If your oven and jar of yeast been on summer vacation, it can feel intimidating to jump back into baking. But it doesn't have to be an all-day affair—with the back-to-school rush, you can still fit quick and easy sandwich bread into your schedule. Start here, with these bread recipes that take less than three hours, to ease yourself into baking season.
Food photography and styling by Liz Neily
1) Quick and easy breads
True to their name, these flatbreads require minimal resting time (30 minutes) thanks to the combined rising power of baking powder and yeast. In just about an hour, you'll have enough bread for dinner tonight and leftovers tomorrow.
Get the recipe: Quick and easy breads
Buy the recipe: Bread flour AND SAF Red Instant Tip
Food photography and styling by Liz Neily
2) English Muffin Toast
Like English muffins, this pan bread is a bit squishy and has lots of nooks and crannies. But it's so much easier to make, requiring just one rise, so you'll be whipping up some butter and jam for your weekday breakfast in no time.
Get the recipe: English Muffin Toast
Buy the recipe: Standard loaf pan
Food photography and styling by Liz Neily
3) Focaccia without fuss
Many focaccia recipes call for the no-knead method and extended overnight rest times, but this recipe takes a few shortcuts and is ready in less than two hours. This super simple focaccia dough is mixed in a mixer, rises in a pan, and has a plush texture and wonderful flavor thanks to the generous amount of olive oil in the dough. Use it to make a next-level muffaletta, or really any combination of your favorite cold cuts.
Get the recipe: Focaccia without fuss
Buy the recipe: 9″ x 13″ pan. AND Pizza dough flavor
4) The easiest bread you will ever bake
This crusty bread deserves a place in your regular baking routine. Its foolproof dough shaping and cutting methods have converted even the most novice of bakers, and its crusty exterior and soft crumb have made it a favorite for more advanced bakers. Watch Martin do it in the video above to guide you to success.
Get the recipe: The easiest bread you will ever bake
Buy the recipe: Bread flour AND SAF Red Instant Tip
Food photography and styling by Liz Neily
5) Soft bread rolls
Potato flour is an unexpected addition to this flatbread, giving it a soft, pliable texture, but enough structure to handle a mountain of filling. While the dough rests, use that time to prepare the toppings—reviewers especially enjoyed it with shawarma, fried eggs, and all kinds of sandwiches.
Get the recipe: Soft bread rolls
Buy the recipe: Potato flour
John Sherman
6) Bread machine bread
This soft, high-rising bread might just be the perfect sandwich bread recipe for busy schedules. A bread machine practically does all the work for you here – it's just a matter of weighing out a handful of basic ingredients and getting started quickly.
Get the recipe: Bread machine Bread
Buy the recipe: Zojirushi Home Bakery Super Bread Machine
Photography by Kristen Teig; Food Styling by Liz Neily
7) Rosemary Potato Rolls
Perfumed with aromatic rosemary, these classic potato rolls are soft and fluffy. Use them for sandwiches or serve as a side to a bowl of soup.
Get the recipe: Rosemary Potato Rolls
Buy the recipe: Baker's Special Milk Powder AND Potato flour
Food photography and styling by Liz Neily
8) Soft sandwich bread with li
Looking to switch up your sandwich bread? Add some flax meal for a hint of chewiness and a boost of nutrition. A few hours (mostly hands-off) on a Sunday evening will pay off with bread for the next week!
Get the recipe: Soft Flax Sandwich Bread
Buy the recipe: Standard loaf pan
Photography by Rick Holbrook; Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
9) White bread
Cheese filling, with herbs? Check. Impressive shape, but lightweight? Check. Ready in less than three hours? Check. Basically, this tomato and garlic bread will never disappoint.
Get the recipe: white bread
Buy the recipe: Set of parchment and half-sheets AND Bread flour
Photography by Rick Holbrook; Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
10) Nice Burger Buns
We're still in the last few weeks of grilling season, but burger buns are forever. Use these plush, slightly sweet buns for fried chicken sandwiches or tofu sliders long after the dishes have moved inside. (And let the 1,200+ five-star reviews speak for themselves.)
Get the recipe: Nice Burger Bread
Buy the recipe: Hamburger Buns and Mini Pie Pans
Photography by Rick Holbrook; Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
11) Rustic bread
One reviewer's experience with this recipe says it all. They shared: “I decided at 4pm to bake bread for dinner.” (We've all been there, haven't we?) “This is my fast bread. It always turns out perfect!” This easy, no-dough bread is a weeknight winner.
Get the recipe: Country bread
Buy the recipe: SAF Red Instant Tip
Food photography and styling by Liz Neily
12) Classic sandwich bread
For an everyday sandwich bread like this, ease and speed are the priority. A handful of kitchen staples like flour, butter, milk and yeast are all you need for better-than-store-bought bread.
Get the recipe: Classic sandwich bread
Buy the recipe: Original Ankarrum mixer
Photography and food styling by Esra Mese
13) Sandwich bread with dried banana bread
For a banana bread that's actually bread, just add yeast. Think of it as a classic white bread, but sweetened with honey and sliced bananas. It's less dense than its traditional quickbread counterpart, so you can use two slices for a sublime PB&J or French toast with a twist.
Get the recipe: Banana Bread Sandwich Bread
Buy the recipe: Bowl covers AND Mixing cups
Photography by Mark Weinberg; food styling by Liz Neily
14) Back Oatmeal Bread
Everything you need to make this bread is likely already in your pantry, which can sometimes be the biggest obstacle to baking bread. After a few quick breaks and straightforward shaping, you'll be rewarded with this hearty oat bread. After finishing the original recipe, take it to the next level and shape the dough into dinner rolls or add mixed fruit.
Get the recipe: Back Oatmeal Bread
Buy the recipe: Standard loaf pan AND Pastry brush
Food photography and styling by Liz Neily
15) Sour cream & chickpea potato rolls
Yogurt and chickpeas are great for baked potatoes, but even better in these potato rolls. Whether you make them as spreadable dinner rolls or lunchbox-friendly sandwich buns, these rolls are packed with comforting flavor.
Get the recipe: Sour cream and chickpea potato bread or rolls
Buy the recipe: Pizza dough flavor AND Parchment paper
Food photography and styling by Liz Neily
16) Cinnamon bread recipe
Slicing into this bread reveals a delightful surprise of swirled cinnamon sugar. This bread is like an everyday version of cinnamon rolls. For maximum flavor, highlight and butter the slices.
Get the recipe: Cinnamon bread
Buy the recipe: Vietnamese cinnamon AND Zojirushi Home Bakery Super Bread Machine
Photography by Rick Holbrook; Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne
17) Rustic sourdough bread
If yours the beginning of sourdough not fully baked, add some instant yeast to the mix to give it a boost. (It's not cheating, we promise!) The result is a fail-proof rustic loaf with that familiar sourdough color and a wonderful, crunchy crust.
Get the recipe: Rustic bread with dough
Buy the recipe: Fresh cake set for sourdough and glass dough AND Parish Lame bread
Cover picture (Cinnamon bread) by Liz Neily.
