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Bread Baking for Beginners: The Essential Guide to Baking Kneaded Breads, No-Knead Breads, and Enriched Breads
From beginning home baker to artisanal bread maker
Baking a perfect loaf of bread is part science and part magic. Created from four simple ingredients of flour, yeast, water, and salt, breadmaking is one of the most difficult (and delicious) baking endeavors. Bread Baking for Beginners is a rare bread cookbook for true beginners to keep their bread baking on the rise.
Complete with step-by-step photographs and straightforward instructions, this beautiful bread cookbook offers a tasty collection of recipes for kneaded, no-knead, and enriched breads. In addition to important info on everything from prep and proof times to key terminology and kitchen essentials, this definitive bread cookbook covers you beyond the pan, addressing the perils of an unsuccessful bake.
From total scratch to your very first batch, this bread cookbook includes:
Knead to know―Discover the science behind the bread making process, popular techniques, and the tools needed to bake a fluffy, flavorful loaf.
Stepping scones―Progress from a beginner’s, easy-to-master recipe into dozens of sweet and savory breads.
From ‘doh’ to dough―Troubleshoot bread-specific issues with FAQs that address everything from burnt brioche to deflated baguettes.
Bread Baking for Beginners helps make artisan bread effortless, so you can share homemade loaves with the people you love.
Baking a perfect loaf of bread is part science and part magic. Created from four simple ingredients of flour, yeast, water, and salt, breadmaking is one of the most difficult (and delicious) baking endeavors. Bread Baking for Beginners is a rare bread cookbook for true beginners to keep their bread baking on the rise.
Complete with step-by-step photographs and straightforward instructions, this beautiful bread cookbook offers a tasty collection of recipes for kneaded, no-knead, and enriched breads. In addition to important info on everything from prep and proof times to key terminology and kitchen essentials, this definitive bread cookbook covers you beyond the pan, addressing the perils of an unsuccessful bake.
From total scratch to your very first batch, this bread cookbook includes:
Knead to know―Discover the science behind the bread making process, popular techniques, and the tools needed to bake a fluffy, flavorful loaf.
Stepping scones―Progress from a beginner’s, easy-to-master recipe into dozens of sweet and savory breads.
From ‘doh’ to dough―Troubleshoot bread-specific issues with FAQs that address everything from burnt brioche to deflated baguettes.
Bread Baking for Beginners helps make artisan bread effortless, so you can share homemade loaves with the people you love.
176 pages, Paperback
Published October 23, 2018
3251 people are currently reading
1009 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
October 26, 2018
There’s no denying my love of bread and baked goods. Over the years I’ve acquired quite the collection of baking books and magazines. While I’ve dreamed of becoming even half the baker my grandmother was I can’t seem to get past the overwhelm I feel when I crack open my books and read through the multi-step recipes! I mean, who knew baking had a language of it’s own? And don’t even get me started on all the special tools some of these recipes call for!
Enter Bonnie Ohara’s Bread Baking for Beginners. First and foremost, Bonnie does a fantastic job of translating the language of baking for the beginning baker. She goes into great detail about the processes and methods of creating scrumptious bread! Bonnie explains straight doughs versus pre-ferments. Even the different types of starters are discussed. Detailed pictures are used to show the proper techniques for folding, kneading, braiding, and shaping your dough. Being a visual person I found this extremely helpful. Bread Baking for Beginners lets you know when to acquire specific tools you may not already have (i.e. a digital kitchen scale) and when you can substitute with items you likely already own.
Bonnie’s book literally breaks down each recipe step by step. It’s as if she’s right there in your kitchen walking you through the process. Each consecutive recipe builds upon the prior. As you progress through her book you add more and more skills to your baking skill-set. Fear not if you encounter a problem along the way. Bonnie addresses a number of common baking problems throughout her book.
Bread Baking for Beginners is charming, informational, and unintimidating! With over thirty intriguing recipes this book is packed full of baking inspiration, especially considering it’s modest price tag. I can’t wait to dive into these recipes with a new found confidence in my future baking endeavors!
