfect” thing, but overall I was quite proud of how this turned out!

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Snickerdoodle Zucchini Bread

January 22, 2017

This bread is the BOMB!

Cinnamon-sugar is my kryptonite in general, so it’s no surprise that I was drawn to this recipe. It’s all the best things about my snickerdoodle bread (which is amazing, but also will make a major dent in your calories for the day), combined with a bit of whole wheat flour and fiber from zucchini.

Make no mistake, this is definitely a breakfast dessert, but it’s now only a bit of splurge rather than a complete diet derail.

The hardest thing is finding the cinnamon chips—if you see them, buy like 6 bags! (Though this may be part of the scarcity problem…). I think Hershey’s discontinued theirs, so I’ve been buying them on the Amazon black market, and will need to look elsewhere soon.

Cinnamon chips are seriously the best, and appropriate in all manner of delicious breakfast and dessert recipes.

This was a hit at work. And I had trouble keeping my hands off it. I had a piece with my morning espresso, but went back several times throughout the day for another bite. I probably had three pieces total, one bite at a time!READ THE POST

Easy, Awesome Challah Bread

April 26, 2015

ISN’T IT PRETTY?!?!

When I saw a recipe that claimed to be easy challah, my reaction was…”sure, easy for some people, but for a bread novice like me not so much”. This was before I had ever really gotten into baking bread (several years ago), and this was really one of my earliest bread experiments. It went so well, it boosted my confidence for future yeast-based baking.

Seriously, this bread is just beautiful. And it’s not just beautiful, it’s amazingly soft and flavorful and perfect. And easy.

I’d never had challah bread before this, but basically it’s a yeast-leavened, lightly-sweet braided dough made with eggs, then brushed with an egg wash before baking. It can be soft or dense, made with many different grains, created into other shapes (spirals, circles, birds, etc.), but at its heart it’s just a slightly-sweet, eggy bread.

And I can’t imagine that it gets much better than this recipe! First-try bread recipes can be tricky sometimes, and rarely are they absolutely perfect the first time. But this easy challah recipe lived up to its name…it was super forgiving, the braiding was super easy, and the final product made me want to eat ALL THE BREAD. And I’m not even a bread person…

Let’s just look at it again, shall we???

Okay, moving on…

[Note: I’ve updated the instructions and photos, September 2019]
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Unleavened Almond Bread

April 20, 2014

I apparently don’t read directions well, which is why my stash of unleavened bread ended up molding with a few days to go (fridge, schmridge). So Sabbath morning I needed to make something to take me through the last few Days of Unleavened Bread.

I considered just making the same soft unleavened sandwich bread that I’d made a few days earlier, but decided something a little sweeter was in order. My Aunt Paula had sent me this unleavened almond bread recipe, one of their favorites, so I gave it a try.

I’m a sucker for almond flavor to begin with, and this was super simple to whip up. I took the sugar amount down a little, but it’s up to you how sweet you want it. I also used a combination of white flour, whole wheat flour, and almond meal, which gave it an awesome texture. All-in-all, this one’s a keeper!

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Soft Unleavened Sandwich Bread

April 16, 2014

My whole life, my family has had one—and only one—unleavened bread recipe (not counting desserts).

That’s cottage cheese rolls, and they’re awesome. But they’re a little labor-intensive for me most of the time, and we needed a second kind of bread for the Night to Be Much Observed (and also for leftovers). That’s where this unleavened sandwich bread comes in.

I had to throw something together quickly but none of the recipes I found were really exciting me—either too much work, too many ingredients, or too much time.

Then I found this one, and decided to give it a try. It was super easy and fast, good flavor, and everyone seemed to enjoy it. I’ll definitely be re-visiting this one later this week!

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Grandma’s Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

March 27, 2014

I don’t like banana bread. There—I said it. Cue the shock and hand-wringing and exclamations of my lack of humanity. I’ve heard it all. But I still don’t like banana bread.

THIS chocolate chip banana bread, however, is pretty freaking awesome.

I got the chance to fly out to eastern Washington in late January with my dad to visit my Grandma and some other family on his side. I see most of them maaayyybe every decade, often longer, so it was a great chance to catch up and reconnect.

