Elevate a standard loaf with herbs, cheese and fresh veg or bake up a sweet breakfast loaf to share.

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Our resident bread expert Barney Desmazery’s top tip is to add extras after proving. ‘Any nuts, seeds, small or chopped dried fruits, olives, fresh thyme or rosemary can be added without changing the dough. For the best distribution, scatter the ingredients into the dough at the ‘knocking back’ stage.’

Want to expand your baking skills? Try our best ever bread recipes and check out our reviews of the best bread-making equipment, tools and kit.

1. Courgette and cheddar soda bread

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Make a simple loaf packed with mature cheddar and thyme. Squeeze as much water out of the grated courgette as possible to keep the dough from becoming too wet. Our simple courgette & cheddar soda bread is perfect eaten warm, slathered in butter. This onion soda bread with whipped English mustard butter is just as good.

Try our favourite soda bread recipes for more lovely loaves.

2. Red onion, gruyère and rosemary fougasse

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This fabulous French bread is the cousin of Italian focaccia. Our impressive red onion, gruyère & rosemary fougasse is deceptively simple to make. Serve warm as a sharing starter. We can't resist the mouthwatering combination of slightly sweet and salty cheese with punchy red onion.

3. Apricot brioche

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A slice of this soft, golden-brown apricot brioche, lightly toasted, is the perfect breakfast. Want to try some different flavours? Use our classic brioche recipe and add dried fruit or chocolate chips. Be warned though – it’ll be gone in minutes.

4. Asparagus, sundried tomato & olive loaf

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Bring a taste of spring to your table with our easy asparagus, sundried tomato & olive loaf. Every slice of this savoury beauty is packed with sun-soaked flavours – perfect for a summery picnic or help-yourself mezze. When trimming the asparagus, keep the stalks for stocks, soups and risottos.

5. Olive bread swirls

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These olive bread swirls are packed with savoury, umami flavours. Salty olives, anchovies and garlic make them well suited to a buffet lunch or side. Try Mediterranean-inspired additions, such as chorizo, manchego or sundried tomatoes. Looking for more? Add our focaccia rolls to your antipasti selection.

6. Stout & apple wheaten bread

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Our wholemeal stout & apple wheaten bread is made with buttermilk and treacle for a deliciously dense, moist slice. A welcome accompaniment to your afternoon cuppa.

7. Cracked black pepper & figgy bread

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Pair sweet and fiery in our cracked black pepper & figgy bread. Try slices of this peppery masterpiece with a slab of blue cheese, creamy goat's cheese or mature cheddar. It’ll be the star of the cheeseboard.

Make the most of summer fruit with our fig & serrano ham picnic bread. It's delicious with goat's cheese and peppery rocket.

8. Pesto focaccia sandwich

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Pack up our pesto focaccia sandwich for an instant veggie picnic. The fillings are baked straight into the bread, so no need to pack cutlery. Bring a taste of Italy to your table with our new potato & rosemary focaccia, a hunk of fiery garlic chilli focaccia or a delicate artichoke focaccia.

9. Raspberry, chocolate & hazelnut breakfast bread

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This showstopping raspberry, chocolate & hazelnut breakfast bread is especially tasty with some raspberry jam or extra chocolate spread. Tart fruit and rich chocolate is a flavour match made in heaven. Be prepared to practice your kneading skills and get stuck into sticky dough.

10. Beetroot, bacon & cheddar bread scrolls

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Our rustic beetroot, bacon & cheddar bread scrolls are best served warm from the oven with butter. Cheesy, jammy and savoury, these moreish rolls are perfect with a steaming bowl of soup.

Enjoyed these loaves? Try more brilliant bread recipes...

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