Enter Bonnie Ohara’s Bread Baking for Beginners. First and foremost, Bonnie does a fantastic job of translating the language of baking for the beginning baker. She goes into great detail about the processes and methods of creating scrumptious bread! Bonnie explains straight doughs versus pre-ferments. Even the different types of starters are discussed. Detailed pictures are used to show the proper techniques for folding, kneading, braiding, and shaping your dough. Being a visual person I found this extremely helpful. Bread Baking for Beginners lets you know when to acquire specific tools you may not already have (i.e. a digital kitchen scale) and when you can substitute with items you likely already own.
Bonnie’s book literally breaks down each recipe step by step. It’s as if she’s right there in your kitchen walking you through the process. Each consecutive recipe builds upon the prior. As you progress through her book you add more and more skills to your baking skill-set. Fear not if you encounter a problem along the way. Bonnie addresses a number of common baking problems throughout her book.
Bread Baking for Beginners is charming, informational, and unintimidating! With over thirty intriguing recipes this book is packed full of baking inspiration, especially considering it’s modest price tag. I can’t wait to dive into these recipes with a new found confidence in my future baking endeavors!
October 25, 2018
I have been baking bread for many years and when offered this bread baking cookbook for beginners, I was excited for it to arrive. This cookbook is amazing, there was a lot of thought and research done in writing the book.
The book covers the process of baking bread, with detailed explanations of the forming of bread, techniques, proper equipment to use and recipes. The recipes themselves are very detailed with some recipes having pictures that show how to make the bread. The recipes cover so many different kinds of bread, from no-knead bread, kneaded bread, and Sourdough recipes. Some recipes are pretty basic and easy to follow while others are more in-depth.
As I was perusing the book, I learned a bit more than I already knew and found that there are recipes that I will definitely be making! It is that time of year for fresh homemade bread, I can already smell the yeast and baked product!
If you are a baker this book would enhance what you know or if you are a beginner wanting to learn how to make bread, this book is for you!
The book covers the process of baking bread, with detailed explanations of the forming of bread, techniques, proper equipment to use and recipes. The recipes themselves are very detailed with some recipes having pictures that show how to make the bread. The recipes cover so many different kinds of bread, from no-knead bread, kneaded bread, and Sourdough recipes. Some recipes are pretty basic and easy to follow while others are more in-depth.
As I was perusing the book, I learned a bit more than I already knew and found that there are recipes that I will definitely be making! It is that time of year for fresh homemade bread, I can already smell the yeast and baked product!
If you are a baker this book would enhance what you know or if you are a beginner wanting to learn how to make bread, this book is for you!
December 18, 2018
This is such a helpful book - it lovingly walks you through making bread without talking over your head or condescending you. The recipes are easy to follow and the fact that it uses weight measurements instead of volume means you're much more likely to achieve the effect you're going for. I HIGHLY recommend the fougasse and the cinnamon rolls!
May 10, 2020
Recently, and not due to COVID, I have found a love for everything sourdough and bread baking! This book is awesome and helping me, a novice, understand the tools I need for creating the best breads in my home! Can’t wait to start baking!
November 12, 2020
I've really enjoyed working through this book this year. While I'm not a fan of all of her recipes (although, honestly, what cookbook ever has ALL great recipes?), her method of teaching baking has been really helpful. I've struggled with getting yeast to work at different ambient temperatures, humidity levels, and altitudes, and this book really helped me sort through all of that.
July 11, 2019
Fantastic book for the newbie bread baker. A staple for any baker.
April 5, 2020
This is truly the best bread book if you're just starting out! Bonnie walks you through step by step from the very basics to more complex breads. The book is also laid out to be pretty idiot proof- she goes in order and makes it a sort of "journey" from easy to more difficult recipes. Really enjoyed reading this cover to cover and can't wait to start working my way through the recipes!
This also wasn't pretentious or complicated like a lot of bread books can be (don't get me wrong I love those- but they can be super overwhelming) this is perfect!
This also wasn't pretentious or complicated like a lot of bread books can be (don't get me wrong I love those- but they can be super overwhelming) this is perfect!
January 13, 2020
This is a great book for beginning bread makers. I have made most of the recipes and continue to go back to it time and time again!
May 27, 2020
Great book! Step by step instructions and each chapter builds on skills learned in the previous chapter.
