Over 30 Holiday Bread Recipes for Gifts (2024)

FAQs

How to gift mini loaves of bread? ›

basic sandwhich bread is comprised of 3 cups of flour per loaf. i use a two-loaf recipe that takes six cups. most of my artisan breads require four cups per loaf, plus always some extra for dusting. so between four and six loaves per bag, depending on the type of bread loaves you make.

Any bread recipe that you are already comfortable baking would make a wonderful gift! Here are some recipe suggestions from my blog if you'd like more ideas: Cranberry Walnut Sourdough Bread. Sourdough Soft Pretzels (salted or coated with cinnamon sugar)

Johanna Hartzheim, co-founder and head of product at Wildgrain, a bread and pasta delivery service, recommends eating homemade bread within three days but says it will last up to a week. "The bread will start to dry up and become a bit harder over time, but it takes much longer until it becomes moldy," she says.

Bread is also a common housewarming gift. It represents sustenance, nourishment, and hope for a plentiful and prosperous life in the new home. It is often given in the form of a loaf or a basket of bread and is usually accompanied by a wish for good health and happiness.

In a nutshell, if you're buying basic, cheap sandwich bread, it's probably cheaper than you can make it at home. But if you compare two loaves similar to what you could make at home — one made with high-quality ingredients as opposed to one made with lesser quality ingredients — home baking becomes much cheaper.

One and ½ pound loaves usually call for 1 cup liquid and 3 cups flour. 2 pound loaves call for 1 and ⅓ cup liquid and 4 to 4 and ¼ cups flour. If you have a very large machine - a 2.5 pound loaf will call for 4.5 - 5 cups flour, and a big 3 pounder machine will need 5 to 5.5 cups of flour.

Paper is perfect to wrap your sourdough loaves in - it's natural and gives a rustic effect. It also allows your sourdough bread to breathe. You could tie your paper bread parcel with twine for a little extra flourish.

Total cost for one homemade loaf = $2.20

Comment: added ingredients add to the cost. Use less yeast and less improver (but ferment longer to compensate) for less cost. The loaf would likely bake quicker, too.

Why is homemade bread so much better than store-bought? ›

That said, most homemade breads are likely healthier than store-bought breads, which are often high in sugar and preservatives. One benefit of making your own bread is that you can control the ingredients. For example, you can use whole wheat flour instead of white flour, or add healthy toppings like nuts and seeds.

Sourdough bread: Sourdough bread can last for up to a week at room temperature, but may become stale faster than other bread types. It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or frozen for up to 3 months. Rye bread: Rye bread tends to be more dense and have a longer shelf life than other bread types.

Bacteria and mold thrive in damp, poorly-ventilated environments, and a plastic bag provides the perfect breeding ground for these unwanted organisms. Plastic bags can affect the flavor of the bread: Baked goods can absorb the taste and smell of plastic. This can greatly affect its flavor.

Both store-bought and homemade bread should freeze well, says Lisa Brooks, the chef and owner of Heart & Soul, a personal chef service. Her go-to method involves wrapping the bread in two layers of plastic wrap and then storing the loaf in a resealable plastic freezer bag before freezing.

Wonder Small Classic White features delicious, soft white bread for making sandwiches and toast. With a smaller loaf size, this pre-sliced white bread is perfect for smaller households. With added calcium, essential vitamins, and minerals, this delicious loaf of bread tastes great.

Pack it well: To keep the bread from drying out or going stale, we recommend our friend Tim's method, which consists of wrapping it first in a paper bag, then in a plastic trash bag. Place this in a sturdy box and if there is excess space, add padding material so the bread doesn't get knocked around.