My grandma had baked some banana bread that I ended up snacking on all weekend. It was dense and moist, like a flat little cake, and studded with chocolate chips. I loved it.

She gave me her recipe and I played with it a little, including using all whole wheat flour, leaving out the coconut (partly because I forgot), and using dark chocolate chips.

I also baked it in two shallow dishes instead of making a regular-size loaf, which I think actually was the best thing I could have done for even cooking and keeping everything moist.

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Dreamy, Creamy Scones

March 4, 2014

OH MAN, are these cream scones good!!

A while back, I was really excited because I tried a cream biscuits recipe without butter that was amazing. I stand by that, and I loved that it didn’t require cutting the butter into the flour. Let’s face it, I’m super lazy.

These cream scones are in a similar vein, except they have both cream AND butter in them, which makes them double awesome. I think they’re the best scones, texture-wise, that I’ve ever made.

They were also shockingly good as leftovers the next few days, heated up with a little raw organic honey for breakfast at work.

And that is a victory, because it’s hard to justify making a whole batch of scones for myself when usually the leftovers are like trying to eat ceiling insulation. But these, these are magical.

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Amazing, Fluffy Cream Biscuits

January 16, 2014

These cream biscuits are the bomb diggity.

Bomb. Diggity.

I love biscuits. Basically all biscuits (except Chick Fil-A’s…their food is awesome except their biscuits which are sad). But I tend to get lazy about cutting butter into flour. It’s so annoying!

Sure, maybe it’s not the most difficult thing ever, but for some reason it always makes me feel like a failure. Then I ran across this recipe. The cream provides the fat for the biscuit, so no butter-cutting necessary.

I was skeptical that these could possibly be as good as biscuits made the old-fashioned way, though. But I needed to throw a side bread together really quickly the other night and decided to try the recipe, and was stunned by how good these are.

They’re light and fluffy and buttery on top, took five minutes to throw together, and are even almost just as good leftover.

That’s right—GOOD LEFTOVER BISCUITS. It’s a January miracle.READ THE POST

Caramel-Glazed Apple Bread

January 5, 2014

It’s weird. As a self-proclaimed caramel hater (okay, maybe “hate” is strong, but “non-lover”), I somehow made two different awesome recipes within a couple weeks back in November where caramel was the star. The first was the caramel pear crumble pie I made for Thanksgiving, and the second was this fall-worthy gem—caramel apple bread.

Obviously, apple and cinnamon are a can’t-miss combination. But the caramel glaze really elevates this bread beyond what a regular powdered sugar glaze would. It gives not just a sweetness but a warmth, and the burnt sugar caramel flavor deepens everything.

This is one of those beautiful quick bread recipes that’s super easy to throw together—I mean, the bread takes as long as it takes to chop the apples, basically. And you get not one, but two, loaves of sweet bread that can feed hungry overnight guests for breakfast, delight your co-workers, or punt as an easy dessert.

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Caramelized Onion, Spinach, & Olive Oil Quick Bread

September 29, 2013

A couple weekends ago I was recuperating from a really long week, getting ready to head out of town, and wanted to make a semi-healthy meal. I settled on a frittata since it’s easy, so figured I could whip up something a little out of the ordinary as well. That’s where this super interesting olive oil quick bread came in.

This bread got rave reviews from my co-workers, despite the its slight over-saltiness (yeeeeeah…I may have accidentally added too much salt)!

It’s a great complement to any meal, but particularly something that could be a little bare on its own (like the beet and feta frittata I made with it). It was moist and satisfying, with a great subtle flavor.

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Lemon Zucchini Bread

July 29, 2013

Yeah, I know, it’s weird. We have regular zucchini bread. We have chocolate zucchini bread (seriously, it’s awesome!). We have snickerdoodle zucchini bread. But lemon zucchini bread?? Color me intrigued…

My love affair with lemon is legendary and long-standing. But something about this recipe kind of weirded me out, so I kept passing over it and trying other things. Then I told myself to put my big girl pants on and give it a try.

First, I had to shred zucchini, and anyone who knows me can tell you that I absolutely HATE shredding things—mostly because I usually end up shredding my fingers too. But I survived. (Also, you can use a food processor.)

And lemon zest is the best! It’s basically an excuse to make any recipe.

