Make this easy recipe with just 15 minutes of prep and no kneading. This soft, delicious, focaccia-style overnight bread is soft inside with a crispy crust. Having homemade bread in the morning has never been this easy!
How to Have Fresh Baked Bread Every Morning
I'm a real sucker for bread, and there is nothing better than a piece of homemade bread topped with loads of butter for a nice weekend breakfast.
For years, my go-to was scones, followed by an English muffin period. But for several years now this quick, easy, and oh so delicious Turkish Bread has won my number one spot.
I got this recipe from my Turkish ex-boyfriend, whose family would always make this for breakfast. I might have gotten rid of him, but this recipe sure is a keeper!
It's super easy to make and since there is no kneading required, it only requires 5-10 minutes of prep. Total!
And since you can proof it overnight, you don't have to get up at dawn in order to set the dough. That slow rise also adds so much flavor, so it tastes even better!
"This was so good and very easy to handle and bake, almost like Italian focaccia. Now I have another favorite bread recipe."
-Anita
Just Your Basic Pantry Ingredients!
Top it as you like! I like to add flax seeds and sea salt flakes on top, but you can also add sesame seeds, poppy seeds, or something else. Salt flakes are always a good idea, though!
What to Do if You Don’t Have Eggs
If you don't have eggs, you can use yogurt instead. Just mix with water and brush on top. Or if you don't have yogurt either, just brush with a little bit of water.
How to Make It Vegan
To make it vegan, swap the milk for a plant-based alternative, or lukewarm water. Instead of brushing with egg, brush with a little bit of water.
Prep the Night Before - Bake in the Morning!
1. Prep
Combine all the dry ingredients in a large bowl - it should be large enough for all the ingredients, and for the dough to double in size.
Then pour in half the milk, mix, and add more milk until the dough releases from the sides of the bowl. Cover with clingy plastic and refrigerate until the next day!
2. Bake
In the morning, bring out the dough and spread it out in a greased pan. Brush with egg wash, add your toppings, then bake until nice and golden. Eat immediately!
Top Tips For The Softest Bread
- Don't add all the milk at once. Add a little at a time to make sure your dough doesn't end up too wet or too dry. Add more or less milk if you need to, to get the right consistency.
- If your dough is too wet, just add a bit more flour. As long as you don't add a lot of extra flour you won't need to add any more of the other ingredients.
- If for some reason the dough hasn't risen at all overnight, let it sit in room temperature for 30-60 minutes before baking, and it should rise.
- If you want to make the dough the same day instead, just let it rise in room temperature 1-2 hours. You can also double the amount of yeast and it will rise in 1 hour.
Storing, Freezing & Prepping Ahead
Storing leftovers: Place leftover bread in plastic bags when it's still slightly warm, to retain as much moisture as possible. It's best the first 2 days, but good for up to 4-5 days.
Freezing leftovers: You can freeze leftovers in plastic bags for up to 6 months.
Prep ahead: This bread is designed to prep the day before, or in the morning if you want to bake it in the evening. Make the dough up to 12 hours before baking and proof in the fridge.
How To Eat It
This bread is great with any dish that goes well with bread. Some of my favorite ways to eat it are:
- For breakfast, topped with Whipped Butter or Whipped Feta, or as a side for Menemen (Turkish Shakshuka) or a Stovetop Frittata.
- As a side for soup - especially lentil soup and chicken soup.
- With a meze platter - it's delicious dipped in hummus or acili ezme.
- For dinner - as a side for lamb chops, moussaka, or baked chicken drumsticks.
More Quick & Easy Breakfast Recipes
- Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes17 Minutes
- Savory Scones15 Minutes
- 12 Best Air Fryer Egg Recipes
- Greek Breakfast Egg Muffins30 Minutes
Did you love this recipe? Rate it five stars!
...and let me know what you loved about it in the comments.
Recipe
Turkish Bread
Print RateIngredients
- 2½ cups flour
- 1 teaspoon dry active yeast
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1¼ cup milk or lukewarm water
For topping
- ½ tablespoon olive oil or butter, cooking spray, or neutral cooking oil
- ½ egg whisked together
- 1 tablespoon whole flax seeds optional, can be swapped for sesame seeds or poppy seeds
- 1 teaspoon sea salt flakes optional
Instructions
8-12 hours before baking
- Combine flour, yeast, salt and sugar in a bowl and mix.2½ cups flour, 1 teaspoon dry active yeast, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon sugar
- Add ⅔ of the milk and mix again. Then add more milk as needed to reach a good consistency. It should be a bit wet to the touch, but should release from the sides when pulled.1¼ cup milk
- When satisfied with the consistency, cover with clingy plastic film and place in the fridge overnight or for at least 12 hours.
20 minutes before you want to eat your bread
- Preheat your oven to 440°F (225°C).
- Bring out the dough from the fridge and remove the plastic film.
- Bring out a deep oven sheet that's about 8x10' (20x25 cm)', or slightly smaller. Pour in the olive oil and use a paper towel to grease the entire inside of the pan evenly.½ tablespoon olive oil
- Place your dough in the pan and push it out into the pan as evenly as possible. It should fill the bottom of the pan.
- Brush it with the egg, and then top with whole flax seeds and sea salt flakes that you crush slightly with your fingers.½ egg, 1 tablespoon whole flax seeds, 1 teaspoon sea salt flakes
- Place in the oven and bake for 14 minutes or until golden brown.
Video
Notes
- Yeast: I prefer active dry yeast for slow-rise recipes, but you can also use wet yeast. If using wet yeast, mix it with the milk.
- Egg: You can also use a bit of yogurt mixed with water, or just plain water, to brush on top of the bread before baking.
- Add more or less milk if you need to, to get the right consistency.
- If your dough is too wet, just add more flour.
- If it hasn't risen at all overnight, let it sit in room temperature for 30-60 minutes before baking.
- If you want to make the dough the same day instead, just let it rise in room temperature 1-2 hours. You can also double the amount of yeast and it will rise in 1 hour.
- Storing leftovers: Place leftover bread in plastic bags when it's still slightly warm, to retain as much moisture as possible. It's best the first 2 days, but good for up to 4-5 days.
- Freezing leftovers: You can freeze leftovers in plastic bags for up to 6 months.
- Prep ahead: This bread is designed to prep the day before, or in the morning if you want to bake it in the evening. Make the dough up to 12 hours before baking and proof in the fridge.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is approximate and automatically calculated, and should only be viewed as an indication.
Anita
This was so good and very easy to handle and bake, almost like Italian focaccia. Now I have another favorite bread recipe. 🙂
Emmeline Kemperyd
Very similar, yes! And equally as delicious - happy to hear you enjoyed it!
Noelle
This was delicious! I loved how easy it was to make too 🙂
Kelly Anthony
I'm also a bread lover and I've never made Turkish bread before so I'm excited to try something new.
Jessica
This will be great for sopping up soup! It looks so thick and crispy.
Matt Ivan
Love the flavor and texture! It’s perfect with almost any recipe.