Learn How to Make Bread Without Yeast

In recent months, baking bread at home has become a popular activity for people looking to entertain themselves while at home. But most bread recipes require you to add yeast, which isn’t a staple in everyone’s pantry — which is why we’re sharing how to make bread without yeast in this post.

You might not have realized that it’s even possible to make bread without yeast, but there are a few simple methods to do it. Keep reading to learn how to make bread without yeast and enjoy a freshly baked loaf with dinner tonight.

Combine baking soda and acid

Even if you don’t have yeast in your house, you probably have baking soda. When you combine baking soda with a form of acid, the reaction can imitate yeast in bread and other baked goods. You can use several different acidic ingredients in combination with baking soda, including citrus (lemon or lime), buttermilk, or cream of tartar.

Irish soda bread is a popular form of bread that uses baking soda and acid (typically buttermilk) in place of yeast. You can even add raisins or currants to your soda bread for extra flavor and texture.

Use baking powder

Replacing yeast is even easier if you have baking powder in your cupboards. That’s because baking powder already contains both baking soda and acid, which causes baked goods to rise. When baking powder gets wet, it creates carbon dioxide bubbles within your dough, which expand when baked.

When swapping baking powder for yeast, you should be aware that it can create a coarser texture. For that reason, some people recommend against using baking powder when making bread that must be kneaded.

Make zucchini bread

If you aren’t too concerned about making a traditional loaf of bread, you can instead bake zucchini bread, which doesn’t contain yeast. It’s a moist and delicious form of bread that’s more like a cake or dessert.

When making zucchini bread, you’ll also need other common baking ingredients like eggs, vanilla extract, and sugar. If you’re struggling to get your family to eat their veggies, zucchini bread could be an option to sneak them into their diet.

Create your own sourdough starter

If you’ve got a bit more time, you can make a sourdough starter to create a deliciously chewy and tasty loaf of bread. Doing so takes a little less than a week, but the results are well worth it if you enjoy the taste of sourdough bread.

To make your starter, you’ll need to create a mixture of flour and water, letting it sit at room temperature and adding to it over several days. Although the process isn’t complicated, it does take time. If you need your loaf of bread for a special occasion, make sure to start growing your starter well before your event.

Learning how to make bread without yeast can come in handy when you’re short on supplies and need to whip up a loaf of bread. However, none of these ingredients is a perfect substitute, so don’t expect your bread to turn out exactly like it would with yeast.

For more kitchen tips and ideas, check out the Tastessence blog.