Description
Learn how to make fluffy, mouthwatering homemade bread bowls from scratch with this easy and quick recipe. Perfect to serve with your favorite homemade or canned soup, these bread bowls are soft on the inside with a slightly crisp crust. This step-by-step recipe guides you through the simple yeast dough preparation, proofing, shaping, and baking process to create delicious bread bowls in just a little over two hours.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups very warm water
- 1 packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 3 cups flour
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
Egg Wash
- 1 egg white
- 1 Tbsp water
Instructions
- Activate the yeast: Pour the very warm water into a kitchen mixer bowl. Add the yeast and sugar, then let the mixture sit for 10 minutes until it becomes frothy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Mix the dough: Attach the dough hook to the mixer. Turn the mixer on low speed, slowly adding the flour and salt. Then add the olive oil and continue mixing until the dough forms a smooth ball.
- First rise: Transfer the dough to a large greased bowl. Cover it and let it rise for one hour or until it doubles in size.
- Shape the bowls: Divide the dough into 3 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a smooth ball. Pull the top edges down all around to the bottom to create a tight, smooth surface. Place each ball on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, cover, and let rise for another 30 minutes.
- Prepare for baking: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C). In a small bowl, mix the egg white with water. Brush this egg wash evenly over each dough ball to give the crust a shiny finish after baking.
- Bake: Bake the bread bowls in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- Create the bread bowl: Allow the bread to cool completely. Use a knife to carefully cut a round piece from the top of each bread bowl and hollow out some of the inner bread to create a bowl shape suitable for holding soup.
- Serve: Fill the bread bowls with your favorite soup, stew, or chili and enjoy a cozy, delicious meal.
Notes
- Make sure the water is warm, not hot, to effectively activate the yeast without killing it.
- Allow the dough to rise until it doubles in size; this ensures light and airy bread bowls.
- When shaping the dough balls, pulling the dough edges down tightly helps create a smooth surface and prevents cracking during baking.
- The egg wash provides a glossy, golden crust but can be omitted for a matte finish or for vegan adaptation (use plant-based alternatives).
- Cool the bread completely before hollowing out to prevent tearing the inside.
- These bread bowls are best served the day they are made, but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: bread bowl, homemade bread, dinner bowl, soup bowl, yeast bread, American bread, bread recipe
