Using just one cup of flour, create sweet and savory bagels, buns, rolls, and pastries with 50 approachable and accessible recipes from the creator of The Practical Kitchen.
It all started with a recipe for miniature focaccia made in a loaf pan. That recipe went viral again, and again, and again. Now, trusted food blogger Rebecca Eisenberg brings her baking expertise, accessible recipe writing, and gorgeous food photography to this collection of sweet and savory small-batch breads made with just one cup of flour. Whether you’re brand new to bread baking or a seasoned baker, Small-Batch Breads is for you.
Why bake small batch breads? Maybe you’re serving just one or two. Or you’re looking to minimize food waste. Maybe you're a new baker just learning the techniques—a small bread is lower-risk than a large loaf. Maybe you don’t own a stand mixer or you’ve got a tiny kitchen counter. Or maybe you just like cute little things.
With fifty easy-to-follow recipes, including 100+ step-by-step photos, you can make adorable crusty loaves; two bagels for brunch on demand; an oversized, Nutella-filled pop tart; and, of course, Rebecca’s viral Loaf Pan Focaccia.
Rebecca covers all the bread bases with recipes perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert, such as:
- Little Loaves: Loaf Pan Focaccia, Foot-Long(-ish) Baguette, Classic Brioche Loaf, Overnight No-Knead Crusty Bread - Buns and Rolls: Just Two Bagels, One Large Kaiser Roll, Stovetop English Muffins, Just-Like-the-Tube Buttery Crescent Rolls - Twists, Sticks, and Braids: “Limited” Garlic Breadsticks, One Large Soft Pretzel, Ooey-Gooey Cinnamon Rolls, Mini Chocolate Babka - Flatbreads, Crackers, and Pizza: Single Scallion Pancake, No-Knead Naan, Thin-Crust Pizza, Three Flexible Flour Tortillas - Biscuits, Pastries, and Quickbreads: Flaky Mini Buttermilk Biscuits, Oversized Nutella Pop-ular Tart, Fruit Preserve Pastries Two Ways
With easy-to-follow guidance and minimal ingredients, Small-Batch Breads is the perfect housewarming, engagement, graduation, birthday, or holiday gift for any budding bread baker.
“All bodies are good bodies, it's okay to be fat...”
It is a striking statement for a bread cookbook, where conversations about gluten and carbs are often met with anxiety rather than acceptance. One unique aspect of the book is the author's strong voice; she makes it clear that scaling down these recipes isn't about restricting yourself but rather about being creative in the kitchen. She is clearly passionate about body positivity, and it is a core part of her philosophy. If you appreciate a cookbook with a strong, socially conscious voice alongside solid recipes, you will enjoy her approach. The concept behind this book is excellent, scaling down bread recipes to exactly one cup of flour is practical for small households, and the mechanics of the baking instructions are very well done. There are clear instructions with photographs showing exactly how to work with the dough.
The book also features a variety of other bakes, like quick flatbreads, flaky biscuits, and pizza that fit perfectly into everyday meals. While the primary focus is on small yields, the author also includes practical tips for scaling the recipes back up, giving you the flexibility to bake for a larger crowd when needed.
If you want a preview of her scaling techniques before buying the book, you can find a selection of these small-batch recipes on her website, The Practical Kitchen. I baked her popular Mini Loaf Pan Focaccia straight from the website recipe even before reading this book, and it perfectly demonstrates how well her mechanics work in practice.
I originally bought this on Kindle but after reading through it I loved it so much I bought the hardcover copy as well so I could have a physical copy on hand to lend to friends and family or to just flip through in my kitchen. I LOVE the idea of small enough loaves to just use 1 cup of flour. I consider the "bread roll" recipe my base since its just flour, sugar, salt and yeast. I have it memorized now and can whip up small bread with no scales and no measurements. Everything else just compares to that dough - do I want it thicker? Looser? Do I add more sugar, an egg, etc? The recipes are small enough to start to prepare in the morning/early afternoon and you have fresh bread for dinner - or prep the night before and let rise in the fridge and then get out for the second rise in the morning and you have fresh bread for breakfast. Its beautiful. Everything I've ever wanted in a bread cookbook.
Small-Batch Breads is a wonderful cookbook for anyone who loves homemade bread but doesn't always want to make a large batch. The idea of creating delicious loaves, buns, and flatbreads with just one cup of flour is both practical and inspiring. It makes baking feel much more manageable, especially for smaller households or anyone who wants to experiment without using a lot of ingredients.
The variety of recipes is another highlight. There are plenty of different breads to explore, and the small-batch approach makes it easy to try something new without committing to a full-sized recipe. The instructions are approachable and encourage even beginner bakers to give homemade bread a try.
