If you are looking for a fun and impressive bread to serve at your next garden party, this flower pot bread is exactly what you need. Individual herb breads baked right in seasoned terracotta pots, so each guest gets their own warm little loaf straight from the oven. We served these at our Garden Club luncheon and they were such a hit. Keep reading for the full recipe, including instructions for both a bread machine and a stand mixer method.
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Quick Look
- 🍽️ Recipe: Flower Pot Bread
- ⏲️ Ready In: About 2 hours, mostly hands off rising time
- 👪 Servings: 8 individual loaves
- 🔪 Difficulty: Medium
- 💭 Top Tip: Brush the dough with melted butter and sprinkle with flaky sea salt before the second rise for a beautiful golden, salty crust
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Individual herb bread loaves baked right in terracotta pots, perfect for a party.
- Italian seasoning gives this bread incredible flavor with one simple ingredient.
- Instructions included for both a bread machine and a stand mixer.
- The melted butter and flaky sea salt create a beautiful golden crust.
- The flower pot presentation creates an impressive wow factor that is easier to make than it looks.
For our Garden Club luncheon I wanted a bread that felt like it belonged on the table, and individual herb loaves baked in seasoned terracotta pots were exactly that. Each guest gets their own little pot of warm bread, brushed with butter and sprinkled with flaky sea salt. It looks like it took hours of effort, but most of the work is done by your bread machine or stand mixer. Whether you bake bread all the time or have never tried before, this recipe is genuinely achievable and the presentation is unforgettable.
If you love this flower pot bread you might also enjoy our Garden Themed Party where we served this, our Vegetable Garden Hummus Dip, or our Ladybug Caprese Bruschetta.
Baking Bread in a Terracotta Flower Pot
Baking bread in a flower pot might sound unusual, but it is actually an old tradition. Clay pots have been used for baking for thousands of years, and the porous terracotta creates a wonderful crust, similar to baking on a pizza stone.
You might be wondering if this is actually safe, and that is a completely fair question. Not all terracotta pots are appropriate for food. Decorative or glazed pots, or pots that have previously held plants and soil, should never be used for baking. For this recipe, look for new, plain, unglazed terracotta pots that have never been used for planting. Many garden centers and craft stores sell small terracotta pots specifically for crafts and baking. Seasoning the pots before use, as outlined below, helps seal the clay and makes them safe for repeated use. If you are ever unsure whether a particular pot is food safe, it is best not to use it for baking. When in doubt, leave it out.
Ingredients
Full measurements in the recipe card.
- Powdered Milk -adds tenderness to the dough. If you don't have it on hand, you can substitute warm milk for the water and skip the powdered milk.
- Italian Seasoning -one simple ingredient gives the whole loaf wonderful herb flavor, no need to measure out multiple dried herbs.
- Terracotta Pots -small, unglazed, oven safe pots that need to be seasoned before their first use. Instructions below.
- Flaky Sea Salt -sprinkled on top before the second rise, this adds great flavor and a beautiful crunch to the crust.
Variations
- Different Herbs -swap the Italian seasoning for any dried herb blend you like, or a mix of basil, oregano, and rosemary.
- Cheese Bread -add ½ cup shredded parmesan or cheddar to the dough for a cheesy version.
- Garlic Bread -brush the tops with garlic butter instead of plain butter before the second rise.
- Make It a Loaf -if you don't have terracotta pots, this dough also works well baked as one regular loaf in a greased loaf pan.
- Stand Mixer or Bread Machine -we use our bread machine for this recipe, but if you don't have one you can make it in the stand mixer instead.
How to Make Flower Pot Bread
- Step 1: Season the terracotta pots.
Wash your terracotta pots and let them dry completely. Brush the inside of each pot with olive oil, rest on a cookie sheet, and then bake at 350°F for about 30 minutes to season them. This is a one time step. Let the pots cool completely before adding the bread dough. Once seasoned, your pots can be reused for future bakes.