April 17, 2020
I definitely have not made all the recipes in this book, I actually skipped to the end to the recipes that use a starter, but the information about the process and science in baking bread was so helpful and accessible for someone trying to figure this out on their own. I’m making sourdough like a boss now and everyone who has had it loves it!
April 15, 2019
Bonnie Ohara started out making bread for her family because she was trying to cut back their food budget and was trying to make as much of their food herself as she could. That turned into a real passion for baking bread that is now a full-time business as owner and baker of Alchemy Bread Co. She created this book because she was self-taught, but found many of the books were either too simple or too complicated. She does a really good job of giving an overview of the process of baking bread, common terms and definitions, different types of bread (knead or no-knead), basic equipment needed, etc. Then she gets into the recipes and starts with easier types of bread, then moves into more complicated breads. Overall, this is book that you would want to buy because there is way too much information to just photocopy a recipe or two. My only complaint would be that I wish she would give the ingredient measurements in both weight and measurement (like cups, teaspoons, etc.) because by only giving weights you HAVE to have a food scale to try any of these recipes.
June 3, 2019
This was a great resource for new bread bakers! I'll admit that it wasn't a super great read to read it cover to cover, as much of the information is repetitive, but I am excited to begin using the book to bake up some great new breads! I like that the author comes from a novice background and really comes at the book with a beginner approach. The narrative is down-to-earth and easily understandable. I would recommend this to any new bread baker!
July 13, 2020
This book was my slippery slope down to the world which is sourdough. I read this entire book and followed the recipes beginning to end, and once I was finished, I had all the essentials to begin my own journey. Without this book teaching me all the beginner's pointers, I would not be where I am now in my baking career. Because of this book, I found my passion, my therapy, and my little side business. Thank you, Bonnie Ohara, for sharing your wisdom with the world and leading me down my path.
March 21, 2021
I discovered this book from following Jenna Fischer on Instagram.
I love how approachable Bonnie has made bread baking, and that she takes the reader seriously. I've worked my way through this book, and I've loved the recipes and I've learned a lot! The information in the introduction alone makes this book worth the buy, it is super easy to follow and explains a lot.
My only issue and frustration with this book is that it seems like the steps are simply copy and pasted all throughout, which is fair since bread baking is quite repetitive in that sense, but this became annoying when I was learning the more unique recipes that included a new step, like incorporating a new ingredient into the dough, or the sourdough recipes which heavily rely on a healthy starter for its success. I grew frustrated when those recipes were seriously lacking clues and more information as to what to expect with these NEW steps with these more advanced recipes. If you'd worked through the book, at that point, you already know how to take temperature of your ingredients, you know how to knead. The copy and pasting of these steps is actually fine, and not my issue, I just wished more attention had been paid to the new details, like what temperature of water should I use for sourdough starter for example, and maybe more helpful visual aids for what the dough may look like at different stages for the more advanced recipes.
Following Jenna Fischer's IG and watching her videos helped, and I felt validated when she was also confused at times. Unlike Jenna though, I'm not able to call up Bonnie O'Hara to clarify my confusion.
I still REALLY love this book though, and it is definitely worth the buy for a beginner baker! I have learned a lot, and I suppose I'm expecting too much from one book perhaps. I will continue to bake the recipes from this book, and refer back to it for all of the helpful information it does provide! I think I saw Bonnie is working on another, and I'm excited to check it out when its done!
I love how approachable Bonnie has made bread baking, and that she takes the reader seriously. I've worked my way through this book, and I've loved the recipes and I've learned a lot! The information in the introduction alone makes this book worth the buy, it is super easy to follow and explains a lot.
My only issue and frustration with this book is that it seems like the steps are simply copy and pasted all throughout, which is fair since bread baking is quite repetitive in that sense, but this became annoying when I was learning the more unique recipes that included a new step, like incorporating a new ingredient into the dough, or the sourdough recipes which heavily rely on a healthy starter for its success. I grew frustrated when those recipes were seriously lacking clues and more information as to what to expect with these NEW steps with these more advanced recipes. If you'd worked through the book, at that point, you already know how to take temperature of your ingredients, you know how to knead. The copy and pasting of these steps is actually fine, and not my issue, I just wished more attention had been paid to the new details, like what temperature of water should I use for sourdough starter for example, and maybe more helpful visual aids for what the dough may look like at different stages for the more advanced recipes.
