The 12 Best Bread Books (2023 reviews)

We know from years of feedback from readers, customers and amazon sellers, what most people want in a book. The peter reinhart bread book is exactly that - it's a simple book that hits all the right notes. These are the classic breads of America, not the new hip artisan breads with large holes and custardy crumbs. Peter Reinhart is a very entertaining writer for people who love to read recipe books, so the book is fun to read. It explains fantastic bread making in easy to understand and follow recipes.

The recipes have both weights and measures (measuring cups and spoons) for each recipe, so you can choose. Each formula includes an explanation of the hydration levels (liquid to dry ingredient ratios) which matters in handling the doughs. This book is great for a beginner or someone more advanced. There are also simple and delicious recipes for foccacia and pizza. It is a great source for info, techniques, and recipes.

Why We Like This:

Well written, well organized and great useage of pictures
Very tender and outstanding as a very thin crust pizza/flatbread
A must have for all bread bakers,novice and experienced alike
Wonderful addition to the kitchen library for those who enjoy real european breads

Best For wet Recipes: Chad Robertson Bread Book

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We know from years of feedback from readers, customers and amazon sellers, what most people want in a convenient and appropriate book. The chad robertson bread book is exactly that - it's a simple book that hits all the right notes.

Why We Like This:

Have fun and enjoy delicious bread
Makes you want to get some dough going
Really brings to light the skill and talent necessary to make really superior product

Best For Good instruction: Emilie Raffa Bread Book

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If you're a sourdough lover, or are simply interested in learning how to make your first loaf, this book is a great resource and must-have addition to your cookbook library. It offers an excellent introduction to cultivating your own wild yeast starter and baking delicious artisan loaves. This book gives step-by-step instructions that make it easy to bake beautiful, crusty loaves without using commercial yeast. All of the recipes are designed to have a slow, overnight rise time, so this is perfect if you are a hands-off Baker, or just really busy.

The Bread will stay fresh longer if you allow it to cool completely before slicing. There’s a nice variety of recipes, and the instructions are complete and well written. If you use sourdough starter and want a great collection of recipes with beautiful pictures, this is a great choice. This book would make a great addition to your home cook book collection, or a great gift as well.

Why We Like This:

Great bread with only three ingredients
Cover and bulk rise until dough is nearly doubled
Easy to understand and the recipes are simple and straightforward

Best Cookbook: Sue Becker Bread Book

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The sue becker bread book is suitable and reliable and fits well with your regular usage. The breads made from freshly milled wheat are incomparable to those made with commercial flours. It can be used either alone or blended with other grain flours to make cookies and quick breads such as muffins and pancakes. It provides vitamin e, manganese and magnesium. It can be used in one recipe, and all the other recipes with millet use it whole for added crunch.

This book has a lot of good information and easy to follow recipes. It is a grinding encyclopedia and cookbook in one. It is an excellent book for those who want to expand their baking prowess and mill grains.

Why We Like This:

Very informative and interesting book about flour
Great gift for home maker/homesteader/ambitious chef in your life
Good investment for long term

Best With Wheat Flour: Ken Forkish Bread Book

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We would, of course, be remiss if we didn't mention ken forkish bread book for regular usage. Pizza lovers can experiment with a variety of doughs and sauces to create the perfect pie using either a pizza stone or a cast-iron skillet. This book is wonderfully written and gives you easy to follow step by step techniques. The recipes are geared for people who might not know much about baking, with very explicit instructions, leaving no details out.

This is a pretty good book with clear instructions to make artisan bread at home. It certainly gives you the rudimentaries, and teaches you your way around a variety of breads. The use of pure essential quality ingredients make the doughs amazing. It includes instructions to make your own starter from scratch, no yeast required.

