Updated: Feb. 07, 2024
Ever page through a cookbook and wonderwhat is quick bread? We've got the answers and all the tips you need to make this super simple, yeast-free bake.
At home, many bakers aren’t afraid to tackle a new everyday cookie recipe or speedy dessert. For some reason, though, bread can feel a bit more daunting. The kneading, the yeast, the waiting…
The good news is you don’t have to deal with any of that if you opt for a quick bread recipe instead. That’s right! Quick bread is a simple version of its yeasted cousin and there areso many delicious variations. So break out your favorite wooden spoon and tackle this bake with abandon.
What Is a Quick Bread?
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Simply put, quick bread is a bread recipe that is made without yeast. That’s it! Instead of using yeast to achieve a rise, these bread recipes rely upon leavening agents like baking soda and baking powder.
Unlike yeasted breads, quick breads don’t need to be proofed or kneaded. They can go from the mixing bowl to the pan to the oven. While the bake times can seem long (sometimes up to an hour), they are definitely speedier to make than a yeasted dough.
Quick breads don’t have the same texture as yeasted breads either. Most quick breads have a texture that’s similar to a muffin. They can be sliced and toasted but they’re not really suitable for something like your lunchtime sandwich. Many types of sweet bread fall into the quick bread category, too.
Types of Quick Bread
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There are near-limitless kinds of quick bread. If you can think of a flavor, chances are that some clever baker has thought of a way to stir it into a quick bread batter and bake it up in a loaf pan.
That being said, there are a few popular types of quick bread (some of which you may have already made before).
- Banana bread: This is one of the most popular kinds of quick bread. It’s the perfect way to use up a few bananas that are past their prime. Plus, you can gussy up the recipe by adding mix-ins and more.
- Cornbread:This yeast-free bread is a fantastic compliment to any meal—especially chilis and other hearty fare.
- Soda bread: You guessed it: Soda bread gets its name from the baking soda used in the recipe. Unlike many other quick breads, Irish soda breads are often baked freeform on a baking sheet.
- Beer bread:While many quick breads tend to lean toward the sweet side, beer bread is distinctly savory. This bread gets its signature flavor and lift from the beer added to the batter. When combined with the leavening agents, the batter bubbles up and has a nice rise.
- Zucchini bread: It’s safe to say that zucchini bread is the most delicious way to enjoy this summer bumper crop. Zucchini bread bakes up very moist thanks to the shredded veggie inside.
Ways to Bake Quick Bread
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Quick bread recipes are extremely versatile. While most recipes are baked in a loaf pan, that’s certainly not the only way to bake these breads. Lots of vessels can be used for these delicious bakes.
- Cast-iron skillet:Don’t put that skillet away after dinner! You can use a cast-iron skillet to bake up plenty of bread recipes including banana bread, savory herb bread and cornbread.
- Loaf pans:As we said, loaf pans are the most common pan used for baking up quick breads. Grab your favorite and you can make all these recipes (and hundreds more).
- Mini loaf pans:If you want to share your bakes, you can easily convert your recipe to fit inside smaller loaf pans. Follow our pan conversion guide for help.
- Sheet pan:Some quick bread recipes don’t require any particular pan at all. Recipes like Irish soda breadare just formed by hand and baked on a sheet pan.
Quick Bread Techniques
One of the greatest joys of quick bread—outside of not having to fuss with temperamental yeast—is that it doesn’t require any special tools or challenging techniques. All you need to know are a few baking basics to bake up a successful loaf.
- Dust mix-ins with flour:If your recipe calls for nuts, chocolate chips or fruit, it’s best to toss these ingredients in a tablespoon or two of flour before adding to the batter. This quick dusting will prevent all these add-ins from skinking to the bottom of the loaf.
- Don’t overmix:As with bakes like cookies or cake, you don’t want to overmix the batter once you add flour. Overmixing will strengthen the gluten in the batter and make your bread tough and unpleasantly chewy. Stir in the flour until just combined.
- Check the bake with a toothpick:Just like with cake, you can test the doneness of your quick bread using a toothpick or thin skewer. If the toothpick comes away clean, the bread is done; if it comes away gooey, it needs a little more time in the oven.
