Whether you’re a seasoned baker or just starting your journey, deciding on the right bread or pizza dough recipe can feel overwhelming. With so many options to choose from, it’s essential to consider your skill level, available time, and goals for the finished product.
If you’re new to bread baking or you want to try making pizza dough for the first time, or you just need a quick recipe, we’ve got you covered. Likewise, if you’re a bread enthusiast looking for a challenge or planning an event, there’s also something here for you.
Let’s break it down to help you find the perfect recipe to suit your needs.
For Beginners: Bread and Pizza Dough Made Simple
If you’ve never made bread or pizza dough before, it can seem intimidating. But don’t worry—we’ve got easy recipes that are perfect for first-timers. All these recipes require less active time and come together quickly overall, with straightforward instructions.
This direct thin-crust pizza dough is a variation of our master recipe. We developed this time-saving technique with busy schedules in mind—you can make this dough, from start to finish, in under 2.5 hours without compromising on quality. It yields a crust that is sturdy, crunchy, and has great flavor.
Other pizzas to try from Modernist Pizza:
- Direct New York Pizza Dough (Vol. 4:136)
- No-Knead Brazilian Thin-Crust Pizza Dough (Vol. 4:182)
With just four ingredients—flour, water, salt, and yeast—French lean bread is a perfect starting point for new bakers. These loaves are simple yet iconic, and the baguette is the quintessential example. It’s not only a classic but also a great way to build your bread-making confidence.
If you’re in the mood for something sweet, try our Cinnamon Raisin Bread. This bread is beginner-friendly, deliciously sweet, and requires just 20–30 minutes of active time and about 3 hours of inactive time. Plus, the mixing and shaping methods are great for practicing basic techniques.
Other beginner breads to try:
- Portuguese Sweet Bread
- White Sandwich Bread (Modernist Bread at Home, p. 239 / Modernist Bread Vol. 4:289)
- Jewish Deli Rye (MBAH, p. 252 / Modernist Bread Vol. 4:306)
These recipes are simple to follow, require minimal equipment, and provide a solid foundation for dough making.
For Bread Bakers Trying Pizza for the First Time
If you’ve baked bread but haven’t ventured to pizza yet, you’ll find the techniques familiar. These recipes are perfect for exploring new pizza styles while building on your existing skills.
Unlike other bread-like pizza doughs that require a preferment, our Detroit-style master dough can be prepared entirely on the same day you plan to bake. After mixing the dough to nearly full gluten development, it undergoes two 15-minute bench rests separated by a four-edge fold. This process relaxes the gluten strands, making it easier to shape the dough to fit the pan.
Other recipes to try:
- Focaccia Dough (Modernist Pizza Vol. 2:148)
- New York Square Pizza Dough (Vol. 2:152)
- High-Hydration al Taglio Pizza Dough (Vol. 2:158)
Breads and Pizza Dough for Busy Days
Need bread or pizza dough that’s ready in a day or less? Focus on direct dough recipes that skip the preferment stage, or, in the case of pizza, emergency dough recipes. These recipes don’t require overnight proofing and fit easily into a single day.
Quick Bread Recipes
- Challah: A delicious option that takes less than 7 hours.
- Direct Farmer’s Bread: A faster alternative to our master recipe; done in less than 7 hours.
- Second-Chance Sourdough: Enjoy sourdough in just 9 hours!
Other bread recipes that take less than 9 hours:
- Direct Ciabatta (MBAH,p. 222 / Modernist Bread Vol. 4:162)
- Direct Focaccia (MBAH, p. 231)
- Pain de Mie (MBAH, p. 244 / Modernist Bread Vol. 4:296)
- Hamburger Buns (MBAH, p. 260 / Modernist Bread Vol. 4:320)
Quick Pizza Recipes
- Direct Thin-Crust Pizza Dough: Ready in just 2 hours and 15 minutes.
- Detroit-Style Pizza Dough: Takes less than 4 hours.
