Easy homemade breads bowls are made with simple ingredients and are crusty golden brown on the outside with a soft and fluffy center! They are perfect for filling with your favorite soup.
If you love homemade bread recipes, try homemade breadsticks, Dutch Oven Bread or dinner rolls, too.
Table of Contents
Homemade Bread Bowls
There’s nothing more comforting on a cold day than a warm soup in a homemade bread bowl. My family and I love making soups and my kids always get so excited when they see I’m serving the broccoli and cheese soup in a bread bowl!
I’ve been known to pick them up from Panera, but homemade bread bowls are actually easier than you may think. I adapted this recipe from my famous French bread recipe and the bread bowls are soft and fluffy on the inside and golden and crispy on the outside. And they only need to rise for an hour, too!
Ingredients
- Yeast: I used active dry yeast in this recipe. If using instant yeast, simply mix it in with the dry ingredients and skip proofing it in water first.
- Water: This gets mixed with the yeast in the proofing process. Make sure it’s warm water, about 110°F. Anything hotter will kill the yeast.
- Sugar: This is also used to help proof the yeast. A Tablespoon of sugar is mixed in with the water and yeast to help it grow.
- Flour: I used all-purpose flour and it worked great. Bread flour would work too. Make sure you know how to measure flour accurately before getting started.
- Salt: A couple of teaspoons of salt are added for extra flavor.
- Oil: Olive oil is used for more flavor, as well as to coat the dough while it rises.
How to Make a Bread Bowl
Proof the yeast. These homemade bread bowls do start with yeast, but don’t be nervous! Make sure you have warm water (bath tub temperature around 110°F) and fresh yeast. Then add the yeast to the water with the sugar and give it a good stir. Cover the bowl with saran wrap and then wait about 5 minutes until it starts to pouf up. Once it’s foamy, you’ll know it’s ready.
Knead the dough. Then combine 4 cups flour, salt, 1 teaspoon olive oil and the yeast mixture in a large bowl. Use a dough hook if you have one and mix with your stand mixer on medium speed. Add in 1/2 cup flour at a time until the dough becomes smooth, not sticky. Then knead with a dough hook for an additional 3 minutes or by hand for 5-6 minutes.
Let rise. Coat the ball of dough with the remaining teaspoon of oil and cover with saran wrap or a damp cloth or towel. Let rise in a warm place until it doubles in size. If in a cooler climate, you can place it in the oven to help it rise quicker. Turn the oven to 150°F and then turn off. Place the bowl inside of the oven (leaving a slight crack) and let rise (about 20-30 minutes). Another trick is to place the bowl on a heating pad. That will help it rise as well.
Shape the dough. Punch dough down and divide into 6 equal portions. Form each piece into a ball and pinch the bottom to round it. Then place seam down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cut an X on the top of the dough ball with a sharp knife and allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until doubles in size.
Bake in oven. Then bake at 400°F for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. To serve, cut out a big round piece at the top of each loaf and hallow out the center.
Quick Tips
- Make sure your water is bath tub temperature! You want it around 110°F.
- To knead, feel free to use a dough hook (this will quicken the process).
- To help your dough rise quicker, turn oven to 150°F and then turn off. Place bowl inside of oven (leave a small crack) and let rise about 20-30 minutes.
- You can also place the bowl on a heating pad to help it rise quicker too.
Best Soups for Bread Bowls
There are ALL types of soups that taste delicious in bread bowls! We tend to serve ours with a soup that has a creamier consistency. They also make a great vessel for serving dips like this Knorr spinach dip or buffalo chicken dip. Either way, they’re sure to be a hit!
- Crockpot potato soup
- Chicken pot pie soup
- White chicken chili
- Ham and potato soup
- Corn chowder
- Tomato basil soup
5 star review
“Followed the recipe to a T and they turned out perfect!!! These went great with the crockpot potato soup!!! My family was impressed. Thank you!!!“
– Brooke
More homemade bread recipes include easy homemade bread, artisan bread, easy homemade pizza dough and rosemary focaccia
More Homemade Bread Recipes
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Bread Bowl Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 ½ Tablespoons active dry yeast
- 2 cups warm water (110°)
- 1 Tablespoon granulated sugar
- 5-6 cups all-purpose flour (I used all-purpose)
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
Instructions
- Line two pans with parchment paper or a baking mat and set aside. Dissolve the yeast and sugar in a small bowl with warm water. Cover with saran wrap until it poufs.
- In a large bowl, combine 4 cups flour, salt, 1 teaspoon olive oil and the yeast mixture. Beat on medium speed (using a dough hook if you have one). Add 1/2 cup flour at a time until the dough becomes smooth, not sticky. Knead 3 minutes with a dough hook or 5-6 minutes by hand.
- Cover the dough ball with 1 teaspoon oil and place in a large bowl. Cover with saran wrap or a towel and allow to rise until doubles in size.
- Punch down the dough and then divide into six balls. Form each piece into a ball and pinch the bottom to round it. Then place seam down on pan.
- Cut an X on the top and allow to rise for 30 minutes, or until doubles in size. Preheat the oven to 400°F while bread bowls are rising. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown.
- For serving, cut a large round piece out of the top of the bread bowl and then hallow out the center.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 5 Ingredients Or Less, American, Bread, Dairy-Free, Nut-Free, Vegetarian, Yeast Bread
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. Here you will find easy family-friendly recipes for every occasion.
These are so perfect for fall. We love putting all types of soup in them!
6 ingredients is my kind of recipe, especially when it comes to bread! Simple & so yummy!
We are soups & chili so much better in bread bowls?! This is an easy recipe, that makes the perfect bread bowl!
Thank you so much for this amazing and really delicious bread bowl recipe! It’s super easy to make! Will surely have this again, Highly recommended!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe! :)
This really is the easiest bread bowl ever! So delicious too!
This French bread was so delicious. I enjoyed it immensely as did my husband and children. This is my first time making this bread. It was not difficult at all. Super easy. I needed a loaf to make along with my Gnocchi Soup and this was just right. Thanks
I Would Love To Have These Recipes!!!!
I used our favorite tomato soup to fill these, such a hit last night. Thank you :)
This brings back so many memories for me. LOVED ordering bread bowls with my chowder as a kid! Such a fun idea!
Is the other 1 tsp of oil for brushing? Before or after you bake them?
Hi Lisa! 1 tsp is used in step 3 with the flour, salt and yeast mixture. The other tsp is used in step 5 to cover the dough before rising. :)
Followed the recipe to a T and they turned out perfect!!! These went great with the crockpot potato soup!!! My family was impressed haha. Thank you!!!
These were easy and delicious! I used half white and half wheat flour and we loved them!
Oh yes ! Hooked ! Thank you for this : everybody will have a “plate of his own ! Love it !
I love the idea of making homemade bread bowls. Especially now, since it’s soup season!
I make bread bowls at home all the time! It’s so easy!
This is absolutely fantastic! So YUMMY! Is good food and this looks like one of the BEST!
I love the smell of the homemade bread. I would like to try your recipe!
Cooler temperatures mean soup weather at my house. How can I up my game? A BREAD BOWL!!! I am sooo excited to have this recipe.