The Most Popular Bread Recipe from Every Decade
Updated: Apr. 02, 2021
See what was baking in everyday kitchens from the 1900s on.
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1900s: White Bread
The dawn of the 20th century saw the invention of white bread, thanks to the introduction of bleached white flour. Bleached flour also helped promote the widespread production of white bread, because it made the dough easier for machines to work. See the most popular sandwich in the 1900s.
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1910s: Brown Bread
During World War I, Americans were called upon to sacrifice their wheat flour so it could be sent to the troops. Substitutes like rye, oats, potato, barley, buckwheat and rice flour became commonplace in the wartime kitchen. Homemakers would bake up a batch of old-fashioned brown bread instead of white bread to help the boys on the front line.
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Home-Style Yeast Bread
Everyone likes the tender texture and slightly sweet taste of this homemade bread. When I'm in the mood to bake, I usually double the recipe and share loaves with friends. The dough also makes lovely rolls. -Launa Shoemaker, Landrum, South Carolina
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Basic Homemade Bread
If you'd like to learn how to bake bread, here's a wonderful place to start. This easy white bread bakes up deliciously golden brown. There's nothing like the homemade aroma wafting through my kitchen as it bakes. —Sandra Anderson, New York, New York
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Caramel-Pecan Monkey Bread
The kids will get a kick out of pulling off gooey pieces of this delectable monkey bread. It's hard to resist a caramel-coated treat. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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1950s: French Bread
Crusty delicious French bread became the must-have loaf of this decade. It was an essential part of the dinner spread when entertaining. Find more vintage recipes from the ’50s.
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1960s: Flowerpot Bread
The craze of baking bread in clay flowerpots was the way to go in the 1960s. Airy and light, these charming rolls were the height of popularity in the latter part of the decade. You’d have to season that flowerpot, though, so we’d recommend making rolls in a cast-iron skillet instead.
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Honey Bagels
Who has time to make from-scratch bagels? You do, with this easy recipe! The chewy golden bagels offer a hint of honey and will win over even the pickiest eaters. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Ciabatta Bread
This bread is Italy’s take on the French baguette. It was first produced in 1982 by a baker who wanted an Italian bread that would work for making sandwiches. The recipe spread to the United States, and by the late ’80s, ciabatta bread sandwiches and apps could be found in dining rooms and delis across the US. Learn how to make ciabatta bread, step by step.
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1990s: European Bread
The ’90s saw American bread lovers turn to our European cousins. Italian focaccia and handmade French baguettes (following Julia Child’s recipe) became mainstays on many a dinner table.
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Crusty Homemade Bread
Crackling homemade bread makes an average day extraordinary. Enjoy this beautiful crusty bread recipe as is, or stir in a few favorites like cheese, garlic, herbs and dried fruits. —Megumi Garcia, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Old-World Rye Bread
Rye and caraway give this bread wonderful flavor, while the surprise ingredient of baking cocoa adds to the rich, dark color. I sometimes stir in a cup each of raisins and walnuts. —Perlene Hoekema, Lynden, Washington
Originally Published: December 11, 2019
