Homemade Bread Bowl Recipe for Soups

Get ready to elevate your soup game by making this Homemade Bread Bowl Recipe for Soups perfect for soup season. There’s something about savoring your favorite soup in a warm, freshly baked bread bowl that takes comfort food to a new level.

If you’re anything like me, right now, you’re probably thinking one of two things:

I really want to make homemade bread bowls, but I’m nervous. OR
Every time I make anything using yeast, it never works.

Sound right? I used to think the same thing when making any bread recipe. The good news is you’re not alone, and this recipe is easy. Just ensure you have fresh yeast that isn’t expired, and you can’t mess this recipe up.

If that doesn’t work, picture this: a steaming, flavorful soup cradled in a freshly baked bread bowl. It’s the comfort food that makes you feel warm and cozy inside. In this blog post, I’ll be your guide, walking you through every step, sharing tips, and offering a variety of soup pairings to elevate your bread bowl game. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and make these edible soup-serving wonders.

Gathering the ingredients

Before we dive into the doughy goodness, let’s assemble your kitchen crew. You’ll need:

Bread Flour: Bread flour is essential for achieving the perfect texture of your bread bowls. It has a higher protein content than all-purpose flour, resulting in a light, airy interior and sturdy crust.

Yeast (Fresh or Active Dry): Yeast is the magical ingredient responsible for the bread’s rise. Fresh yeast is ideal, but active dry yeast can work just as well. It’s essential for creating the airy, fluffy structure of the bread.

Salt: Salt enhances the flavor and strengthens the dough, ensuring the bread bowls retain shape and texture.

Water: Water activates the yeast and binds the other ingredients, forming the dough that will become your bread bowls.

Trusty Tools

Armed with these ingredients, let’s gather some trusty tools.

Spacious Mixing Bowl: You’ll need a large mixing bowl to combine the ingredients and allow the dough to rise. It should be spacious enough to accommodate the yeast’s magical transformation.

Wooden Spoon or Dough Whisk: These tools help mix and knead the dough, ensuring thorough combining and a smooth, elastic texture.

Floured Surface: A clean, lightly floured surface is your workspace for kneading the dough. It prevents sticking and facilitates the kneading process.

Baking Stone or Sturdy Baking Sheet: A baking stone, like a pizza stone, is recommended for even heat distribution and a crispy, golden crust. If unavailable, a sturdy baking sheet will suffice.

Sharp Serrated Knife: You’ll use this to score the bread bowls before baking, allowing them to expand evenly and prevent unsightly splitting.

Instructions for Making These Bread Bowls

As you embark on your bread bowl soup recipe adventure, remember that it all begins with the dough. Here’s your roadmap to crafting the ideal bread bowl, step by step:

1. Creating the Dough: It all begins here – the heart and soul of your bread bowls. You’ll need warm water, yeast, sugar, and salt to kickstart dough-making. This is where the magic happens. Knead the dough until it reaches that coveted state of smooth and elastic perfection. Now, set it aside to rise, allowing it to double in size. This process typically takes 1-2 hours and is crucial for achieving your bread bowls’ light and airy texture.

2. Shaping the Dough: With your dough beautifully risen, it’s time to get creative. Picture a punch down, followed by a friendly division into individual portions. These portions will be shaped into the bread bowls you’re dreaming of. A quick score on the tops of each bowl will ensure they expand perfectly in the oven, resulting in that irresistible golden crust.

3. A Second Rise: Before they hit the oven, your bread bowls are given one more gift – a second rise of 30-45 minutes. This step ensures the bread bowls develop a softer interior while maintaining their sturdy exterior. Like a final, graceful bow before the grand performance, this rise is the finishing touch before the grand baking finale.

4. Cut a Well in the Bread Bowl: To create the ideal soup vessel, imagine gently pressing the center of each dough portion to create a welcoming well. This well is not just for aesthetics – it’s where your soup will find its cozy home.

Now that you’ve followed these step-by-step instructions, your homemade bread bowls are ready to be baked perfectly. But before we proceed, let’s explore the different storage options for your freshly-made bread bowls to maintain their freshness and quality.

This is the first step and how foamy the mixture should be.

Storing Your Bread Bowl Creations

You’ve baked this bread bowl soup recipe perfectly, but what if you have leftovers? You can wrap them individually to keep them fresh for a day or two. A paper bag is an option, too; it maintains a crisp crust while keeping the inside soft if consumed within a day or two. Freezing is your superhero move for extending their shelf life.

Pairing Your Bread Bowls with Soup Delights

Now for the fun part – pairing your bread bowls with scrumptious soups! Creamy soups like broccoli cheddar or tomato bisque offer a velvety contrast to the crust. Heartier options like beef stew or minestrone fill your bread bowls with flavors. Lighter choices like chicken and vegetable broth-based soups provide a fresh contrast. Here are a few soup recipes you will find on my blog:

Feel free to experiment with your favorite unique combinations.

Commonly Asked Questions

Can I use all-purpose flour instead of bread flour for making bread bowls?

While you can use all-purpose flour, bread flour is preferred for its higher protein content, which results in a chewier and sturdier texture, perfect for bread bowls. Using all-purpose flour, your bread bowls may turn out softer and less crusty.

Can I freeze the baked bread bowls?

Absolutely! Once your bread bowls have cooled, you can freeze them in airtight containers for up to a month. Just make sure to thaw them at room temperature before reheating.

Absolutely! Once your bread bowls have cooled, you can freeze them in airtight containers for up to a month. Just make sure to thaw them at room temperature before reheating.

Yes, you can prepare the dough in advance and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. This allows for more flexible baking times and can be convenient for meal planning.

What’s the best way to reheat frozen bread bowls?

To reheat frozen bread bowls, place them in an oven preheated to 350°F (175°C) for about 10-15 minutes. This will help restore their crispy exterior and warm the interior.