Bread

21 Breads That Don't Involve a Sourdough Starter

You don't have to fuss with sourdough starter to make good bread. (Or rolls. Or pizza.)
Photo of sliced honey brioche on parchment paper with a jar of honey.
Photo by David Japy

Everyone you know has a new pet: their sourdough starter. But even if you're not quite ready for all the responsibility, the feeding and discarding and babysitting, you can still bake bread. Here are 21 yeast bread recipes to get you started, including challah, ciabatta, bagels, naan, lavash, and the most epic cinnamon-cardamom buns ever.

  • Photo of sliced honey brioche on parchment paper with a jar of honey.
    Photo by David Japy
    1/21

    Honey Brioche

    Make it as a whole loaf or turn it into rolls; any way you bake it, this eggy, honey-laced yeast bread recipe is a winner, and you can use this method to create all sorts of variations.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Anne Eastman, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    2/21

    Parker House Rolls

    Any dinner can feel really classy with a tray of these yeasted rolls. The key to their richness: brushed-on butter everywhere.

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  • Photo by David Cicconi, food styling by Rhoda Boone
    3/21

    Pizza Bianca

    This super simple yeasted dough comes together in a food processor. For the best gluten development and flavor, let the dough rest overnight in the fridge before you bake. Slice each piece in half to make really excellent sandwiches.

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  • Photo by Quentin Bacon
    4/21

    Challah

    Sweetened with honey and made with either milk or water, this simply braided, sesame-crusted challah recipe makes four loaves.

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  • Photo by Shutterstock
    5/21

    Ciabatta (Italian "Slipper" Bread)

    Though the dough for ciabatta is very wet and sticky, resist the temptation to add more flour. This yeast bread recipe starts the day before you'd like to bake it, so plan ahead.

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  • Leo Gong
    6/21

    Bagels

    Bagels are one of the simplest breads to make, requiring only flour, water, salt, yeast, and malt—and one secret ingredient: time (in the form of long, slow, cold fermentation).

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  • Photo by Romulo Yanes
    7/21

    Rosemary Olive Oil Bread

    A healthy dose of olive oil gives this rosemary-infused bread a rich, moist crumb and pale golden hue; it also helps it keep a little better than other European-style breads. Among other things, this is a wonderful and unconventional loaf for sandwiches.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson
    8/21

    Traditional Soft Pretzels

    Making pretzels from scratch is a project that can entertain the whole family. Serve them with bratwurst and mustard. 

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  • Photo by Michael Graydon and Nikole Herriott
    9/21

    BA's Best Bread

    This bread has a nutty flavor and intense chew; it makes toast that’s a wholesome meal unto itself. To ensure you have fresh bread on time, count back three nights from the day you want to bake.

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  • 10/21

    Focaccia with Olives and Rosemary

    You can top your focaccia with anything you'd like. It's the perfect thing to serve alongside a big bowl of beans.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau
    11/21

    Monkey Bread

    No secrets here—the key to the buttery flavor and signature texture of monkey bread is the brioche dough.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
    12/21

    Dinner Rolls Six Ways

    One simple master recipe, based on a classic French pain de mie, proves endlessly changeable—feel free to think of the five suggestions that accompany it here as merely a start, and let your imagination take it from there.

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  • Photo by Squire Fox
    13/21

    No-Knead Bread

    There's a reason this basic no-knead, long-fermented rustic bread is famous: It works. Adapted from Sullivan Street Bakery in New York, it's the king of easy yeast bread recipes, making a wet dough that bakes in a covered pot.

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  • Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton
    14/21

    Naan

    The key to cooking this yeast-risen, yogurt-enriched Indian flatbread at home is a hot cast-iron skillet.

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  • Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott
    15/21

    Anadama Bread

    Packed with seeds and sweetened with molasses, this loaf makes for a wonderful breakfast bread—especially when toasted and slicked with marmalade.

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  • Photo by John Lee
    16/21

    Lavash

    This lavash recipe makes a forgiving dough that can bend to your schedule: You can make the first step and the final product in about 6 hours, or you can spread the work out over the course of a couple days. We like to cook it on an inverted wok.

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  • Photo by Antonis Achilleos
    17/21

    Detroit-Style Pizza

    This thick, rectangular pizza has gotten popular recently because it's really, really delicious. Make it at home to enjoy the crispy, cheesy edges and easy-to-make yeast dough.

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  • Photo by Caren Alpert
    18/21

    Rosemary Garlic Potato Bread

    Don't be afraid to change up the herbs or play with nuts and olives in this potato bread recipe. You can do it all by hand, but it's less messy to use a stand mixer if you have one.

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  • Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
    19/21

    Glazed Cinnamon-Cardamom Buns

    These cardamom-scented rolls are briochelike and streaked with a sweet, buttery cinnamon filling.

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  • Photo by William Meppem
    20/21

    Sweet and Buttery Loaf

    This buttery vanilla-scented bread makes an excellent addition to any brunch—or turn it into French toast for double the luxury.

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  • Photo by Alex Lau
    21/21

    BA's Best Morning Buns

    Too many morning buns for your crowd? This yeast bread recipe halves easily. A little orange zest in the dough makes these extra special.

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