40 Recipes for Your Bread-Making Bucket List

Everything Bread

I love to make bread from scratch and this has become one of our tried and true favorites to serve with any meal, casual or formal. —Traci Wynne, Denver, Pennsylvania

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Honey Bagels

Who has time to make from-scratch bagels? You do, with this easy recipe! The chewy golden bagels offer a hint of honey and will win over even the pickiest eaters. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Best Ever Banana Bread

Whenever I pass a display of bananas in the grocery store, I can almost smell the wonderful aroma of my best banana bread recipe. It really is amazingly good! —Gert Kaiser, Kenosha, Wisconsin

Gluten-Free Sandwich Bread

In my quest to find an edible gluten free bread, this recipe emerged. It’s moist and has no cardboard texture! —Doris Kinney, Merrimack, New Hampshire

Parmesan Garlic Breadsticks

These tender breadsticks fill the kitchen with a tempting aroma when they are baking, and they're wonderful served warm. My family tells me I can't make them too often. —Gaylene Anderson, Sandy, Utah

Roasted Red Pepper Bread

These savory loaves are moist, tender and loaded with flavor from grated Parmesan cheese and roasted sweet red peppers. They're fantastic at dinner or as an appetizer. —Cheryl Perry, Hertford, North Carolina

Hawaiian Cheese Bread

This bread is absolutely delicious. My mother’s friend brought it to a party at work, and after one bite, Mom knew she had to have the recipe. With constant nagging, she eventually got it! Simple and fast, this mouthwatering loaf is a hit with everybody and at every kind of function. —Amy McIlvain, Wilmington, Delaware

New Orleans Beignets

These sweet, square and holeless French doughnuts are known as beignets. New Orleans’ traditional breakfast always includes a few of these powdered sugar delicacies. —Beth Dawson, Jackson, Louisiana

Olive Focaccia

When I add my own special touches to a basic focaccia recipe—including sun-dried tomatoes, olives and roasted sweet red peppers—the results were simply delectable. The flavorful, chewy loaf makes a wonderful accompaniment to nearly any meal. —Dee Froemel, Hayward, Wisconsin

Country Cinnamon Swirl Bread

I'm always busy with three active sons, so this rich quick bread is a favorite. I like to wrap these loaves to give as gifts. —Sharon Walker, Huntington Station, New York

Homemade Irish Soda Bread

Some people consider bread to be the most important part of a meal...and this Irish bread satisfies such folks! This recipe is by far the best soda bread I've ever tried. With the addition of raisins, it is moist and delicious! —Evelyn Kenney, Trenton, New Jersey

No-Knead Knot Rolls

My mom, Velma Perkins, loved to serve these light, golden rolls when I was growing up on our Iowa farm. They're extra nice since they require no kneading. The dough rises in the refrigerator overnight, so there's little last-minute fuss to serve fresh hot rolls with any meal. —Toni Hilscher, Omaha, Nebraska

Buttermilk Doughnuts

It doesn't take long for a platter of these doughnuts to vanish. Our grandkids go for them in a big way! They're great for munching at breakfast or brunch.

Herb Biscuit Loaf

These buttery, pull-apart biscuits are a sure way to make any meal special, from Thanksgiving dinner to a weekday supper. Their wonderful herb flavor makes my husband think I fussed. —Amy Smith, Maplewood, Minnesota

Honey Challah

I use these shiny, beautiful loaves as the centerpiece of my spread. I love the taste of honey, but you can also add chocolate chips, cinnamon, orange zest or almonds. Leftover slices of this sweet challah recipe work well in bread pudding or for French toast. —Jennifer Newfield, Los Angeles, California

Maple Bubble Bread

This is my family's favorite breakfast bread. With a scrumptious topping of maple syrup and brown sugar, it's the perfect start to a special day.—Hannah Cobb, Owings Mills, Maryland

Chocolate Yeast Bread

Your family will love this tender loaf of chocolate bread. Slices are excellent when toasted and spread with butter, cream cheese or peanut butter. —Laura Cryts, Derry, New Hampshire

Soft Buttermilk Dinner Rolls

Warm, buttery dinner rolls are absolutely irresistible. I save time and use a stand mixer to make my dough. —Jennifer Patterson, Shoshone, Idaho

Tuscan Cornbread with Asiago Butter

I had some fresh basil on hand and needed to find a use for it. Peering into my pantry, I saw a bag of cornmeal and figured that cornbread with a Tuscan twist would be delicious. During peak tomato season, I substitute the canned tomatoes with fresh—just remove the skins, seed and finely dice.—Michelle Anderson, Eagle, Idaho

Chai-Spiced Star Bread

My chai star bread is great for potlucks or parties because it's easy to share and looks beautiful. Prepare it ahead of time, refrigerate, then just pop it in the oven before serving. Try using this recipe with other fruits, too, like persimmons or apples. —Elizabeth Ding, El Cerrito, California