Following Jenna Fischer's IG and watching her videos helped, and I felt validated when she was also confused at times. Unlike Jenna though, I'm not able to call up Bonnie O'Hara to clarify my confusion.
I still REALLY love this book though, and it is definitely worth the buy for a beginner baker! I have learned a lot, and I suppose I'm expecting too much from one book perhaps. I will continue to bake the recipes from this book, and refer back to it for all of the helpful information it does provide! I think I saw Bonnie is working on another, and I'm excited to check it out when its done!
March 14, 2019
I have been searching a long time for a book like this, and I've finally found it.
Reading Bonnie's book is like settling in for a cup of coffee with an old friend. Yes, it's part cookbook, but it's so much more than a cookbook - so many times baking books teach you the "hows" of perfecting the skills you seek, but not the "whys". Ohara takes the time to explain in detail why we must make certain choices with our dough when we want to bake bread. Why do we have to have our water at an exact temperature? Why should we know how warm our kitchen is? Why is it important to add salt last? Reading this book, you feel like you finally understand the art of creating a good bread.
She also has FAQ's after bakes for people who have less-than-perfect loaves. "Why did my loaf not rise?" and "My loaf browned too quickly on the top but did not bake in the middle" are struggles we've all dealt with. Ohara takes the time to actually answer these questions, which only adds to your baking knowledge. By the time you're done reading through the book, you honestly feel like you could tackle anything in the bread world.
I have no baked every recipe in this book, but I've baked about 5 of them, enough to know her recipes are wonderful, and my spouse is thrilled that I've finally figured out how to make a solid loaf of bread. After years of struggling with my rise and my kneading, Bonnie Ohara's book has finally found a way to tie all my skills together.
Reading Bonnie's book is like settling in for a cup of coffee with an old friend. Yes, it's part cookbook, but it's so much more than a cookbook - so many times baking books teach you the "hows" of perfecting the skills you seek, but not the "whys". Ohara takes the time to explain in detail why we must make certain choices with our dough when we want to bake bread. Why do we have to have our water at an exact temperature? Why should we know how warm our kitchen is? Why is it important to add salt last? Reading this book, you feel like you finally understand the art of creating a good bread.
She also has FAQ's after bakes for people who have less-than-perfect loaves. "Why did my loaf not rise?" and "My loaf browned too quickly on the top but did not bake in the middle" are struggles we've all dealt with. Ohara takes the time to actually answer these questions, which only adds to your baking knowledge. By the time you're done reading through the book, you honestly feel like you could tackle anything in the bread world.
I have no baked every recipe in this book, but I've baked about 5 of them, enough to know her recipes are wonderful, and my spouse is thrilled that I've finally figured out how to make a solid loaf of bread. After years of struggling with my rise and my kneading, Bonnie Ohara's book has finally found a way to tie all my skills together.
March 3, 2024
Brava! I am no stranger to baking cakes and cookies but I was eager to try my hand a bread. I received this book as a gift from my brother and even attempted one of the no-knead breads but failing to plan and have the right equipment on hand, I McGuyvered my way to having (mostly) the right stuff but alas the yeast was dead. Flash forward to this past week when I found myself in the grips of an intense craving for cinnamon rolls. I pulled this book out and without the slightest experience working with yeasted breads, I set off to make Brioche Cinnamon Rolls following the clear and detailed instructions in this baking bible. The rolls were pillowy soft and the cinnamon sugar filling perfectly carmelized on the top thanks to Bonnie's guidance to invert the pan. I savored every morsel. I wish you could smell my apartment! I can barely believe I managed to make such a divine treat. Thank you, Bonnie!
December 4, 2019
I can't say enough good things about this book! 1 - It is the most used and beat-up cookbook in my kitchen. 2- It got me FULLY into baking. 3- The recipes are delcious, and so well written. Bonnie gives you just the right amount of information with a great intro to the book and each recipe. She makes sure you aren't overwhelmed, while also making sure you know enough to know what's actually going on. 4 - There's a great online community that bakes the book together and that I love being a part of the of. 5- Once you've baked your way towards the end of this book you feel ready to start tackling more, which means it is exactly what it says it is: Bread Baking for Beginnings. 6 - Bread baking is meditation, and an amazing way to connect with the people around you........ haha I will stop here.
