Braid Away Bread

Makes 1 or 2 loaves

Show off your braiding skills by making this fancy loaf of bread!

Here’s What You Need

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).

Here's What You Do

  1. 1. If you’re making two loaves from a full batch of dough, cut the dough in half. Then divide each half into three equal pieces.
  2. 2. Roll each piece into a log 12 to 16 inches long.
  3. 3. Lay the logs side by side on an oiled baking sheet (or a baking sheet lined with parchment paper).
  4. 4. Braid the logs from the center to one end.
  5. 5. Then braid from the center to the other end.
  6. 6. Pinch the three logs together at each end, and tuck the ends under. Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise for 30 minutes.
  7. 7. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Brush the dough with egg wash. Sprinkle with snipped fresh herbs, if you like.
  8. 8. Bake for 25 minutes, or until lightly browned.
Kitchen Creativity

Egg Wash

A shiny finish gives an elegant look to your homemade bread. Make an egg wash by whisking 1 egg with 2 tablespoons milk or water. Carefully brush it on the unbaked loaves with a pastry brush (be gentle — you don’t want the risen bread to sink!). When it comes out of the oven, your bread will have a golden glow.

Sweet Cinnamon Rolls

Makes 8–10

Looking for a fancy bread for a holiday breakfast or brunch? These super-tasty cinnamon rolls are sure to be a hit!

Here’s What You Need

Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).

Here's What You Do

  1. 1. Pat the bread dough into a rectangle about 9 by 13 inches. Spread the softened butter on the dough. Use your (clean) hands!
  2. 2. Mix the brown sugar, raisins, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Sprinkle the cinnamon mixture onto the buttered dough.
  3. 3. Roll up the dough, jelly-roll style, along the long side. Pinch the edge to seal.
  4. 4. Slice the log into 1-inch-thick pieces.
  5. 5. Place the rolls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover with plastic wrap, and let rise for about 30 minutes.
  6. 6. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Bake for 15 minutes, or until lightly brown. Transfer the cinnamon rolls to a cooling rack. Drizzle on the glaze.
Kitchen Creativity

Quick & Easy Glaze

Mix up a glaze for your cinnamon rolls! Place 1 cup confectioners’ sugar in a bowl, and stir in 2 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the mixture is thick but still drips off a spoon. Drizzle it over your cinnamon rolls.

Mix & Match

Bread Art

Play with your food with this fun activity! Make a batch of Easy-Peasy Bread Dough, and then shape some or all of the bread dough into edible art. Place the dough shapes on a parchment-lined (or oiled) baking sheet and let rise. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake smaller shapes for 15 minutes and bigger ones for up to 30 minutes.

Octopus. Oval Ball of Dough + 8 Legs + Raisin Eyes

Turtle. Small Balls for Head, Feet, Tail + Larger Ball Body + Knife Cuts for Shell + Raisin Eyes

On a Roll. Ball of Dough + Crossmark + Sea Salt

Freaky Fingers. Finger Shape Dough + Almond Fingernails + Knife Cuts for Knuckle Markings

Snail. Thin Rope Rolled Up + Oblong Body + Raisin Eyes

Happy Hedgehog. Ball of Dough + Scissor Snips + Raisin Eyes

Heart. Long Thin Snake + Heart Shape

Pretzel. Long Thin Snake + Twist Twice at Top + Fold Down and Seal

Double Knot. Long Thin Snake + Double Knot

Simple Twist. Long Thin Snake + Twist & Turn

No Need to Knead Bread

Makes 1 loaf

Believe it or not, you can make yummy bread with a crunchy crust without going to a bakery! You need to start this recipe a day before you want to eat your fresh loaf, so plan ahead.

Here’s What You Need

Special Equipment

Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C).

Here's What You Do

  1. 1. Combine the water and yeast in a large bowl.
  2. 2. Add the flours and salt, and stir until you have a sticky dough.
  3. 3. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let it rest for 12 to 18 hours at room temperature.
  4. 4. Lightly flour a countertop or cutting board. Scrape the dough onto the counter with a rubber spatula. Sprinkle the sticky dough with a little more flour, and fold it over a few times.
  5. 5. Wash and dry the bowl, and then rub the inside with the olive oil. Put the dough back into the bowl, and cover it with plastic wrap. Let it rise for 11⁄2 to 2 hours.
  6. 6. Have a grown-up help you put the pot with its lid into the oven, and turn the oven to 450°F (230°C). When the oven is hot, remove the pot (it will be very hot, so be careful).
  7. 7. Slip the dough from the bowl into the hot pot. Cover with the lid, return the pot to the oven, and bake for 30 minutes.
  8. 8. Remove the lid and bake for another 20 minutes, until the loaf is nice and brown. Have a grown-up help you turn the bread onto a cooling rack. Let it cool for 30 minutes, and then slice it up while it’s still nice and warm.

It’s a Party! Pizza Dough

Makes 2 large pizzas

Turn your kitchen into a pizza factory with this easy made-from-scratch dough. It’s fun to let friends customize their own pizzas (or part of a pizza) with their favorite toppings.

Here’s What You Need

For Pizza

Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).

Here's What You Do

  1. 1. Mix the yeast and sugar in a large bowl. Add the warm water and whisk until dissolved.
  2. 2. Add the flour, 2 tablespoons of the oil, and salt, and stir until you can make a soft ball. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured countertop.
  3. 3. Dust your hands with flour and knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.
  4. 4. Rub the inside of a clean bowl with olive oil. Place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with plastic wrap and let it rise for about 30 minutes.
  5. 5. Punch the dough down. Divide it in half, one for each pizza.
  6. 6. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Stretch the dough onto lightly oiled baking sheets. If the dough is too hard to flatten out, let it rest for 10 minutes and then try again.
  7. 7. Top with pizza sauce, toppings, and shredded cheese.
  8. 8. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and the crust is golden brown.