I have a little secret to share with you today. Are you ready?
Bread flour is not just for bread. I know. It sounds wild. But that higher protein content is the magic trick you didn’t know you needed for sweets that are perfectly structured and satisfyingly chewy.
We have a whole list of favorites here for you to try. Everything from the classics like braided Challah and crusty artisan loaves to the unexpected wins like sugar cookies and brownies. It is time to level up your baking game.
1. Homemade Flatbread Pizza
We all know pizza delivery is easy but nothing beats a freshly baked pizza right from your own oven. This flatbread pizza will fill your house with a heavenly and herby aroma that might make you drool a little bit.
You are going to love the soft and chewy textures so much that you might just forget your name. You can top it with chicken or beef or veggies or just a mountain of cheese.
2. Chewy Brownies
These brownies are exceptionally chewy and fudgy with that crisp crackly top that we all dream about.
Melted butter and cocoa powder come together for the richest flavor imaginable. You can add chocolate chips to get that layer of ooey gooey chocolate goodness.
3. Homemade Bagels
Are you ready to upgrade your breakfast game with homemade bagels? It might sound a little scary to make them from scratch but trust me on this one.
You just need the right ingredients and a little bit of effort to make bagels that are totally worth it.
4. French Bread Rolls
We are skipping the frozen aisle today. These plump soft butter rolls are totally doable in your own kitchen and they are honestly so yummy. They are perfect for subs and sliders and sandwiches.
I love serving these as a side to a big turkey dinner too. Best of all is that they are effortless to make. The recipe only requires a few simple steps and the hardest part is just waiting for the dough to rise.
5. Homemade Artisan Bread
You are going to love this homemade artisan bread with its crispy golden outside and that soft chewy inside. It is like ciabatta and French bread had a baby and it is delicious. If it is your first time making bread from scratch then this recipe is a great place to start.
It is not quite as easy as baking quick bread but it is still super beginner friendly. You only need four ingredients! The whole process takes about 4 or 5 hours but that only includes 30 minutes of hands on work.
6. Soft Homemade Pretzel Bites
Do you have a craving for soft pretzel bites? There is no need to go to the mall because you can just head to your kitchen and get baking. These homemade pretzel bites are perfect for snacking and they are easier to make than you might think.
You just make a simple dough with bread flour and yeast and let it rest for a bit. Shape it into small balls and pop them into the oven. Serve them with melted butter and your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy.
7. Glazed Donuts (Krispy Kreme Recipe Copycat)
I have a serious weakness for soft glazed donuts. Baked donuts are tasty but you just cannot beat yeast raised donuts. They are so fluffy that I just cannot get enough.
If you are going to spend hours making and proofing donut dough it really should be the best. This recipe is the one you want.
8. Challah Bread
Challah bread is a stunner with its beautiful golden crust and incredibly tender crumb. It might look intimidating but believe it or not it is not that hard to make. Braiding bread dough is easier than braiding your hair because you can see what you are doing!
Challah is an enriched dough which means it has eggs in the mix. That gives it a richer flavor and a lovely yellow hue.
9. Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies
There is nothing quite like a freshly baked batch of chocolate chip cookies. You can enjoy them whenever you want with this easy recipe. These cookies are ridiculously crispy around the edges and insanely chewy in the middle.
One bite and you will see how they got their name. If you have never made cookies with bread flour before then let this be a sign to run to the kitchen.
10. Morning Buns
This bread is like buttery flaky croissants tossed in cinnamon sugar and shaped into round buns. What a great way to start the day! The recipe calls for laminated dough which can be a pain to make.
Take my advice and buy the dough ready made. I promise you will not know the difference in recipes like this where the dough is not the star.
11. Homemade Breadsticks
Do you dream of warm soft buttery breadsticks? You will love this simple recipe. They are easy to make and you can jazz them up with toppings like cheese or herbs or garlic butter.
They are perfect for dipping in your favorite sauces too. Trust me when I say you will never go back to store bought breadsticks again.
12. Homemade Cheese Bread
This loaf of cheese bread is marvelously soft and wonderfully chewy. It is insanely buttery and loaded with streaks and swirls of melted cheddar cheese. Need I say more?
You can brush the top with garlic and herb butter before baking to make it extra hard to resist. The bread soaks up the flavors as it bakes and gives it an even bolder taste.
13. No-Knead Brioche Pull-Apart Bread
This brioche pull apart bread is buttery and pillowy and simply delicious. The fact that there is no kneading involved is just a bonus.
Serve it hot and watch as everyone eagerly pulls it apart.
14. Conchas
Conchas are some of my favorite treats. You make a light and fluffy bread and then roll the dough in cinnamon sugar to create the signature shell design on top.
Conchas can be enjoyed as a breakfast treat or dessert but they are also amazing for sandwiches. Make this sweet Mexican treat and you will never go back to plain bread again.
