Quick and Easy Bread Bowls

Total Time

Prep: 35 min. + rising Bake: 20 min.+ cooling

Makes

6 servings

Updated: Jun. 30, 2023
Impress all your friends by serving cream soups or dips with this bread bowl recipes. It's one of the most popular recipes on my blog, yammiesnoshery.com. —Rachel Heidenreich, Marshall, Michigan
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons active dry yeast
  • 3 cups warm water (110° to 115°)
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 6-1/2 to 7-1/2 cups bread flour
  • Optional: Cornmeal and sesame seeds

Directions

  1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. In a large bowl, combine sugar, salt, yeast mixture and 3 cups flour; beat on medium speed 3 minutes. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough (dough will be sticky).
  2. Turn onto a floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 30 minutes.
  3. Preheat oven to 500°. Punch dough down. Divide and shape into 6 balls. Place 3 in. apart on 2 baking sheets that have been grease, or, if desired, generously sprinkled with cornmeal. Cover with a kitchen towel; let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 15 minutes. Spray loaves with water; if desired, generously sprinkle with sesame seeds. Using a sharp knife, score tops with shallow cuts in an "X" pattern. Bake 2 minutes. Reduce oven setting to 425°. Bake until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 190°-200°. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
  4. Cut a thin slice off the top of each loaf. Hollow out bottom portion of each loaf, leaving a 1/2-in. shell. Discard removed bread or save for another use, such as croutons.

Test Kitchen Tips
  • To approximate that crackling crust you find on fancy artisanal breads, get steamy. A quick spritz of water into the oven or a light mist sprayed directly on the loaf right before baking should do the trick.
  • Scoring the exterior of bread creates weak points that help prevent it from bursting and directs expansion to shape the loaf. And, hey, it looks really pretty to boot!
  • Nutrition Facts

    1 bread bowl: 283 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 396mg sodium, 57g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 2g fiber), 10g protein.

    More from Taste of Home