I also decided to make this recipe a little healthier so it would be a good breakfast food (vs. a dessert), so I used way less glaze than the recipe called for.READ THE POST

One-Hour Skillet Focaccia Bread

July 14, 2013

Some days I feel like I have a handful of awesome go-to bread recipes, so why bother trying new recipes? And then I stumble across a recipe like this quick focaccia and remember why—because sometimes you find a completely new kind of awesome to add to your arsenal.

And by arsenal, I mean arsenal of carbs.

I was making dinner the other day for myself and a friend, and was having decision issues. I finally decided to go with my pasta with goat cheese, roasted peppers, and chicken sausage since I could make that in my sleep.

And I also decided to try two new recipes—kohlrabi fries and these delicious oat brown sugar strawberry shortcakes. Then, since I can’t seem to stop myself from overdoing it, I ran across this quick cast iron focaccia bread and HAD to try it.

It was surprisingly easy and also very forgiving (considering I forgot to follow one of the instructions). The texture was awesome, and I loved the flavor of the spices and parmesan cheese.

But the best part was how fast it was. I’ve talked about how difficult it is to find a good bread recipe that I can make when I realize two hours before dinner that I forgot bread. Most of my great artisan recipes take at least 5 or 6 hours, and many of them are overnight.

So to find something that can be on the table in 1-2 hours start to finish is pretty awesome. READ THE POST

Easy Whole Wheat Biscuits

April 29, 2013

I am on a mission. A mission to find the best, most delicious, easiest, perfect whole wheat biscuit recipe.

My sis recommended this recipe when she and my mom were visiting last month. I think we stuck to the original recipe, except in regards to the flour. I had some self-rising flour that we had to use up before the Passover/Days of Unleavened Bread, so we substituted about half self-rising flour, and I’m pretty sure we didn’t decrease the baking powder at all, so they turned out even fluffier than usual.

They were really amazing, definitely the best biscuits I’ve made—and I love that they were whole wheat but didn’t feel like rocks (or get stuck in your throat on the way down)! They were even good leftover, the true mark of an awesome biscuit.

So without further ado, here’s the best biscuit recipe I’ve found yet…READ THE POST

Simple No-Knead Bread

April 8, 2013

One of these days I’m going to put together a whole list of bread recipes and how long they take from start to finish—that way, when you want to make bread but only have, say, two hours, you’ll know which ones you can choose from and which ones have to rise overnight and are out of the question. Because every time I’m browsing bread recipes, I fall in love with one, and then realize that it has to rise for 12 hours before baking. Baking fail.

This no-knead bread falls somewhere in the middle, at about 4-5 hours…but only a few minutes of that actually requires you to *do* something.

I hadn’t tried a nice, simple artisan bread in a long time, only soda breads and the like. So it was nice to smell the yeast doing its thing, see it rise all puffy and wet, and get golden and crusty after baking. There’s a sense of accomplishment in that, not to mention how tasty it is!
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Oatmeal Brown Soda Bread

April 5, 2013

Last summer I tried making bread for the first time, and was shocked by how well it turned out (I’d been scared of baking with yeast for forever). That kicked off a veritable bread-baking spree, where I tried all manner of artisan yeast breads.

But for some reason I’ve only made a super traditional Irish soda bread up…and yet, when I tried this hearty oatmeal brown soda bread recipe, it made me wonder why I ever bother with the finicky-ness and waiting of yeast breads.

This bread is totally easy and delicious. Now, to be fair, this isn’t authentic Irish soda bread, which only has four ingredients and definitely doesn’t have any sweeteners. But it still is soda bread, and there’s something special about it versus its yeast-based counterparts.

Something about the chemistry of the ingredients (maybe the soda and buttermilk?) makes it moist and soft, much more resistant to drying out in the open air. Soda bread in its modern form became popular in the U.S. during colonial times because it was cheap, fast, and easy, and that’s still the case today.

That’s right—best of all? There’s no rising time for soda bread, so that means you can have hot, fresh bread within an hour or so of deciding you’re craving it.