Apricot-Almond Tea Rings

Apricots and almonds are the perfect pairing in this luscious iced ring. It’s a great breakfast treat to serve the family and a perfect centerpiece for a coffee date with friends.— Ann G. Hillmeyer, Sandia Park, New Mexico

Bacon Parmesan Popovers

This recipe proves that simple ingredients often result in the best-tasting dishes. These popovers are a nice change from ordinary toast or muffins. —Donna Gaston, Coplay, Pennsylvania

Old-World Rye Bread

Rye and caraway give this bread wonderful flavor, while the surprise ingredient of baking cocoa adds to the rich, dark color. I sometimes stir in a cup each of raisins and walnuts. —Perlene Hoekema, Lynden, Washington

Oma's Marzipan Stollen

My German grandma made this stollen for us when we were young. I love its homey taste and how it reminds me of her and the German food she made. I often freeze this sweet bread once it’s shaped into a braid. Then I can pull it out the night before, let it rise on the counter overnight, and bake it in the morning. —Abigail Leszczynski, Beauford, South Carolina

Dill Batter Bread

Even those who don't consider themselves bakers can make this bread with success. And your guests will be delighted! —Donna Lindecamp, Morganton, North Carolina

Gluten- and Dairy-Free Cinnamon Raisin Bread

After learning of gluten and dairy issues in our family, I knew I had to re-create our favorite sweet bread. This gluten-free bread can be made using a premixed gluten-free flour or your own homemade blend. We use coconut milk to make it dairy-free, but any type of milk works! —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas

Apple Dumpling Pull-Apart Bread

I converted a basic sweet dough into this incredible apple-filled pull-apart loaf. The results are anything but basic. It takes time, but I guarantee it's worth it. Using both sauces is twice as tasty. —Gina Nistico, Denver, Colorado

Gouda and Roasted Potato Bread

Our family tried roasted potato bread at a bakery on a road trip, and I came up with my own recipe when we realized we lived much too far away to have it regularly. It makes for a really amazing roast beef sandwich and also goes well with soups. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah

Wild Rice Bread with Sunflower Seeds

I loved skipping the boring school cafeteria meals and going to my grandma’s house for lunch. She spent most of her life in northeastern Minnesota, which is reflected in this bread's ingredients. Now my family uses this for our holiday stuffing. —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado

Best Ever Crescent Rolls

My daughter and I have cranked out dozens of these homemade crescent rolls. It’s a real team effort. I cut the dough into pie-shaped wedges; she rolls them up. —Irene Yeh, Mequon, Wisconsin

Giant Cinnamon Roll

This must-try cinnamon roll is all about the pillowy texture, the sweet spices and the homemade caramel drizzle. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Sour Cream Cut-Out Biscuits

After trying different ways to make biscuits without being completely satisfied, I decided to incorporate sour cream. Success! Split while warm, butter and enjoy. —Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, ON

Flaky Danish Braids

Though this recipe takes a bit of time to make, it's completely worth it. The braids are a special breakfast treat on occasions like Easter or a family birthday. People will take seconds and thirds! —Debbie Ewald, Oak Grove, Missouri

Movie Theater Pretzel Rods

My kids and all their friends clamor for the large, chewy pretzel rods. They are fantastic fresh from the oven. —Lisa Shaw, Burnettsville, Indiana

Tomato-Basil Pull-Apart Rolls

My nephew helped me create these soft and colorful rolls. He named them “wheelies” because the spiral shapes reminded him of his toy trucks. —Dianna Wara, Washington, Illinois

Basil Parmesan Bread

The combination of basil, Parmesan cheese and sun-dried tomatoes gives this hearty bread a flavor that will take you right to Tuscany! —Sherry Hulsman, Elkton, Florida

Caraway Bread

A rustic round loaf of caraway bread is delicious eaten warm from the oven, as a base for sandwiches, alongside soup, or as toast. If you want to experiment, add sliced chives or sunflower seeds, or substitute other herbs for the caraway, such as dried rosemary or thyme. —Frances Conklin, Cottonwood, Idaho

Can't-Eat-Just-One Cinnamon Rolls

My cinnamon rolls have been known to vanish quickly. Once I dropped off a dozen rolls for my brothers, and they emptied the pan in 10 minutes. —Regina Farmwald, West Farmington, Ohio

One-Dish No-Knead Bread

Here's a very easy way to have homemade bread for dinner tonight. Don't worry if you're new to baking. Anyone who can stir can make this no knead bread a success! —Heather Chambers, Largo, Florida

Easy Cheesy Biscuits

I'm a big fan of homemade biscuits, but not the rolling and cutting that goes into making them. The drop biscuit method solves everything! —Christina Addison, Blanchester, Ohio