- Step 2: Make the dough. Bread Machine Method: Add the water, powdered milk, salt, sugar, butter, flour, Italian seasoning, and yeast to your bread machine pan in the order recommended by your machine's manual. Select the dough setting and start. Stand Mixer Method: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine all the ingredients. Mix on low until combined, then knead on medium speed for 8 to 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Step 3: First rise. Bread Machine Method: The dough cycle handles the first rise for you. Stand Mixer Method: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- Step 4: Divide, shape and let rise.
Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces and shape each piece into a smooth ball. Brush the inside of each seasoned terracotta pot with melted butter, then place a ball of dough in each pot. It should fill about half the pot. Brush the top of each dough ball with melted butter and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Cover loosely and let rise until doubled in size, about 30 to 60 minutes.
- Step 5: Bake.
Bake at 375°F for 18 to 22 minutes, until golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped.
Tips for the Best Flower Pot Bread
- Season Your Pots First -this is essential for both food safety and flavor. Unseasoned pots can crack or give the bread an earthy taste.
- Let the Pots Cool Completely -adding dough to a warm pot can cause uneven rising.
- Don't Overfill -filling the pots about half full with dough gives plenty of room for a beautiful domed top.
- Serve Warm -this bread is best served warm from the oven with butter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! This recipe includes instructions for making the dough in a stand mixer with a dough hook. You can also make it entirely by hand, kneading for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
No, seasoning is a one time step. Once your pots are seasoned they can be reused again and again for future bakes.
Yes, if you don't have powdered milk on hand you can use warm milk in place of the water and omit the powdered milk.
No. Only use new, plain, unglazed terracotta pots that have never held plants or soil, and always season them before baking as described above. Avoid any pots that are glazed, painted, or decorative.
More Garden Party Ideas
If you try this flower pot bread or any other recipe on my blog please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting today!
Recipe
Flower Pot Bread
Equipment
- bread machine or stand mixer
- 8 small terracotta pots, unglazed and oven safe
- pastry brush
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil , for seasoning flower pots
- 1 ⅓ cup lukewarm water
- 3 tablespoons powdered milk
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 3 tablespoons butter or margarine , softened
- 3 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 4 teaspoons instant yeast
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- flaky sea salt
Instructions
- Season the terracotta pots. Wash your terracotta pots and let them dry completely. Brush the inside of each pot with olive oil, then bake at 350°F for about 30 minutes to season them. This is a one time step. Let the pots cool completely before adding the bread dough. Once seasoned, your pots can be reused for future bakes.¼ cup olive oil
- Make the dough. Bread Machine: Add the water, powdered milk, salt, sugar, butter, flour, Italian seasoning, and yeast to your bread machine pan in the order and without mixing. Select the dough setting and start. Stand Mixer: Combine all the ingredients in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook. Mix on low until combined, then knead on medium for 8 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.1 ⅓ cup lukewarm water, 3 tablespoons powdered milk, ½ teaspoon salt, 3 tablespoons sugar, 3 tablespoons butter or margarine, 3 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, 4 teaspoons instant yeast
- First rise. Bread Machine: handled by the dough cycle. Stand Mixer: place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- Divide, shape and let rise. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces and shape each into a smooth ball. Brush the inside of each seasoned flower pot with melted butter, then place a ball of dough in each flower pot. It should fill about half the pot. Brush the top of each dough ball with melted butter and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Cover loosely and let rise until doubled in size, about 30 to 60 minutes.2 tablespoons melted butter, flaky sea salt
- Bake. Place the flower pots on a cookie sheet and bake at 375°F for 18 to 22 minutes, until golden brown and the bread sounds hollow when tapped.
Video
Notes
- Seasoning the pots is a one time step. Once seasoned they can be reused for future bakes.
- If you don't have powdered milk, substitute warm milk for the water and omit the powdered milk.
- Best served warm with extra butter.
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