Why We Like This:

Whole new technique for making breads
Great new technology and ideas on bread
Delivers what they promise

Best Bread Cookbook: rose Levy Beranbaum Bread Book

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Rose Levy Beranbaum has been making great book for years, thanks to a combination of clever design and appropriate materials. Beranbaum is an exquisitely fastidious recipe developer. It covers non-yeast breads, sweet breads, sour doughs, even biscuits and scones. It also describes tools and techniques complete with images. As with the pie bible, the author uses very lenghty resting times to develop perfect flavor and/or structure. It includes a fabulous pizza sauce recipe and topping suggestions. It is made with cocoa nibs to a traditional challah. For serious home bakers with a good comfort level, this is a great addition.

It is easy peasy but most of all it is delicious.

Why We Like This:

A precisely detailed yet accessible recipe format emphasizing baking science
Fabulous recipes and the science that
Good investment for long term

Best Recipe: Marc Vetri Bread Book

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This method brings an understanding of HOW and WHY bread does what it does and empowers the home baker to think about what they are doing and to revel in creativity and patience. It does an incredible job of demystifying the mysterious alchemy of bread making. The book is beautiful and full of valuable tips and recipes for the kinds of bread you would only see in a handful of true artisan bakeries.

This cookbook is perfect for those who are truly interested in learning all the (very worthwhile) steps it takes to bake a loaf, or rolls, or pitas, you get the point. It then has a chapter on recipes that make use of the bread you have baked, a nice touch. There is also lots of written hacks/hints that help to explain what is happening when you incorporate this ingredient with that ingredient, etc. It’s also an informative book to read if you’re a cookbook reader who draws inspiration from a book more than using the recipes. If you’re looking for a book where you can quickly dive in and start baking bread, this may not be what you’re looking for.

Why We Like This:

A good mix of adventurous beginners and intermediate bakers
Include lots of educational pictures and even tips on troubleshooting
Great recipe, both easy & reasonably fast

Best For novices: Jeff Hertzberg MD Bread Book

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Next on the list, we've got yet another book that manages to win our hearts. It's the jeff hertzberg md bread book and it's widely considered as one of the best convenient book you can buy. The master recipe is an extremely versatile recipe. It definitely is potentially convenient to have a batch of dough in your fridge which can potentally last for 2 weeks. There is a ‘master recipe’ section that will be your day to day breads and how to make the dough, store it, and work the rising into your schedule. The best feature of this method is the easy to make dough that can be stored for extended time. You can keep it in the fridge for up to two weeks, snipping off a piece of dough to bake whenever you have a hankering for bread.

The bread is so easy to make and it is delicious. It will also allow you to practice skills like shaping, slashing, using a pizza peal etc. It is a good book for novices and experienced cooks.

Why We Like This:

Mixing is minimal and no kneading required
Great way to commence your foray into home baking
Good brand reputation

Best For handcrafted artisinal Bread: Bonnie Ohara Bread Book

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Compared with other book in this category, the bonnie ohara bread book has a convenient design. This book is written beautifully for all levels of knowledge and education. It is good for those wanting to learn a craft from the ground up. The breads have wonderful flavor, crust and interior texture. There's also an amazing brioche, and most of the recipes can be modified to make buns instead of a loaf. The crust is soft, but the base of the pizza is crispy and crunch, so it's the best of every world.

The book is for beginners yet offers a sophisticated feel. There is enough variety in the recipes to keep a baker interested and producing many different kinds of breads. The book is written beautifully for all levels of knowledge and education.

Why We Like This:

Easy to follow step by step instructions
Easy to follow and the recipes look manageable
Highly recommend for anyone looking to make bread more regularly

Best For raisin Bread: Michelle Anderson Bread Book

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The michelle anderson bread book's superior materials makes sure that it ages well with use. This cookbook has the best collection of edible sounding recipes. It is easy to follow, simple recipes for your bread machine. It is made of various grains, nuts, fruits, and vegetables, and an entire chapter on sour dough. The recipes are easy to follow and turn out perfectly.

This book is well rounded with a wide variety of breads, all simple to make. The recipes are easy to make and usually have a short and simple list of ingredients. It is made in bread machines additionally comes in different sizes.

Why We Like This: