40 Types of Bread From A to Z: A Delicious Journey Around the World

Bread, a staple food enjoyed for millennia, takes on countless forms around the globe. This article explores the fascinating diversity of types of bread. From the most popular baguettes to lesser-known regional bread, let us take a delicious journey across continents. While a classic is always great, there’s a whole world of bread waiting to be explored. Discover unique flavors and textures, and embark on a delicious journey through the world of bread.

Anpan

Anpan is a traditional Japanese sweet roll most commonly filled with red bean paste (anko). It’s a classic combination of soft, fluffy bread and the sweet, slightly nutty flavor of red bean paste.

Babka

Babka is a sweet bread of Eastern European origin. It is often filled with chocolate or cinnamon and twisted or braided before baking. Babka is a popular treat during holidays and celebrations, enjoyed as a dessert or with a cup of coffee for a delightful indulgence.

Bagel

Boiled before baking, bagels have a chewy texture and come in various flavors, from classic plain to everything bagel with its signature sesame seed and onion topping.

Baguette

This classic French bread is known for its elongated shape, crisp crust, and airy crumb. Baguettes are versatile and commonly used for sandwiches, appetizers, and meal accompaniments.

Brioche

This rich, buttery bread is made with eggs, butter, flour, and sugar. Brioche has a tender crumb and a golden crust, making it ideal for sweet and savory applications, such as French toast, sandwiches, and pastries.

Challah

Challah is a traditional bread characterized by its braided appearance and rich, eggy flavor. Its sweet taste and soft texture make it versatile. It can be enjoyed plain or with butter or used in dishes like bread pudding or French toast.

Chapati

Chapati is a thin, unleavened Indian flatbread made with Indian whole wheat flour, water, and salt, cooked on a hot griddle. It is a staple in Indian cuisine and is often served with curries, dal, or other dishes as a simple and wholesome accompaniment.

Ciabatta

Ciabatta is an Italian bread with a rustic appearance, chewy texture, and open crumb structure. It is made with high-hydration dough and is perfect for sandwiches and panini. Its robust crust and soft interior make it a favorite choice for soaking up sauces or pairing with charcuterie and cheese.

Cornbread

Cornbread is made with cornmeal, flour, eggs, and milk or buttermilk. It has a slightly sweet flavor and a dense, crumbly texture. Cornbread is often served as a side dish with barbecue, chili, or fried chicken. Its versatility makes it popular for sweet and savory dishes, from cornbread muffins to cornbread stuffing.

Crumpet

This British bread resembles a thick pancake with a spongy texture, often toasted and served with butter or jam. Crumpets are a favorite breakfast food in the UK, enjoyed hot off the griddle with a cup of tea or coffee.

Danish Rye Bread

This dense, dark bread from Denmark is made with rye flour, sourdough starter, and sometimes seeds like caraway or fennel. Danish rye bread has a complex flavor profile with hints of sweetness and earthiness. It pairs well with cheeses, cured meats, and pickled vegetables.

Dinner Rolls

Dinner rolls are small, soft, individual loaves of bread typically served alongside a main course, especially dinner. They’re usually light and fluffy with a golden brown crust. They’re often enjoyed warm, straight from the oven, and can be eaten plain or with butter for an extra bit of flavor.

English Muffin

English muffins are small, round breads with a chewy texture and many air pockets. They are often split and toasted before serving. English muffins can be enjoyed with butter and jam for breakfast, used as a base for Eggs Benedict, or turned into mini pizzas for a quick snack.

Focaccia

Focaccia is a flatbread topped with olive oil, herbs, and other ingredients such as olives, tomatoes, or cheese. It has a light and airy texture and is served as an appetizer or accompaniment to meals. It is also a delicious addition to antipasto platters or as a side dish to soups and salads.

Fougasse

Fougasse is a French bread shaped like a leaf. It is typically flavored with olive oil and herbs. It has a crispy crust and a soft interior, making it perfect for tearing and sharing as an appetizer or snack.

Gingerbread Loaf

A gingerbread loaf is a type of quick bread that incorporates the classic flavors of gingerbread: ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and molasses. It’s typically moist and tender, with a warm, spicy aroma. Gingerbread loaves are often enjoyed as a breakfast treat, a snack, or even a dessert.

Hoagie Roll

A hoagie roll is a type of long, soft bread roll commonly used for making hoagies, also known as submarine sandwiches or subs. Its crusty exterior and soft, fluffy interior make it ideal for holding a variety of sandwich fillings without becoming soggy. Hoagie rolls can be made from different types of bread dough, such as white, wheat, or Italian bread, and they are often topped with sesame seeds.

Irish Soda Bread

Irish Soda Bread is made with flour, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk. Its dense yet tender texture results from its traditional round loaf baking. Irish soda bread is often served warm with butter or jam, especially around St. Patrick’s Day.

Johnnycake

Johnnycake is a type of cornmeal flatbread that originated in Native American cuisine. Made from cornmeal, water, and salt, the batter is cooked on a hot griddle until golden brown. Popular in New England and the Southern U.S., johnnycakes can be enjoyed with butter, syrup, or honey as a side dish, breakfast item, or snack.

Kulcha

Kulcha is a type of Indian flatbread made from wheat flour, leavened with yeast or baking powder, and typically cooked in a tandoor oven. It is often flavored with garlic, onions, or spices. It can be served with curries or as a standalone snack.

Lavash

Lavash is a thin, soft flatbread often rolled out into large sheets and cooked on a hot griddle. Its soft texture and mild flavor make it a versatile accompaniment to dips, spreads, and grilled meats.

Multigrain Bread

Multigrain bread is made with a variety of grains and seeds, such as wheat, barley, oats, flaxseed, or even quinoa. This gives it a heartier texture and a more complex flavor than white bread.

Naan

Naan is a leavened Indian flatbread made with flour, water, yeast, and yogurt. It is typically cooked in a tandoor oven and has a soft, fluffy texture, perfect for scooping up curries, sauces, and dips. Its pillowy texture and slightly tangy flavor make it a popular choice for Indian cuisine.

Obwarzanek Krakowski

Obwarzanek Krakowski is a traditional Polish bread roll originating from Kraków. It has a distinctive ring shape and is boiled before baking, giving it a chewy texture similar to a bagel. The roll is typically sprinkled with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, salt, or other toppings.

Pita

Pita is a round, pocketed flatbread made with flour, water, yeast, and salt. It is baked at high temperatures to form a pocket and is used as a wrap for sandwiches or filled with meats, vegetables, or dips.

Pretzel

Pretzels are characterized by their twisted knot shape and chewy texture, often sprinkled with coarse salt and enjoyed as a snack or appetizer. Pretzels can be served plain or with mustard or cheese sauce for dipping, making them a popular choice for game day or movie night snacks.

Pumpernickel

Pumpernickel is a dense, dark bread made from coarsely ground rye flour, molasses, and cocoa powder. It has a rich, slightly sweet flavor, perfect with savory toppings like smoked salmon or cheese. Its dense texture and earthy flavor make it a hearty choice for sandwiches or as an accompaniment to soups and stews.

Qistibi

Qistibi is a traditional Tatar flatbread filled with various ingredients such as mashed potatoes, millet, or meat. The dough is rolled out thin, filled, and then folded or pressed before being cooked on a griddle or skillet until golden brown. This savory dish is a popular staple in Tatar cuisine, enjoyed for its hearty and comforting flavors.

Roti

Roti is a flatbread made from Indian whole wheat flour, water, and salt. It is often served alongside curries or used to wrap fillings like vegetables or meat. Roti is a staple in South Asian cuisines, and its soft texture and neutral flavor make it a versatile accompaniment.

Sandwich Bread

Also known as sliced or white bread, sandwich bread is a soft and fluffy loaf made from refined wheat flour, water, yeast, and sugar. It is ideal for sandwiches, toast, or French toast. Sandwich bread is a staple in households worldwide and comes in various variations, such as white, whole wheat, or multigrain.

Scone

Scones are quick breads made with flour, butter, milk, and baking powder. They are served with jam and clotted cream as part of afternoon tea. Scones can be sweet or savory, with variations like fruit, cheese, or plain scones served with butter and honey.

Sourdough

Sourdough bread is made from naturally fermented dough, which results in a tangy flavor and airy texture. It is leavened using wild yeast and bacteria. Sourdough is known for its distinctive flavor profile and chewy crust. It is often enjoyed sliced and toasted with butter or used to make sandwiches.

Thepla

It is a thin flatbread from Gujarat, India, made with chickpea flour, water, and spices. It’s often enjoyed rolled up with vegetables or chutneys.

Tortilla

This thin flatbread is made from corn or wheat flour and is popular in dishes like tacos, quesadillas, and burritos. Tortillas are versatile and can be served soft or crispy, filled with a variety of ingredients such as meats, beans, cheese, and vegetables. They are a staple in Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisines.

Uttapam

Uttapam is a South Indian savory dish made from fermented rice and lentil batter. Unlike its thinner cousin, the dosa, uttapam is thicker and topped with various vegetables, herbs, and spices. It’s a versatile and delicious breakfast or snack option, often enjoyed with chutney and sambar.

Vollkornbrot

Vollkornbrot is a traditional German whole-grain bread known for its dense texture and rich, hearty flavor. It is made primarily from whole rye grains or a mixture of rye and wheat. The bread often incorporates seeds and other grains, and its long baking time results in a dark, slightly sour loaf. Vollkornbrot is commonly enjoyed with butter, cheese, or cold cuts.

Whole Wheat Bread

Whole Wheat Bread is made from flour containing the entire wheat kernel, including the bran and germ. This results in a darker color and nuttier flavor than white bread. Whole wheat bread is a popular choice for sandwiches and toast.

Xiao Long Bao

Xiao Long Bao are delicate Chinese soup dumplings. They contain a flavorful broth encased in a thin, pleated dough wrapper filled with a savory meat mixture, usually pork. The key to enjoying them is carefully biting into the top to release the hot broth, followed by savoring the delicious filling.

Youtiao

Youtiao is a long, golden-brown, deep-fried strip of wheat flour dough, often referred to as a Chinese cruller. It’s a popular breakfast food in China and many other East and Southeast Asian countries. Youtiao typically has a crispy exterior and a light, airy interior.  

Zwieback

Zwieback is a twice-baked bread with a crisp, dry texture. The name “zwieback” comes from German, with “zwie” meaning “twice” and “backen” meaning “to bake.” This double-baking process removes most of the moisture, resulting in a crunchy texture. It’s often slightly sweet and can be enjoyed on its own, softened in drinks, or crumbled as a topping.