Bread Recipes to Drool Over | Montana Happy (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to my homemade bread? ›

You can also add herbs and seasonings such as garlic, rosemary, dill, chopped onion, jalapeño, shredded cheese, chopped nuts, dried cranberries, etc. My no yeast bread is the quick bread alternative here—you can add flavors to that loaf, too! Baker's Tip: Avoid adding too much flour to the dough as you work with it.

Herbs like rosemary, thyme, parsley and oregano don't just add flavor to the bread. They also create a great herbal scent to your kitchen.

By adding the herbs during the mix/knead process, the herbs have a chance to infuse your bread dough with flavor while the dough is rising. Time is flavor in bread baking, therefore, having those herbs in the dough as it rises results in a nice herby flavored final bread.

WHAT ARE EXAMPLES OF BATTER QUICK BREADS? Batter-based quick breads include muffins, cornbread, banana bread, zucchini bread, beer bread, pancakes and waffles. Though they're technically considered bread, these recipes typically have a fluffy texture similar to a cake.

If you're looking to ramp up the taste of your favorite bread recipe, we recommend adding a bit of fat. A fat like butter, olive oil or coconut oil in small quantities will help your bread achieve a higher rise and it will also boost its flavor by tenfold.

Adding sugar weakens the gluten structure, absorbs water, and eventually makes the bread lighter and softer. As a result, sugar improves the bread's taste, structure and texture. Yeast also eats up sugar to produce carbon dioxide, which raises the dough and makes bread fluffy.

For the best bread, controlling the temperature of the dough is just as important as proper ingredient measurements or good scoring. A dough that is too cold won't ferment at a rate that produces good volume, strength, or flavor.

The biggest benefit of making your own bread is that you choose every ingredient that goes into the loaf – from the highest quality whole grain flours, to leavening agents, eggs, and dairy.

'Any nuts, seeds, small or chopped dried fruits, olives, fresh thyme or rosemary can be added without changing the dough. For the best distribution, scatter the ingredients into the dough at the 'knocking back' stage.

It is best to use fresh spices for a better flavor. However, if you want to use ground spices, make sure you don't leave them on the shelf too long. You can add saffron, nutmeg, cinnamon, anise, all-spice and cardamom to sweet or savory breads.

What does extra baking powder do to bread? ›

The more baking powder you add, the less salt your recipe will need. Even if you cut the salt entirely from your recipe, the amount of baking powder you need to adequately lift your bread might still leave your loaf tasting bitter.

While the bread is rising, preheat the oven to 400°F. Immediately before you put the loaf in the oven, brush it again with the egg white and sprinkle the sesame seeds or flax seeds on. Bake the braid for 20 to 25 minutes, until it's golden brown.

The possibilities are endless, but the common factor is the basic ingredients of fat, sugar, eggs, flour, liquid, leavening agent, and a flavoring ingredient. The flavoring might be a fruit or vegetable, a liquid such as buttermilk or fruit juice, an extract, herbs, or spices.

Fat or Shortening: Makes quick breads tender or "short". It gives them their fine texture, aids in browning and helps keep the finished product moist. Eggs: Binds the ingredients together. Beaten eggs act as a leavening agent by adding air.

Adding fillings to bread dough, such as fragrant rosemary, olives, dried fruit (even chocolate chips!) will enhance the flavor and texture of any sourdough bread recipe. It takes about 2 minutes tops, and it's exceptionally easy to do. You just have to know when to do it.

A great way to add flavor to home-baked bread is to use a variety of herbs and spices. Whether you're looking to use up extra basil or rosemary before it loses flavor or are interested in bringing cloves, nutmeg, or poppy seeds into your bread baking, there are many possibilities and inspirational recipes.