March 2, 2019
An ABSOLUTE must.
I’ve read more cookbooks and more recipes than I care to admit. History? Pass. Fiction? Pass. Cookbooks? Heck yeah. This is truly a work of art.
The author’s humble beginnings into the bread baking world shows her true passion and desire of the art. It started out of necessity and ended with an actual business! Talk about a “glow up.”
The book uses a very scientific-ish and exact measurements and temperature approach. I 100% believe this is why each loaf tastes like an actual piece of Heaven. I’m not a super baking-beginner and have learned more than ever before!
Get this book. Put it in your arsenal. Gift it. Make bread. Gift the bread. Best ever.
I’ve read more cookbooks and more recipes than I care to admit. History? Pass. Fiction? Pass. Cookbooks? Heck yeah. This is truly a work of art.
The author’s humble beginnings into the bread baking world shows her true passion and desire of the art. It started out of necessity and ended with an actual business! Talk about a “glow up.”
The book uses a very scientific-ish and exact measurements and temperature approach. I 100% believe this is why each loaf tastes like an actual piece of Heaven. I’m not a super baking-beginner and have learned more than ever before!
Get this book. Put it in your arsenal. Gift it. Make bread. Gift the bread. Best ever.
April 20, 2020
I have never baked in my life. But, like many, had that changed during COVID-19. I decided to try and bake some bread, literally just to see if we could save on some budgeting and it turns out - I love it!
I searched many blogs for recommended reading and found this gem. It is Fantastic for beginners. For someone who knows nothing, it was incredibly helpful in introducing me to the terms, common themes, and ingredients used in baking bread. I cannot recommend it enough for a "first book" for bread baking. I plan on buying a physical copy and if a friend ever wants to jump into bread baking I'll gladly pass this along to them!
In addition to the content, I appreciate Bonnie's writing style which is simple and to the point while remaining personable. I can definitely tell this came from a person, it's more than just a "bread baking textbook" to follow.
I searched many blogs for recommended reading and found this gem. It is Fantastic for beginners. For someone who knows nothing, it was incredibly helpful in introducing me to the terms, common themes, and ingredients used in baking bread. I cannot recommend it enough for a "first book" for bread baking. I plan on buying a physical copy and if a friend ever wants to jump into bread baking I'll gladly pass this along to them!
In addition to the content, I appreciate Bonnie's writing style which is simple and to the point while remaining personable. I can definitely tell this came from a person, it's more than just a "bread baking textbook" to follow.
June 5, 2020
Great book with great info! Lots of great recipes, terminology explained, and it is perfect for beginners. I love that it captures a large range of breads too. My only complaint is that I wish there were MORE PICTURES! I would have loved to see an outside and inside of each type of bread once baked so I know if I’m messing up somewhere and then I could troubleshoot better! More dough pics etc would be good too. Also to see the difference between the different types and some kinds I was unfamiliar with. (Some recipes did include a lot of pictures of the process and finished product, I just wish every recipe did!)
July 9, 2020
Loved it
Growing up I used to stop at my cousin’s house after school because her grandma used to make bread in an outdoor oven. She had churned butter splattered over those hot babies, which I thought was gross at the time because she received it from the neighbor who raised cows, still didn’t stop me from eating it though😍😍😍. I was such a d#$* as a kid and couldn’t fully Appreciate the awesomeness of fresh whole food.
The recipes here brings back memories, I can almost smell the dough baking and see myself pulling apart a braided loaf. Definitely making a few of these and sharing with my kiddo.
Growing up I used to stop at my cousin’s house after school because her grandma used to make bread in an outdoor oven. She had churned butter splattered over those hot babies, which I thought was gross at the time because she received it from the neighbor who raised cows, still didn’t stop me from eating it though😍😍😍. I was such a d#$* as a kid and couldn’t fully Appreciate the awesomeness of fresh whole food.