- Wait to cool until you frost:Many sweet quick bread recipes call for a confectioners’ sugar glaze on top. Make sure that your bread is cooled to room temperature before adding this finishing touch. If you frost a warm bread, the glaze will seep right into it leaving you with soggy bread with no decoration.
Quick Bread Recipes
If you’re new to baking (or are just looking to take it easy in the kitchen), start with easy quick bread recipes that require just a handful of ingredients that you already have in the pantry.
Once you’ve tackled a few basics, you can pull out all the stops and bake up some of our prettiest quick bread recipes. These recipes require a few more mix-ins and might require some icing or toppings. Don’t worry, though—they are still a cinch to pull together compared to these breads’ yeasted cousins.
1 / 47 Lemon Blueberry BreadOf all the quick breads we had growing up, this beautiful lemon blueberry bread is the best! The citrus glaze adds a lustrous finish and locks in moisture. —Julianne Johnson, Grove City, MinnesotaGo To Recipe Pina Colada Zucchini Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home Pina Colada Zucchini BreadAt my husband's urging, I entered this recipe at the Pennsylvania Farm Show—and won first place! You'll love the cakelike texture and tropical flavors. —Sharon Rydbom, Tipton, Pennsylvania Go to Recipe Ever wondered what is quick bread? Our guide will tell you. Blueberry Quick Bread with Vanilla SauceThis loaf is chock-full of blueberries—two whole cups! When you pour the vanilla sauce over the bread, it makes it moist--almost like a pudding. I suggest serving a robust cup of coffee with this delicious treat. —Sue Davis, Wausau, WisconsinGet recipes for other types of bread, including yeast breads! Go to Recipe Key Lime BreadI first tried this deliciously different bread at a friend's house, and she graciously shared the recipe with me. It's so easy to make and it tastes absolutely yummy! —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas Go to Recipe Parmesan Zucchini Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home Parmesan Zucchini BreadThis loaf has a rugged, textured look that adds to its old-fashioned appeal. The mild Parmesan flavor nicely complements the zucchini, which adds bits of green color to every tender slice. —Christine Wilson, Sellersville, Pennsylvania Go to Recipe Taste of Home Chocolate Chai Mini LoavesThis bread is irresistible! A friend gets mad when I make it because I give her a loaf and she can't help but eat the whole thing! —Lisa Christensen, Poplar Grove, Illinois Go to Recipe Learn how to convert a quick bread recipe into mini loaves. Almond Tea BreadMy aunt brought her tea bread recipe with her from Scotland, and enjoying a fresh-baked loaf has become a family tradition during the holidays. Each slice is loaded with red cherries. —Kathleen Showers, Briggsdale, Colorado Go to Recipe Apple-Rhubarb BreadRhubarb is such a jewel that I freeze it to have all year. Here’s how my mother used rhubarb – in an apple bread spiced with cinnamon. —Linda Tom, Sioux Falls, South Dakota Go to Recipe Louisiana Pecan Bacon BreadOne Christmas, the babysitter brought gifts for my daughter and a basket of goodies, including pecan bread. When I make this bread, I remember that kind soul. This bread won a blue ribbon at the Los Angeles County Fair in 1988, and I still bake it for family and friends. —Marina Castle-Kelley, Canyon Country, California Go to Recipe Photo: Taste of Home Cranberry Orange Walnut BreadComing from Oregon, a state famous for its cranberries, this bread is a given at our house. Each fall my husband and I scrounge around for walnuts to go in it. It's a regular on our table, and not just at Thanksgiving. I freeze the berries so I have a ready supply all year long. —Elaine Kremenak, Grants Pass, Oregon Go to Recipe Bacon Walnut Bread with Honey ButterMy savory walnut bread filled with bacon bits and blue cheese dressing is complemented by the sweetness of honey-flavored butter. Cut yourself a thick slice, slather on the butter and enjoy!—Pam Ivbuls, Omaha, Nebraska Go to Recipe Strawberry Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home Strawberry BreadMy husband and I are strawberry lovers, so each spring we pick about 30 quarts. This strawberry bread recipe makes two delicious loaves. One we eat right away; the other we freeze and pull out when family comes to visit. Go to Recipe Herb Quick Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home Herb Quick BreadThis simple bread is especially good with soups and stews, but slices are also tasty alongside fresh green salads. The herbs make it a flavorful treat any time of the year. —Donna Roberts, Manhattan, Kansas Go to Recipe Lemon-Thyme Tea Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home Lemon-Thyme Tea BreadI received this recipe as part of a gift, along with a lemon thyme plant and a fresh loaf of this pound cake-like bread. Everyone who tries it asks for the recipe. —Jeannette Mango, Parkesburg, Pennsylvania Go to Recipe Pumpkin Banana BreadI came across these loaves in a local newspaper about 10 years ago, and I still make this pumpkin banana bread recipe on a regular basis. It conveniently yields a number of mini loaves, making gift-giving easy. —Linda Wood, Roanoke, Virginia Go to Recipe A Bit Nutty Boston Brown Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home A Bit Nutty Boston Brown BreadHearty and dense, my homemade Boston Brown Bread features hazelnuts for a delightfully nutty taste. Thick slices pair well with just about anything, from soup and stews to pasta and meat entrees. —Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario Go to Recipe Apple Zucchini Bread Recipe photo by Eric Kleinberg for Taste of Home Apple Zucchini BreadSince apples and zucchini are so abundant in this area, it's only natural that the two be used together in one recipe. I really don't know the origin of this bread, but I do know it's been one of my favorites for many years. —Patti Dillingham, Scranton, Arkansas Go to Recipe Taste of Home Autumn Pear BreadPears give these little loaves delicious flavor and help keep them nice and moist. They make lovely gifts to share, too. —Mary Lynn Wilson, Linden, Texas Go to Recipe Apricot Cranberry BreadI was making cranberry bread one day and wanted to try something a little different. I found a jar of apricot jam in the refrigerator and decided to spoon the jam into the center of the bread. It looked lumpy, so I took a knife and cut the jam into the bread. The end result was delicious. —Diane Roth, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Go to Recipe Date Pecan Tea Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home Date Pecan Tea BreadPacked with dates and pecans, this sweet bread is excellent on its own and even better topped with the chunky cream cheese spread. We enjoy it during the holiday season, but also for after-school and late-night snacks. —Carole Resnick, Cleveland, Ohio(Get recipes for more types of sweet bread!) Go to Recipe Pumpkin Pecan LoavesAmong all my pumpkin bread recipes, this caramel-glazed creation is the pick of the crop. Often, I'll wrap up a lovely loaf as a homemade gift for teachers and Sunday school leaders. —Brenda Jackson, Garden City, Kansas Go to Recipe Taste of Home Pineapple Cherry LoavesPineapple adds a fun twist to this holiday quick bread, plus it wakes each delicious bite nice and moist. My family prefers this to traditional fruitcake. —Dolores Peltier, Warren, Michigan Go to Recipe Pumpkin Chocolate LoafThese tender chocolate loaves with hints of pumpkin and spice have been a favorite of mine for years. Slice them up for snack time or dessert. —Kathy Gardner, Rockville, Maryland Go to Recipe Taste of Home Sun-Dried Tomato Provolone BreadThis savory quick bread, which was passed down from my mother, is packed with great flavors. It not only goes well will soups and chowders, but makes a delicious accompaniment to beef and chicken entrees. —Marie Rizzio, Interlochen, Michigan Go to Recipe Praline-Topped Apple Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home Praline-Topped Apple BreadApples, toasted pecans and a praline glaze make this bread perfect for a holiday celebration—or anytime. We like it better than our go-to coffee cake. —Sonja Blow, Nixa, Missouri Go to Recipe Rhubarb BreadThis is quite a good bread - our family really enjoys it! It's also very quick and easy to prepare, once you have the rhubarb diced. —Grace Capen, Sacramento, California Go to Recipe Roasted Butternut Squash Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home Roasted Butternut Squash BreadButternut squash is so versatile, I use it to make a sweet and savory bread that’s fabulous for breakfast, snacking or even dessert. —Sarah Meuser, New Milford, Connecticut Go to Recipe Best Ever Banana Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home