Recipes

9 Bread Recipes (Beyond Sourdough) That Don’t Call for Yeast

They don't call 'em "quick breads" for nothing.

Published May 11, 2020.

Just because you’re having trouble finding yeast, it doesn’t mean you can’t bake bread. You can always make your own sourdough starter—check out the #Quarantinystarter project that one of our bread experts started—but if you’re impatient or wanting something you can bake while you wait for your starter to mature, here is a list of quick breads that will scratch that itch and don’t require any yeast.

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From left: All-Purpose Cornbread, Zucchini Bread, Italian Flatbreads (Piadine)

All-Purpose Cornbread

The secret to a cornbread recipe with real corn flavor turned out to be pretty simple: Use corn, not just cornmeal. While fresh corn was best, frozen was nearly as good, and it made for an ingredient list that consists of items you likely already have in your kitchen. [GET THE RECIPE]

What You’ll Need:
1½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
2 teaspoons baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¾ teaspoon table salt
¼ cup packed light brown sugar
¾ cup frozen corn
1 cup buttermilk
2 large eggs
8 tablespoons unsalted butter

Zucchini Bread

What should be a light, moist snack is often a dense, greasy disappointment. By removing a majority of the juice from the zucchini, along with most other sources of moisture, and lowering the fat, we were able to lighten the loaf. [GET THE RECIPE]

What You’ll Need:
1½ pounds zucchini
1¼ cups packed brown sugar
¼ cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1½ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup whole-wheat flour
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1½ teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¾ cup walnuts, toasted and chopped (optional)

Italian Flatbreads (Piadine)

These chewy-tender flatbreads are an excellent accompaniment to any dish that pairs well with fresh bread, but they're tailor-made for folding around a flavorful filling—sweet or savory. A few of our favorite combinations are salami, fontina, and artichoke hearts; roasted red peppers, balsamic vinegar, arugula, and ricotta; and tomato mozzarella, basil, and olive oil. But use your imagination. [GET THE RECIPE]

What You’ll Need:
2 cups all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon table salt
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
¾ cup water

From left: Brazilian Cheese Bread (Pão de Queijo), Pat-in-the-Pan Buttermilk Biscuits, Three-Ingredient Bread

Brazilian Cheese Bread (Pão de Queijo)

These traditional Brazilian rolls are gluten free and made using a classic French pâte à choux dough, which relies on steam rather than chemical leavening agents to rise. It’s difficult to achieve the satisfying chew of wheat-based baked goods without the help of gluten, but tapioca starch’s unique qualities make it one of the best substitutes out there. [GET THE RECIPE]

What You’ll Need:
3 cups tapioca starch
2¼ teaspoons kosher salt
¼ teaspoon baking powder
⅔ cup plus 2 tablespoons whole milk
½ cup vegetable oil
1½ tablespoons unsalted butter
3 large eggs
3½ ounces Parmesan cheese
3½ ounces Pecorino Romano

Pat-in-the-Pan Buttermilk Biscuits

Biscuits belong at every meal, so they need to be easy. This fluffy, rich biscuits recipe has tangy buttermilk flavor, ingredients and steps that are easy to remember, and no messy counter to clean or dough scraps left over. [GET THE RECIPE]

What You’ll Need:
12 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 cups cake flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons table salt
2 cups buttermilk

Three-Ingredient Bread

Using self-rising flour kept this bread’s ingredient list short. This type of flour already has salt and leavener mixed into it, so all we had to do was add a bit of sugar to balance the tanginess of the mild lager. [GET THE RECIPE]

What You’ll Need:
3 cups self-rising flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 (12-ounce) bottle mild lager

From left: Amish Cinnamon Bread, Quick Cheese Bread, Flourless Nut and Seed Loaf

Amish Cinnamon Bread

This quick version of the beloved “friendship bread” is designed to make two loaves, so you'll have one to give to a friend. [GET THE RECIPE]

What You’ll Need:
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
3¾ cups all-purpose flour
3½ cups sugar
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1½ teaspoons baking powder
¾ teaspoon baking soda

Quick Cheese Bread

Although the recipe title Quick Cheese Bread is no misnomer (the batter is in the pan in 15 minutes), when you add time for baking and cooling, the recipe does require a total of two hours. Luckily, like many of our other bread recipes, a baked loaf of cheese bread freezes beautifully, meaning a warm loaf need be only minutes away. [GET THE RECIPE]

What You’ll Need:
3 ounces Parmesan cheese
3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon table salt
⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
4 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese or mild Asiago
1¼ cups whole milk
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large egg
¾ cup sour cream

Flourless Nut and Seed Loaf

This loaf is full of protein, fiber, and healthy fats, perfect for snacking or breakfast. The secret to its structure is powdered psyllium husk, a plant fiber with strong binding properties when hydrated. [GET THE RECIPE]

What You’ll Need:
1 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup sliced almonds
½ cup pepitas
1¾ cups old-fashioned rolled oats
¼ cup whole flaxseeds
3 tablespoons powdered psyllium husk
1½ cups water
3 tablespoons expeller-pressed canola oil
2 tablespoons maple syrup
¾ teaspoon salt

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