The recipes here brings back memories, I can almost smell the dough baking and see myself pulling apart a braided loaf. Definitely making a few of these and sharing with my kiddo.
October 22, 2021
Bonnie O' Hara is a wonderful person and exceptional baker who generously shares much knowledge in this book. However as a self taught intermediate level baker myself I didn't really find this comprehensive enough for a beginner. I find it odd that one and a half pages are dedicated to DDT but not a word on baker's percentages. The sections are logical but rather perfunctory in their explanation. The recipes however are great for beginners and I have made one of them so far (Parmesan and Black Pepper with a few tweaks). Nice gift for the dedicated and curious beginner who is willing to put in some extra research time.
January 4, 2020
This book has inspired me to make 2020 the year of bread baking! Bonnie has written an unpretentious and clear guide to making bread that the most instructionally challenged (me) can follow.
I appreciated the many photos of certain steps that give a clear understanding of what I needed to do. I like that the book starts with a simple recipe, and is designed to increase your skills with each new recipe. What a great idea, and perfect for the home baker that doesn't have years of culinary education behind them.
I appreciated the many photos of certain steps that give a clear understanding of what I needed to do. I like that the book starts with a simple recipe, and is designed to increase your skills with each new recipe. What a great idea, and perfect for the home baker that doesn't have years of culinary education behind them.
July 10, 2020
Great place to begin
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I like that the author is down to earth and takes the time to educate her readers on the basic terms used in bread baking. She’s very encouraging, breaking the process down step by step, and building upon the lessons learned as you progress through the chapters. I had great success early on in my attempts which helped me persevere through the learning curves. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn the art of bread making.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I like that the author is down to earth and takes the time to educate her readers on the basic terms used in bread baking. She’s very encouraging, breaking the process down step by step, and building upon the lessons learned as you progress through the chapters. I had great success early on in my attempts which helped me persevere through the learning curves. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn the art of bread making.
June 30, 2022
This book introduces you to bread making in a bit of a storytelling way. It makes the start of the book really engaging, and more educational than just simple recipes. It's a great way to get started into making bread and understanding what's happening. However, the same language is copy pasted throughout the entire book, which becomes extremely tiresome, cumbersome, and really starts to make it difficult to use the book as a normal cookbook since you have to sift through the same text that you've read so many times before to find the important information which can be buried.
October 26, 2019
I love this book. Start from the beginning and work your way through the book. I now love making sourdough bread for my family once a week. The cinnamon rolls are amazing and the pizza crust is easy to make(and delicious). She gives helpful tips and a this great chart for what your water temperature should be so you don’t have to do the math. You will become addicted and your friends will think you are a professional after baking your way through it.
November 5, 2019
I've tried to get into bread making several times with several different cookbooks, and this is by far the best! By the end, you really have learned how to bake bread, not just how to follow a bread recipe. For the first time in my bread baking journey, I feel confident in branching outside of the recipe and trying my own spins and recipes because I understand the fundamental pieces of making a great loaf of bread.
November 23, 2024
Started this book during COVID after I couldn't get any bread recipes from the internet right for the life of me. I'm still not past the simple breads in this book, but it has really helped me improve in ways that other recipe collections have not. The recipes require a bit of page turning back and forth, which can be annoying with bread doughy hands but it does a good job of breaking down the basics and teaching you some of the little tricks to pay attention to.
July 21, 2019
Bought this for myself to celebrate 2 years of doing all my own bread baking. This is a pretty helpful book—Ohara has several useful tips on shaping, prepping, etc. that I appreciate. I’ve noticed that some recipes seem a bit either repetitive or vague, which may be an issue as I work through the book. I made my first loaf yesterday and it turned out well, so I’m excited to try more!
February 4, 2020
Just what I needed
I loved that she did exactly what she said- aim her book directly at the beginning baker without a hint of pretense. I ready the book cover to cover though I’ve been baking sour dough for several years ( where I started and I’m not going back!) I learned much from her method of explaining.
I loved that she did exactly what she said- aim her book directly at the beginning baker without a hint of pretense. I ready the book cover to cover though I’ve been baking sour dough for several years ( where I started and I’m not going back!) I learned much from her method of explaining.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews