Here's where you find the best Italian Bread Recipes on Cooking with Mamma C! Whether you're interested in making bread from scratch or looking for ways to use Italian bread, you'll find many delicious options!
You'll learn to turn a handful of simple ingredients ― usually flour, yeast, sugar, water, olive oil and salt ― into amazing results. Take away an ingredient or two or add a couple here and there, and you'll produce a variety of breads you'll be proud to serve.
Once you get started, you'll want to try more!
Italian bread and dough recipes
There's nothing like the smell of homemade bread coming out of the oven! And when you bite into it (let it cool off first!) you'll be greeted with a crispy browned crust encasing a cushion of fresh bread with the best taste ever!
And...it's so easy and economical, you may not want to buy bread again!
- Homemade Italian Bread
- Parmesan Focaccia with Rosemary
- Panettone (Italian Christmas Bread)
- Beer Pizza Dough
- Artisan Italian Bread (Easy!)
- Bread Machine Italian Bread
- Semolina Bread Recipe
- Italian Sausage Bread
- Crusty Italian Rolls
- No-Knead Italian Bread (Dutch Oven)
- Friselle (Italian Twice-Baked Bread)
- Casatiello (Neapolitan Easter Bread)
- No-Knead Olive Bread
Ways to enjoy Italian bread
Once you've baked some bread or picked up a loaf at the grocery store, you'll need options besides sandwiches! Here are some ideas:
- Tomato Bruschetta with Balsamic Glaze
- Homemade Italian Bread Crumbs
- Easy Bread Dipping Oil
- Italian Bread French Toast
- Panzanella (Italian Bread Salad)
- Italian Garlic Bread
- Italian Bread Pizza
- Homemade Italian Bread Crumbs
- Garlic Compound Butter
How to store Italian bread
The freezer is your friend, whether you've baked or bought your Italian bread! Enjoy eating the bread on the first day, then immediately slice up the leftovers to freeze in plastic zip-top bags.
If you'd rather not freeze the bread, store it at room temperature in a brown bag. Don't refrigerate it, or the bread will dry out more quickly and become stale.
How to thaw bread from the freezer
If you know you want bread the following day, you can simply set some bread out on the counter in a bag. It will thaw overnight.
If you want bread at the last minute, simply place a slice or more on a microwave-safe plate and use the defrost setting on your microwave for 25-50 seconds, depending on the thickness and quantity of bread. You'll have to experiment to see if it needs longer than that.
Or, if your toaster has a "defrost" setting, you could place frozen, sliced bread in it and toast it until it's done.
Useful equipment & items
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- Instant yeast - I use this in most of my bread recipes, because it rises in less time than active dry yeast. Store it in the freezer to keep it fresh.
- KitchenAid 7QT Stand Mixer - I have one in red (of course!) and recommend this size for churning out double batches of dough.
- Half-Sheet Pans - You don't need a special loaf pan in most cases. Just shape the dough and use these all-purpose pans for baking the bread!
- Parchment sheets - It's so convenient to use parchment paper sheets instead of rolls that need to be cut. These withstand heat up to 450 degrees F.
- A cooling rack - It's tempting to taste the bread right out of the oven, but you'll need to let it cool off first!
- Freezer zip-top bags - Bread will stay fresh in the freezer, and you can thaw or toast slices as you need them.