How to Make Bread Without Yeast (Yes, Really!)

Everyone loves a loaf of freshly baked bread. The smell of it baking alone is worth the effort. However, sometimes you find yourself without a packet of yeast in the cupboard and you’re asking yourself how to make bread without yeast. It is possible! And it doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to a sweet quick bread either (though those are also delicious).

How to Make Bread Without Yeast

Making a great basic bread without yeast is so simple. This bread recipe without yeast from reader Donna Roberts of Illinois is a great starting point. It does call for herbs to add a little extra flavor, but we’ll omit them here for a truly simple recipe. If you do want to amp up this loaf, though, feel free to add a sprinkling of your favorite herbs.

You’ll need:

3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup milk
1/3 cup canola oil

This recipe also doesn’t require any special tools—just kitchen basics like a good mixing bowl, a wooden spoon, a loaf pan and a cooling rack.

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Step 1: Mix Up the Batter

Start by combining your flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together in a large bowl. In another dish, whisk together your wet ingredients: egg, milk and oil. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until just moistened. Don’t overwork this quick bread batter!

When the batter is complete, transfer into a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray.

Step 2: Bake

To bake this bread, just pop it into a 350ºF oven for 40 to 50 minutes. The bread is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

When the bread is baked, let it cool in its pan for 10 minutes. Then turn over and remove from the pan and let it finish cooling on a wire rack. Once cooled, slice and serve alongside soup, salad or any dinner. You can toast this bread, too, and top with all kinds of delicious jams.

How to Customize This Recipe

This recipe is very versatile. As we said, you can easily add in additional herbs and spices to suit your taste. A teaspoon or two of each is just the right amount to add to this batter. If you want, you could even stir in a bit of grated cheese. Parmesan, oregano and basil would be a fabulous combo for your next Italian dinner.

You can also switch up the baking vessel for this yeast-free bread. You can bake in an eight-inch cast-iron skillet at 350ºF for 45 to 50 minutes or prepare this bread as muffins. Just spoon into a greased muffin tin and bake at 350ºF for 25 to 30 minutes—until a toothpick comes clean.

Up Next: Savory Quick Breads

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Olive & Onion Quick Bread

I’ve been baking for over 50 years, and I never get tired of trying new recipes for my family, friends and co-workers. Baking actually relaxes me. I feel like an artist creating a masterpiece of love. This savory loaf makes a great gift. —Paula Marchesi, Lenhartsville, Pennsylvania