I also appreciate how useful the concept is for reducing waste. Instead of ending up with more bread than you can eat, you can make just enough for a meal or a small gathering. The recipes feel thoughtfully designed for everyday baking while still offering plenty of creativity.
Overall, this is a charming and practical cookbook that deserves a place on the shelf of anyone who enjoys fresh bread. Five stars for its clever concept, variety, and approachable approach to baking!
I opened Kindle this morning and saw that my pre-ordered copy of Small-Batch Breads had arrived (so excited, as I forgot when it was being published). I immediately opened it and read all the introductory material and through at least one third of the recipes, using the digital table of contents to skip from one recipe I thought I might find interesting to the next. No-knead, kneaded, and quick breads are all represented. Verbal and visual explanations are present for almost every recipe, plus the book is well-written, fun to read (as Rebecca's personality shines through), and recipes are precise and well laid out. Links are given when she refers to a technique explained elsewhere in the book.
I've just made it to the end reading and haven't cooked anything yet (there's a cat on my lap who's not ready to move); my list so far includes the pretzel, soda bread, focaccia, rye bread, pretzel buns (I tend to the savory side of baking and there's rarely too much salt) and shall amend this review once breads and buns have been baked and consumed. Happy baking!
Did Rebecca Eisenberg create this collection of small-batch bread recipes just for me? That's how I felt as I read her bright commentary and lingered over every page, enjoying the photos and trying to decide where to start to bake some sweet or savory goodness. I began with "No-Knead Naan," which was delicious, and will move on to beignets this weekend. I found the instructions direct and clear, with helpful hints to assure a good result. I like the format of this large size book that actually lays flat, and only wish that the size of the type were a bit more generous for aging eyes. Can't really say I have shelved this book. I think it will be close at hand for a long while, dog-eared and marked with smudges of flour.
Small-Batch Breads is a delightful cookbook for anyone who loves the aroma and taste of freshly baked bread but does not always want to make a large batch. I especially appreciate the simple concept of working with just one cup of flour, which makes the recipes feel practical, approachable, and wonderfully manageable.
The collection offers a pleasing variety of loaves, buns, and flatbreads, giving home bakers plenty of opportunities to experiment without worrying about excess dough or leftovers. The small portions are perfect for trying new recipes, baking for one or two people, or simply enjoying fresh bread without committing to an entire day of baking.
What makes this book particularly appealing is how approachable the recipes feel. It encourages both beginners and experienced bakers to get into the kitchen and enjoy the process. The variety also keeps things interesting, with enough different styles of bread to inspire repeated use.
If you enjoy homemade bread and prefer smaller quantities, this cookbook is a charming and practical addition to your kitchen. It is creative, useful, and easy to appreciate. A well-deserved five-star read for bread lovers!
Small-Batch Breads: 50 Recipes for Loaves, Buns, and Flatbreads Made with One Cup of Flour by Rebecca Eisenberg captured by attention first by the lovely cover and the caveat about recipes which use just 1 cup of flour. I was hooked. The accompanying food photos are visually appealing, as are the step-by-step method photos which have already taught me some new techniques. So far, I've made the focaccia and the 1-foot baguette and they've both turned out great. Just the right size to not have leftovers. For me, I've found that the "small-batch" moniker doesn't really equate to proportionally less prep time, but that's okay. Good things come to those who wait! Yum!
Small-Batch Breads is a wonderful cookbook for anyone who loves fresh, homemade bread without wanting to make a huge batch. I really appreciate the one-cup-of-flour approach because it makes the recipes feel practical, approachable, and perfect for everyday baking. The variety of loaves, buns, and flatbreads keeps things interesting, and the recipes are inviting enough to make you want to try something new.
What I especially enjoyed is how well the concept suits smaller households or anyone who wants to enjoy freshly baked bread without ending up with too much. The recipes encourage experimentation while keeping the process manageable. This is the kind of cookbook that can easily become a regular companion in the kitchen.
A fantastic collection for bread lovers who appreciate simple, rewarding baking. Definitely deserving of five stars!
Not sure how useful one or two servings of bread is for my family right now, but I like the concept, and it's great for the single ladies and gentleman who want to learn to make bread freshly rather than freezing all the leftovers.
The first cookbook in ages I've actually immediately made more than recipe from. So far pretzel bites, mini baguette, hoagie rolls, and the most perfect mini cinnamon rolls. I love that each recipe makes just what I need and the instructions are easy to follow for a bread novice like me.
A clever little cookbook, perfect for smaller families or those who don't want to have tons of bread every time they bake bread....unfortunately smaller amount doesn't necessarily mean easier.