Baking bread used to be so popular, but seems to have fallen out of fashion in recent decades. But that’s all going to change with these 7 super fun, super cute, super awesome cooking hacks that will have you running to the kitchen!
Homemade Dough Recipe
You’ll Need:
- 16 oz all-purpose flour
- 10 fl oz water
- 2 tsp salt
- 1½ tsp dry yeast
- 2-3 tbsp of warm water to mix with the yeast (about 95°F)
Here’s How:
Stir the yeast and warm water together and let sit for about 15 minutes. Then mix the flour with the salt, press a well in the middle, pour in the yeast mixture and water and knead it all into a smooth dough. Let the dough sit for 30 minutes in a warm place. Roll it out, fold it up, let it sit for another 30 minutes, and then you can get started!
1. Double Braid
You’ll Need (for 8):
- 1 portion of bread dough
- 2 different sized glasses
- 1 egg
- salt
- dipping sauce of your choice
Here’s How:
1.1 Preheat the oven to 450°F. Roll out the dough on a floured surface and use the glasses to cut out rings as shown in the video. You’ll need two rings per braid.
1.2 Put some flour on the surface of the rings and knot them by intertwining them like two loops. Remove excess flour with a brush.
1.3 Let the braids sit for 10 minutes before brushing them with an egg wash. Sprinkle coarse salt on top and bake for 20 minutes.
2. Bread Wreath
You”ll Need:
- 1 portion of bread dough
- 1 small, oven-proof bowl
- 1 pair of scissors
- spread of choice
Here’s How:
2.1 Preheat the oven to 425°F. Form the dough into a ball and let it sit, covered, for 20 minutes. Then tear a hole in the middle and place the bowl in the space.
2.2 Cut the dough around the edges with scissors and fan out the ends. Let sit for 10 minutes.
2.3 Bake for 20 minutes and enjoy with the spread of your choice, such as jam or Nutella.
3. Braided Loaf
You”ll Need:
- 1 portion of bread dough
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp milk
- spread of choice
Here’s How:
3.1 Preheat the oven to 425°F and divide the dough into 4 sections.
3.2 Roll out each section into a long strand. Slightly flatten the strands and place them in a cross braid on a pan lined with parchment paper.
3.3 Braid the loaf as shown in the video and tuck the ends under the loaf. Let sit for 10 minutes.
3.4 Beat the egg, brush the egg wash over the loaf, and bake for 25 minutes.
4. Cinnamon Orange Swirls
You”ll Need (for 4):
- 1 portion of bread dough
- 1–2 eggs
- 3 tbsp cinnamon sugar mixture per roll
- 1 orange
- icing to drizzle on top (optional)
Here’s How:
4.1 Preheat the oven to 425°F. Divide the dough into 4 pieces and roll each piece out into a rounded rectangular shape. Beat the egg and brush the egg wash over the dough and sprinkle cinnamon sugar and orange zest on top. Then roll up each piece of dough.
4.2 Cut the rolls in half lengthwise, leaving about 1 inch at the top.
4.3 Braid the strands.
4.4 Fold the ends together to form a mini wreath.
4.5 Coat the rolls with egg wash and bake for 20 minutes. drizzle icing on top of the rolls for a sweet indulgence.
5. Vanilla Star
You”ll Need:
- 1 portion of bread dough
- sugar to spinkle
For the vanilla pudding:
- 12 fl oz milk
- 1 vanila bean
- 2½ tbsp vanilla pudding powder
- 3 tbsp sugar
Here’s How:
5.1 Preheat the oven to 425°F and prepare the vanilla pudding. Halve the dough and roll it out into 2 equal circles. Spread the pudding on one of the circles and place the second dough circle on top.
5.2 Divide the circle into 8 equal parts.
5.3 Cut a line down the middle of each triangle.
5.4 Pull the tip of each triangle through the slot.
5.5 Lay out the triangles in a star shape on a pan lined with parchment paper.
5.6 Sprinkle plenty of sugar on top and let sit in a warm place for 10 minutes before baking for 25 minutes.
6. Rose Bread
You”ll Need:
- 1 portion of bread dough
- butter to grease the pan
- 1 egg
- powdered sugar to sprinkle
Here’s How:
6.1 Preheat the oven to 425°F. Roll out the dough and use a glass (about Ø 3 inches) to cut out circles.
6.2 Place 3 circles in a line, slightly overlapping, and roll up the line. Repeat with the rest of the dough.
6.3 Cut the roll in half.
6.4 Place the halved rolls upright in a greased baking dish and let sit for 10 minutes. Beat the egg, brush the egg was over the dough, and bake for 25 minutes.
6.5 Let the bread cool and sprinkle powdered sugar on top.
7. Woven Basket Loaf
You”ll Need:
- 1 portion of bread dough
Here’s How:
7.1 Preheat the oven to 450°F. Take ⅔ of the dough, roll it into a ball, cover, and let sit for 30 minutes. Roll out the rest of the dough on a floured surface and press a clean oven grate onto the dough for perfectly straight lines.
7.2 Cut the dough into strips along the indented lines.
7.3 Place the dough ball in the center of a pan lined with parchment paper and place the dough strips over the dough ball as shown in the video.
7.4 Artfully weave the dough strands like a basket and tuck the ends under the dough circle.
7.5 Cover and let sit sit for 20 minutes. Bake at 450°F for 20 minutes, then reduce heat to 400°F and bake for another 15 minutes or until golden brown.