15. Cinnamon Babka
This babka is hard to beat with its outrageously soft texture and cinnamony goodness. Babka is a kind of sweet bread typically braided with a tasty filling if you are unfamiliar.
It is most often baked in a loaf pan and served in slices. Chocolate babka is popular but the traditional Jewish recipe calls for a spiced cinnamon filling. This is the authentic recipe right here.
16. Peanut Butter Cookies
These peanut butter cookies may look plain but get ready to be blown away. They are packed with richness and are one of the best salty sweet treats out there.
Ordinary recipes call for all purpose flour which is all well and good but this one is next level. These cookies are a lot chewier thanks to the bread flour.
17. Pull-Apart Potato Rolls
Potato bread is a delicious addition to any meal and a great way to use up any leftover mash you might have! It goes right into the dough and gives it a pleasant taste and texture.
You can substitute sweet potato or flavored mashed potatoes like garlic or cheddar for a fun twist. These potato rolls will be a hit no matter how you make them.
18. Overnight, Refrigerator Focaccia
How does freshly baked bread for breakfast sound? You do not need to be up with the sun to make it! This overnight refrigerator focaccia bread is a total game changer.
The secret is to let the bread dough rest for 48 hours before baking. It is a lot of waiting time but the reward will be worth it.
The cool temperatures slow down the yeast and result in irresistibly chewy bread with crispy edges. You can go nuts with the toppings too. The possibilities are endless.
19. Moist Banana Bread
Throw those overripe bananas into a bowl instead of tossing them out and make this impossibly moist banana bread.
You just combine mashed bananas with bread flour and butter and a few other baking staples to get the most delectable treat. It is perfectly sweet and pleasantly moist and bursting with tropical flavor.
20. Cheddar Beer Bread Rolls
Try this recipe if you have ever wondered what beer can do to bread. Bread has a distinct malty flavor and the carbonation ensures the dough is nice and fluffy.
It is perfectly chewy thanks to the bread flour and cheddar. Serve this with a hearty stew or chili.
21. Homemade Hamburger Buns
Making your own hamburger buns is a piece of cake. All you need is bread flour and yeast and water and some basic pantry staples. There is no fancy equipment necessary. Just mix everything together and knead the dough.
Let it rise and shape it into buns and bake. The result is homemade buns that will make any burger taste restaurant quality.
22. Hot Cross Buns
Hot cross buns are fragrant and flavorful and nothing short of fabulous. These buns will greet you with sweet and warming flavors in every bite since they are infused with cinnamon and orange zest and allspice.
You will mix sultanas into the dough which gives you a chewy contrast to the impossibly light dough. Serve them with apricot jam glaze on top or try them toasted with salted butter!
23. Chocolate-Cherry Sourdough Bread
This decadent sourdough loaf combines tart cherries and rich dark chocolate for a tasty twist on traditional sourdough bread. It is made with bread flour and cultured with a sourdough starter so it is deliciously chewy and irresistibly tangy.
I highly recommend getting a sourdough starter going if you are interested in bread making at all. It seems like a lot of work in the beginning but once it is established you just need to feed it once a week or so.
24. Cardamom Cranberry Bread
Stop scrolling if you are looking for a unique autumn breakfast bread. This bread has the warm spiced scent of cardamom and the sweetness of cranberries.
It also has the softness of freshly baked bread. To say it is fall tastic is an understatement.
25. King Cake
King cake is the sweet treat synonymous with Mardi Gras celebrations. It is a circular bread usually made with bread flour that is filled with deliciousness like cinnamon or cream cheese.
It is a stunning representation of the Mardi Gras colors with icing and colored sugar on top. It is sometimes filled with small trinkets with the person who receives the piece containing the trinket dubbed King for the day. Pretty fun huh?
26. Sugar-Doodle Vanilla Cookies
Have them both if you cannot choose between sugar cookies and snickerdoodles! The sugar doodle is a fun mash up that yields light and airy cookies.
They are crisp around the edges and pillowy in the middle. They also have a deep caramel like flavor because they are sweetened with brown sugar. Bread flour is the key to their success!
27. Danish Kringle
You are seriously missing out if you have never had a Danish kringle. This delicious treat is made with bread flour and filled with yummy additions like nuts or fruit or chocolate.
The dough is rolled out into a large circle and filled with the toppings of your choice. It is then twisted into a spiral shape and baked to golden perfection.
The result is a flaky crispy outer layer and a gooey center that will have your taste buds singing.
28. Iced Finger Buns
Iced finger buns are a classic treat that is a little unusual when you think about it. It is basically white bread covered in icing. Think of a hot dog bun with a sweet glaze.
Believe it or not these treats are often enjoyed for breakfast! You can even find them cut down the middle and filled with whipped cream.
29. Pita Bread
This soft and fluffy bread is commonly used in Mediterranean cuisines but you can also make it at home with ease!
You can serve it on its own or use it as a vessel for sandwiches and dips. It makes excellent homemade pizzas too.