So we’ve got an hour til you have fresh bread in your hot little hands. Start your engines…
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Unleavened Treats: Cottage Cheese Rolls

March 31, 2013

Since I was such a tease with the leavened cake the other day, here’s a real unleavened treat—cottage cheese rolls. Though we’re close to the end of the Days of Unleavened Bread, there are still a couple days left to make this DOUB classic. I know some people already use this recipe (because I’ve seen them talk about it on Facebook), but if you haven’t then you must immediately!

This was my mom’s go-to recipe during this season. I never could understand why people would want to eat matzo, because it’s like eating cardboard. These, on the other hand, are moist and buttery and chewy and flavorful and FULL OF AWESOME.

This recipe is really versatile. You can make it as-is, substitute whole wheat flour for part, add savory or sweet flavors, make rolls or roll out flat. I mixed it up a lot this week, using some rosemary, some cinnamon-sugar, and some whole wheat flour.
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Amish Country Bread

March 11, 2013

It’s that time of the year when I’m trying to use up all my yeast, baking powder, and baking soda before Passover so I don’t have to throw much out. I hate waste. So I’m officially back on my bread-baking kick. I started last weekend with this delicious, soft, salty bread—nicknamed Amish country bread.

This recipe was super easy to throw together, even though I had some trouble with the texture of the dough. Mine was much drier than I think it should have been (too much flour? maybe weather-related too?). However, it didn’t seem to make any difference—the bread baked up soft and chewy, with a nice crisp crust on the outside.

I used my handy-dandy enameled cast-iron dutch oven, and the lid makes an awesome seal that traps the moisture in, which gives you that crusty outside and chewy inside. If you don’t have a dutch oven, you can bake on a castiron griddle (or pizza stone or some other oven-safe contraption), with some ice water in a separate pan to create steam.READ THE POST

Maple Cranberry Cornbread

February 10, 2013

Fresh, hot cornbread is just the best, isn’t it??

The problem with cornbread so often (and why I don’t make it much) is that leftover cornbread is bad. Like dry, get-stuck in-your-throat-and-scratch-up-your-mouth bad. It’s just one of those foods that doesn’t translate to leftovers well. And for one person (that’s me) to try and eat an entire pan of cornbread in one sitting is madness.

Not that I haven’t tried…

So while I was most excited initially about the cranberries in this recipe, it ended up being the overall texture of the cornbread and the hint of sweetness from the maple syrup that I ended up loving. The maple cranberry bread was super moist, and retained that texture for the next 2-3 days while I ate the leftovers. I’ll definitely be using this recipe again even without the cranberries.

Now the cranberries themselves weren’t quite what I expected. I figured that the combination of the super tart cranberries and the maple syrup would kind of balance each other out taste-wise, but the cranberries were still quite tart. The solution to this, of course, is to drizzle honey all over the cornbread! The cranberries were really good, but I think I might like cherries or something like that even better.
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Snickerdoodle Bread

January 1, 2013

This bread is magical.

I’m not someone who could generally be accused of being a snickerdoodle freak, though I’m a sucker for a cinnamon-sugar combo. But I might change my mind after having this snickerdoodle bread.

The blog I got this recipe from (Lil Luna) warns that the cinnamon chips are usually only in grocery stores during the holidays, so best to stock up on a few bags right now while the getting is good. There was actually a shortage a few years back for months, and I started effectively buying them on the black market 🙂

The other great part about this bread (cake? cake bread? bread cake?) is that it literally takes five minutes to mix together, then you just pop it in the oven and go about your business! I realized late in the day that the next morning was my “breakfast day” at work and I didn’t have much of an evening to make something, and this turned out to be the perfect option (and I carefully packed the second loaf in my carry-on bag to visit my family the next day!). READ THE POST

Buttermilk Dinner Rolls

December 24, 2012

My mom and I went back and forth for quite a while this year on what bread to make for Thanksgiving. We had a ton of people to feed, but there are so many different flavors and ingredients in Thanksgiving side dishes that we didn’t want the rolls to compete. But my cousin had made these buttermilk dinner rolls before, and sent my mom the recipe. When we saw it, it seemed like the perfect solution.