Banana BreadWhenever I pass a display of bananas in the grocery store, I can almost smell the wonderful aroma of my best banana bread recipe. It really is amazingly good! —Gert Kaiser, Kenosha, Wisconsin Go to Recipe Eggnog Fruit BreadPresents from the pantry are a tradition in my family, and this moist, fruity quick bread is a favorite. I wrap loaves in cellophane and garnish with stickers and curly ribbons. —Margo Stich, Rochester, Minnesota Go to Recipe Country Cinnamon Swirl Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home Country Cinnamon Swirl BreadI'm always busy with three active sons, so this rich quick bread is a favorite. I like to wrap these loaves to give as gifts. —Sharon Walker, Huntington Station, New York Go to Recipe Orange Pecan BreadMy husband loves this bread. Whenever I ask him to suggest a nice tea bread, he says, "What about that orange-pecan stuff?” —Sondra Feldstein, Bondurant, Iowa. Go to Recipe Taste of Home Lemon Yogurt BreadThis tender bread will remind you of pound cake. Its mild lemon flavor and cakelike texture makes it perfect for brunch or a mid-afternoon snack. —Suzy Horvath, Milwaukie, Oregon Go to Recipe Special Banana Nut Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home Special Banana Nut BreadThis extra-special banana bread makes a wonderful gift for friends and neighbors. The recipe makes two loaves, so I can serve one and keep the other one in the freezer to use as a last-minute gift. —Beverly Sprague, Catonsville, Maryland Go to Recipe Cranberry Pumpkin BreadPut leftover cranberries and pumpkin to great use in this moist quick bread. It’s very good with my "secondhand turkey" casserole for an after-Thanksgiving meal. —Dixie Terry, Goreville, Illinois Go to Recipe Drizzled Butternut Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home Drizzled Butternut BreadMy two young children love this buttercup yellow bread. Squash makes it moist and goes so well with the cinnamon. This will be a welcome addition to a brunch or dinner table.—Misty Thompson, Gaylesville, Alabama Go to Recipe Sweet Potato Cinnamon Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home Sweet Potato Cinnamon BreadMy family loves quick breads. This one is moist and spicy. If you don't have mini loaf pans it works just as well in regular size pans. —Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania Go to Recipe Eggnog Mini Loaves Recipe photo by Taste of Home Eggnog Mini LoavesThe seasonal flavors of eggnog, rum extract and nutmeg shine through in these moist, golden loaves. Tender slices are just right with a cup of coffee. —Beverly Elmore, Spokane, Michigan Go to Recipe Pumpkin Swirl BreadThis combination of pumpkin, nuts and dates makes a delicious, golden pumpkin cream cheese bread. The surprise inside—a rich creamy swirl—is like a luscious layer of cheesecake in each slice. —Cindy May, Troy, Michigan Go to Recipe Fresh Pear Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home Fresh Pear BreadWhen our tree branches are loaded with ripe and juicy fruit, I treat my family and friends to lots of easy pear recipes. I always receive raves and requests for this particular pear bread recipe because of the mix of fun ingredients.—Linda Patrick, Houston, Texas Go to Recipe Apple Banana Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home Apple Banana BreadMy children love to bake (and eat) all kinds of banana bread. They make this all by themselves, with just a little help from me to put it in the oven. —Kristin Metcalf, Charlton, Massachusetts Go to Recipe Orange Cranberry Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home Orange Cranberry BreadThis orange cranberry bread is packed with the zesty taste of cranberries and orange peel. I suggest serving slices toasted with butter or cream cheese. —Ron Gardner, Grand Haven, Michigan Go to Recipe Contest-Winning Chocolate Chip Pumpkin BreadA touch of cinnamon helps blend the flavors in this tender pumpkin chocolate chip bread. And since the recipe makes two loaves, you can send one to a bake sale and keep one at home for your family to enjoy. —Lora Stanley, Bennington, Kansas Go to Recipe Taste of Home Candy Cane Chocolate LoavesWhen I had a bunch of leftover candy canes after the holidays, I was inspired to use them up by adding them to a chocolate bread. Coffee and cocoa intensify the flavor. —Shelly Platten, Amherst, Wisconsin Go to Recipe
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