- Any of our “emergency pizza” recipes from Modernist Pizza (Vol. 2) are perfect for a fast pizza fix.
For Bakers with Extra Time
If you have the time to invest in creating complex flavors and textures, these recipes will reward your patience. They involve longer proofing times, preferments, or cold fermentation to develop depth.
Time-Intensive Bread Recipes
One standout option is the Sablée Brioche. Mastering this rich, buttery bread requires careful handling to ensure the crumb is strong enough to support the loaf without overbaking, which can result in a thick crust. This recipe is a balancing act, but the result—a beautifully executed brioche—is well worth the 22-hour process.
Other bread recipes include:
- Vollkornbrot
- Candied Fruit Vollkornbrot
- Chocolate and Cherry Sourdough
- Everything Bagel
- Black Currant Sourdough with Marcona Almonds (MBAH, p. 194 / Modernist Bread Vol. 4:82)
- Country-Style Bread (MBAH, p. 197 / Modernist Bread Vol. 4:99)
- Ancient Grain Bread (MBAH, p. 209 / Modernist Bread Vol. 4:125)
- Farmer’s Bread (MBAH, p. 295 / Modernist Bread Vol. 4:99)
Time-Intensive Pizza Recipes
If you’re ready to invest extra time, these pizza recipes will deliver exceptional results.
While the dough itself takes only 2 hours to make, assembling this pizza requires a bit more time and focus, especially if it’s your first attempt. For the best results, we recommend cold-proofing the dough for a full day—this extra step enhances the crust’s crispiness and flavor. It’s a fantastic recipe to challenge your skills and savor a truly rewarding payoff.
Other pizza doughs to try:
- Artisan Pizza Dough (Modernist Pizza Vol. 2:142)
- New York Pizza Dough (Vol. 2:132)
Breads for Special Occasions
When you want to impress or bring something exciting to an event, these breads are guaranteed to turn heads:
Chocolate and Cherry Sourdough
This is our top recommendation. A variation of our Sourdough Master Recipe, this dough is only moderately sweet; the natural sourness of the dough tempers the sweet character of the inclusions. Given how many taste testers were waiting when these loaves came out of the oven, it’s a captivating combination (and a team favorite).
Other breads to try:
- Sablée Brioche
- Candied Fruit Vollkornbrot
- Cinnamon Raisin Bread
- Challah
- Vollkornbrot
- Black Currant Sourdough with Marcona Almonds (MBAH, p. 194 / Modernist Bread Vol. 4:82)
- Hazelnut Butter Brioche (MBAH, p. 266 / Modernist Bread Vol. 4:229)
- Babka (MBAH, p. 269 / Modernist Bread Vol. 4:225)
- Coconut Challah (MBAH, p. 270 / Modernist Bread Vol. 4:280)
- Hawaiian Pineapple Sweet Bread (MBAH, p. 247/ Modernist Bread Vol. 4:313)
Cooking Pizza for a Crowd
If you’re hosting a large gathering, skip the individual Neapolitan-style pizzas, which can be time-consuming. Instead, try recipes that yield larger portions or are easier to manage.
These options allow you to spend less time at the oven and more time with your guests:
- Deep-Dish Pizza Dough: Perfect for feeding a crowd with its thick, hearty crust and customizable toppings.
- Detroit-Style Pizza Dough: This rectangular pizza is ideal for sharing, with its crispy edges and fluffy interior.
- New York Square Pizza Dough (Modernist Pizza, Vol. 2:132): This crowd-pleaser is parbaked before applying sauce and cheese, making it easy to prepare before an event.
No matter your skill level or time constraints, there’s a recipe that will suit your needs. While we have many recipes available online, all the techniques and recipes mentioned above can be found in Modernist Bread, Modernist Bread at Home, or Modernist Pizza. With step-by-step instructions, tips for troubleshooting, and the science behind each recipe, these books provide the tools and knowledge to elevate your baking skills.