Investing in a bread maker or tracking down a sourdough starter is the perfect way to enjoy National Homemade Bread Day. It’s an invitation to fill your home with the aroma of freshly baked dough and satisfy all your flour and yeast “kneads”.
There’s no denying that sliced bread is convenient – it saves time and cuts out the physical work. Yet it’s a pity that fewer people get to experience the rich flavour, comforting warmth, and unmistakable aroma of homemade bread. That’s exactly why National Homemade Bread Day exists: to bring back that simple pleasure.
A Look Back at Homemade Bread Day
Although the origins of this celebratory day aren’t entirely clear, the story of bread itself mirrors the story of civilisation. Bread has long been a staple food and a cultural symbol, appearing in countless forms across the world. Grains and cereals were part of human diets long before bread existed, but bread as we know it may date back as far as 10,000 years to the Neolithic era in Europe. Early bakers even used a piece of a previous loaf as a ‘starter’, much like the technique used for sourdough today.
Archaeological discoveries in Pompeii revealed that bread was widely accessible even in ancient times. The city’s preserved ovens showed that residents had access to bread baked in more than 30 different bakeries before the eruption of 79 AD.
With the invention of the bread maker, homemade baking has become easier than ever. This means anyone can enjoy bread that is fresher, healthier, and often more flavourful than many shop-bought varieties. Homemade bread tends to be higher in fibre, lower in salt, and free from unnecessary additives. It can also be customised with seeds, grains, herbs, spices, or anything else that suits your taste.
Whatever the shape or flavour, homemade bread is a joy worth celebrating.
How to Celebrate National Homemade Bread Day
National Homemade Bread Day is the ideal excuse to bake, eat, and share delicious bread. Here are a few ideas to enjoy the day.
Enjoy a Slice of Fresh Bread
This could be a traditional yeast loaf, kneaded by hand and baked to perfection, or a simpler quick bread like banana bread, biscuits, or pumpkin loaf. However you choose to make it, savour a slice warm with butter, cream cheese, or your favourite spread.
Bake Your Own Bread
While some find homemade bread intimidating, it’s worth remembering that baking has been a basic household skill for thousands of years. At its core, bread requires very few ingredients: flour, yeast, oil, and a pinch of salt or sugar.
Simple Homemade Bread Recipe
A straightforward recipe calls for combining 3 ¼ cups of bread flour with 2 teaspoons of instant yeast and 2 teaspoons of salt. Add 1 ½ cups of cool water, then mix until fully combined.
Cover and leave the dough to rise for two to three hours. Refrigerate it for 12–72 hours, then divide and shape into two loaves. After resting for 45 minutes, bake at 475°F for around 20–25 minutes.
Allow the loaves to cool slightly before enjoying a warm, buttery slice straight from the oven.
Discover Fun Bread Facts
Share these interesting bits of bread-related trivia as part of the celebration:
• During 1943, pre-sliced bread was briefly banned in the United States as a wartime conservation measure – though it proved ineffective and was quickly dropped.
• A 400-foot loaf baked at the 2015 Milan Expo set a Guinness World Record as the longest loaf ever made.
• In Ancient Egypt, bread was so essential that it sometimes served as currency and was placed in tombs for the afterlife.
• Scandinavian folklore claims that if a boy and girl share a loaf, they are destined to fall in love.
Thinking of Buying a Bread Machine?
For anyone keen to enjoy homemade bread more often, a bread maker is a great investment. Those unsure can borrow one from a friend first. Here are some well-known models:
• Oster Express Bake – an affordable and reliable option with a 13-hour timer and rapid-bake function.
• Curtis Stone Bread Maker – popular for ease of use, with 19 preset programmes.
• Zojirushi Home Bakery Virtuoso – a premium machine with dual kneading blades and rapid courses.
Share the Bread-Loving Spirit
This day is best enjoyed with others. Whether you take a freshly baked loaf to the office, attend a baking class with friends, or learn a family recipe from a grandparent, the spirit of the day is all about connection. Invite someone to help measure, knead, or simply keep you company as the dough rises.
Now is the perfect moment to roll up your sleeves and get baking for National Homemade Bread Day.