These rolls are fluffy but also still hearty, and a great complement to any meal. They won’t compete with the other dishes and are perfect for sopping up gravy or just slathering with butter and jam.READ THE POST

Two Different Takes On Single-Serving Scones

November 26, 2012

Boy, I love scones. They’re kind of my go-to breakfast food if I want to treat myself to something nice on the weekend. I make plain scones, cherry almond scones, Starbucks pumpkin scones (recipe coming soon), pretty much anything I can. But the downside is that a recipe generally makes 8-12 scones, which is way more than my poor workout schedule can take care of. So when I saw not one but two recipes for single-serving scone recipes, I knew my life had just gotten exponentially more awesome.

I stopped eating breakfast a couple years ago, and generally on weekends I just have tons of strong coffee to start my morning. Every so often, though, I’m struck with an intense craving for hot biscuits and honey. That’s basically what scones and biscuits are to me—an excuse to pile on jam or honey. You can’t say I don’t have my priorities straight.

These recipes are fairly similar, though the second one uses a little less sugar (and brown instead of white) and calls for coconut oil in its solid form (and seems slightly healthier overall). I didn’t have coconut oil on hand the first time so I tried it with butter, but I made the recipe again using coconut oil (and whole wheat flour) and it was still great. The first recipe also made a little more, I made two scones out of it. Both also bake at higher temperatures (450 F) than all my other scone recipes. READ THE POST

Delicious Wheat-y Basic Beer Bread

November 4, 2012

As I mentioned in my beer mac & cheese post, last weekend I was fighting some doldrums and decided to fight them with comfort food. Specifically beer comfort food. Because last weekend was a beer two-fer.

That’s right, wheat-y basic beer bread.

The recipe is from one of my favorite food blogs, In Erika’s Kitchen, she always has great, unique, and simple recipes that use produce, whole grains, and less processed foods for awesome results.READ THE POST

Whole Wheat Crusty Artisan Bread Variation

October 26, 2012

Apparently, without realizing it, I’m on a quest to find the best artisan bread recipe. I guess it’s because bread baking is so new to me, and I’m still kind of giddy about how easy it really is. So I present to you yet another option for easy homemade bread—whole wheat crusty artisan bread!

Making the bread itself is ridiculously fast and easy—literally five minutes to make the dough. The biggest thing to note here is the long rising time…12 to 18 hours. So basically you want to make up the dough at night and then bake it the next day.

To add some extra fiber and whole grain goodness, I did substitute some whole wheat flour. It definitely makes for a denser bread, but I always like the flavor of whole wheat.

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Fancypants bread (Artisan Bread with Lemon, Rosemary, & Irish Cheddar)

September 12, 2012

This is one of the “fancy” takes on a basic artisan bread recipe I found on Pinterest (link at the bottom). My mom thought it sounded great when she came to visit, so we gave it a try. And, I can say that while this wasn’t as much my cup of tea, it got RAVE reviews from my co-workers the next day.

I wanted to try this recipe because I’m still trying out different bread recipes, so wanted to see how this turned out. And the flavor combination was really intriguing as well—what’s not to like?!

It also made me realize how badly I need to invest in some good knives. Chopping rosemary shouldn’t be so hard…my mom had to work hard!

I’ve apparently been on a huge lemon kick, between the cheesecake, this, and the lemon/goat cheese pasta I made that weekend (post pending). But it’s just such a great, versatile flavor.

And together it looks like some country’s flag. A country founded on deliciousness.

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Moist, Healthy Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Muffins

September 2, 2012

A couple weeks ago, my CSA box had some little apples in it. Now apples are one of those fruits I can kind of take or leave—I think I ate way too many some years ago taking the “an apple a day” adage too seriously. But they are fairly good for baking, and I wasn’t about to let these go to waste.

Since I’m trying to be really healthy (and fit into a dress next weekend), desserts like pies, crisps, etc. were out. But I’d pinned this healthy apple cinnamon oatmeal muffin recipe a while ago and decided it sounded sufficiently healthy.

My biggest complaint with muffins generally is that they’re usually kind of dry. Oh, sure, maybe they’re fine straight out of the oven. But once they cool they’re a surefire way to choking and getting the hiccups from not being able to swallow. BUT NOT THESE. Seriously, these are like magic moistness muffins.

I had a couple for breakfast all week, and they stayed just as moist and awesome. This might be my favorite muffin recipe ever.

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