Van Gogh-inspired foccacia to healthy banana bread: 7 recipes for every home baker now

You may or may not have found your social media feeds splashed with the efforts of your friends-turned-bakers, and it’s no surprise. Baking takes up all of your attention, which makes for a therapeutic experience and a respite from the situation that’s playing out now.

Additionally, it’ll give you a sense of accomplishment, too. From artisanal loaves to ones that novice bakers can start with, here’s to your next #quarantinebaking project to share on Instagram. 

1. Van Gogh-inspired focaccia

Can’t decide between creating art or getting down to kneading dough to while away the time? We say do both and take a leaf from Toronto-based Vineyard Baker to get started on your own masterpiece – think yellow peppers for petals, leafy herbs, capers and grape tomatoes.

Scroll through her Instagram post for the recipe or visit her website.

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2. Healthy Banana Bread

If you’re (like half of the quarantined world) jumping on the banana bread bandwagon, here’s one for you. This version gives the classic a healthier spin with whole-wheat flour, applesauce and almond milk which cuts down on the sugar, too.

Get the recipe from Real Simple here.

3. Flaxseed Meal Sourdough bread

This is good ol’ sourdough amped up with flaxseed, which gives you extra fibre, protein, and heart-healthy polyunsaturated fatty acids. You will need to get your hands on a sourdough starter, or try making your own (which will take up quite a bit of patience and effort).

Get the recipe from Breadtopia here.

4. No Yeast Bread

If you don’t have yeast on hand and the supermarket or the baking store’s too crowded to get some, give this recipe which uses just six ingredients (and baking soda as a leavening agent) a whirl.

Get the recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction here.

5. Multi-seed Crispbread

For those of you who haven’t gotten acquainted with knackerbrod, now’s the time to. Unlike regular bread, this staple in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries is more cracker-like with an addictive crunch. And it doesn’t get any simpler than rye flour, water, olive oil, a dash of salt, and various types of seed.

My favourites are pumpkin, sesame and flaxseed. You will also need a rolling pin to flatten the dough – I used an empty wine bottle.

Get the recipe from Del’s Cooking Twist here.

6. Chocolate-chip soda bread

We could all do with a bit of chocolatey goodness during these trying times. Check out this soda bread recipe with chocolate chips and hazelnuts from celebrity chef Jamie Oliver with an ingredient list you can easily find in your pantry.

Get the recipe from Jamie Oliver’s website here.

7. Roasted Garlic and Herb No-Knead Bread

Is there anything more comforting than a garlicky, herb-infused loaf of goodness? Upgrade your fast food-delivery garlic bread with this hearty bake. Best of all – no kneading required, but the recipe does call for a Dutch oven (or a deep oven-proof skillet).

Get the recipe from The Kitchn here.

This article was first published in Home & Decor.