Bread Variations

Once you have mastered a basic bread dough such as the Country White Bread or the Whole Grain Bread, you can now make endless variations! 

If you make out a weekly menu, on baking day you could look at your menu for ideas on breads you could use during the week, such as hamburger buns, cinnamon bread, garlic bread, etc. I'm not that organized but maybe you are! 

Be sure to mark the your tops of your loaves in some way, such as sprinkle cinnamon bread with some cinnamon sugar.

 I'm sure you can come up with many other ideas but here are a few to get you started. Other ideas can be found on the sweet dough post.

Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Bread

Roll out your bread dough into a rectangle.

Spread with softened butter, sprinkle with cinnamon and brown sugar. If desired, sprinkle raisins, chopped nuts, craisins or other dry fruit. Roll the dough up beginning with the short side, squeezing tightly. Place in greased loaf pan.

Note: Bread made like this will separate but taste awesome. If you want a prettier slice, omit the butter and sugar so that it will "stick" together better. 

 

Monkey Bread

Pull dough into small balls. Dip into melted butter and roll in cinnamon sugar.

Place into greased bread pan. (Don't fill too full. I often have balls “hopping” out of the pan as it rises in the oven! Maybe the reason it is called monkey bread! This is my children's favorite and is usually consumed immediately out of the oven!)

(I didn't get a picture of the monkey bread before several "balls" were pulled off and consumed - but you get the idea!) 

Dinner or Sandwich Rolls

Form into rolls of whatever size desired and place in greased pan or baking sheet.

Herb Cheese Bread

Roll dough into a large rectangle. Sprinkle with cheese and herbs as desired. I usually use mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, and poppy seeds.

Roll up dough beginning at long side, squeezing seam tightly. Place on greased baking sheet. 

I often form a figure “eight”, tucking the ends into the center, but you can make any shape. Brush top with milk, sprinkle sesame seeds and slit the top.

I'd love to hear what you do with a ball of dough!