This Banana Bread Recipe Only Takes Five Minutes...in Your MICROWAVE! (2024)

Baking bread is more popular (and easier) than ever! If you're new to it, don't be intimidated. Consider these easy bread recipes and become the baker you always knew you could be! Be sure to check out our ultimate bread baking guide, too, and consider using a banneton basket for all of your favorite bread recipes. Oh, and if you often end up with underbaked bread, learn what to do about it.

One-Bowl Chocolate Chip BreadQuick breads—breads without yeast—are the perfect place to start for beginner bakers. This chocolate chip quick bread is made even easier by using just one bowl. Plus, it's delicious!

Buttery CornbreadCornbread is an all-time favorite, but there's no need to let it freak you out. In fact, the popular menu addition is actually a snap to bake up!

Basic Homemade BreadMaking yeasted bread can be intimidating. Start with this simple recipe and be sure to brush up on how to proof yeast and how to knead bread before you start and the process will be smooth sailing.

Check outJoanna’s 3-minute bread recipe for another fast (and delicious!) bake.

Chocolate Chip Cranberry BreadThis cranberry quick bread has a few components: the batter, streusel and a glaze. Each, though, is simple to make, and once assembled this loaf is as impressive as it is easy. Plus, it can double as a dessert!

Check out these other cranberry bread recipes.

Crusty Homemade BreadThis bread recipe a great place for when you want to experiment a bit. The base here is very simple to tackle (almost no kneading!) and serves as a good canvas for herbs, cheese and more.

Pumpkin BreadI keep my freezer stocked for our harvest crew with home-baked goodies like this deliciously spicy, easy pumpkin bread recipe. —Joyce Jackson, Bridgetown, Nova Scotia

No-Fuss RollsYou only need four ingredients and 25 minutes to make these quick rolls. They don't require yeast, so they are a cinch to make—just grab your favorite muffin tin.

Cheesy Garlic Herb Quick BreadBreak out your cast-iron skillet for this bread! You can stir up a yeast-free savory bread that pairs well with soups and salads for dinner. You can easily switch out the herbs and cheeses as well to suit your tastes.

A Bit Nutty Boston Brown BreadIf you love Boston Brown Bread, this recipe is a must. If you've never tried it before, today is your lucky day. Bake up this hearty loaf and spread on some honey-sweetened butter. Hungry for more? Learn how to make fougasse.

Whether you serve this savory treat as an appetizer, side dish or late-night snack, you can't go wrong with full-flavored goodness of each slice of this dramatic flatbread.

Monkey BreadBring the kids into the kitchen to help bake up this sweet specialty. Try it for brunches or enjoy it alongside coffee or milk. You can't go wrong with this popular, and easy, recipe.

Herbed Parmesan BreadWe love this pretty loaf with Italian dinners but it's a tasty addition to any meal. Try it with salads or lightly toasted with butter. For surefire success, prepare the bread in Taste of Home Bakeware.

Gooey Old-Fashioned Steamed Molasses BreadBread from a slow cooker? You bet! Your slow cooker makes this change-of-pace bread simple, hands-off and impressive. The moist, tender slices always get rave reviews.

Muffin-Tin Tamale CakesJazz up lunches with these cute little bites. Cornbread mix makes them a snap, enchilada sauce adds flair and cooked chicken keeps them hearty enough for meals.

Pistachio Quick BreadYou'll go nuts for this tasty bread. (See what we did there?) Even if you're new to baking bread, it's never to early to get creative in the kitchen, and this fun recipe makes it simple to do just that.

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

Garlic-Cheese FlatbreadTurn pizza crust into a party pleaser with a handful of items. Try it with pizza, spaghetti or serve warm pieces on their own tasty movie-night snacks.

No-Knead Casserole BreadLove yeasted bread but are scared of kneading? This no-knead bread is for you. Plus, it only requires a short time to rise, so you can get it on the table fast.

Bacon Pull-Apart BreadRefrigerated biscuit dough is the base for this bread recipe. Shortcut ingredients like these can help make the prep work and cook time go fast, so don't be afraid to rely on them for last-minute appetizers and treats.

Honey CornbreadHomemade cornbread is almost as easy as stirring up a batch of the boxed stuff. This recipe has a hint of honey which goes beyond basic recipes (but is still simple).

Perfect Dinner RollsWhen you are just starting to bake bread, don't fuss with a lot of extra mix-ins or unusual ingredients. These rolls are simple, but a great recipe to master before you move onto more complicated (and equally delicious) dinner roll recipes. And if you find yourself having trouble proofing, check out our tips for how to proof bread when it's cold.

Mom’s Chocolate BreadIt's OK to use shortcut ingredients when you're just starting to bake (or when you're in a rush). This chocolate chip loaf uses packaged crescent rolls as a base.

Seeded Whole Grain LoafIf you love bread but are intimidated by it, try a bread machine. These appliances take a lot of guesswork (and elbow grease) out of the baking process. You can make a tasty seeded loaf like this one and plenty of other easy bread machine recipes.

Golden Honey Pan RollsThese rolls start in the bread maker to make the process simple.

Herb Quick BreadMany quick bread recipes are sweet, but this recipe is rather savory thanks to plenty of herbs. Serve it up with soups for an easy dinner. If you're craving more savory quick bread, try these recipes.

Pina Colada Zucchini BreadZucchini bread is a great place to start for beginners since it can be very forgiving. This pina colada-flavored one is a favorite among our baking club members. Join in on the action with Bakeable.

Check out our guide on how to make zucchini bread.

Honey Beer BreadThis beer bread uses just four ingredients and takes only five minutes to stir up. If you don't have self-rising flour on hand, you can make it yourself.

Classic Irish Soda BreadThis Irish soda bread recipe creates an impressive loaf of bread without the fuss of yeast. Baking soda and powder give it all the lift it needs. And yes, baking powder and baking soda are different.

Pumpkin BreadCome fall, a good pumpkin bread recipe is indispensable. This basic recipe is a great place to begin, but be sure to try this chocolate chip pumpkin bread, too.

Tender Garlic Cheese BreadsticksOnce you get a handle on yeast, you can make so many kinds of bread. These herb and cheese breadsticks are a great departure from simple loaves, but still are very manageable for beginners.

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