Thanksgiving bread can look simple until the oven schedule gets crowded and a recipe behaves differently than expected. These 17 recipes give you biscuits, rolls, sourdough loaves, focaccia, cornbread, garlic breads, and sweet quick breads to test before the holiday. Bake one today, check the texture and timing, and make notes while there is still room to adjust the menu.
Buttermilk Biscuits
Flaky layers make Buttermilk Biscuits a 35-minute recipe that yields 12. All-purpose flour, baking powder, sugar, kosher salt, baking soda, frozen butter, and cold buttermilk create a tender side for the Thanksgiving table. Bake a trial batch now to check the rise and browning, then plan how many batches you will need with the holiday meal. Note the bake time for the holiday.
Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Biscuits
Sweet Orange Rolls
Bright citrus flavor gives Sweet Orange Rolls a 60-minute cook time and 10 rolls. Yeast, sugar, milk, butter, eggs, orange zest, flour, cinnamon, powdered sugar, and milk create soft spirals with an orange glaze. Use a practice bake to test the dough and icing, then serve them with coffee on Thanksgiving morning or as a sweet breakfast option. Check the glaze consistency before serving.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Orange Rolls
Focaccia Bread
Airy squares make Focaccia Bread a 3-hour recipe that yields eight servings. Warm water, sugar, dry yeast, flour, salt, olive oil, flaky sea salt, and rosemary create a bread with a crisp top and soft center. Bake it ahead of the holiday to learn how the dough handles, then serve it with soup, turkey leftovers, or a cheese board. Note the rise and crust color.
Get the Recipe: Focaccia Bread
Pumpkin Banana Bread
A seasonal loaf makes Pumpkin Banana Bread a 75-minute recipe for 12 slices. Pumpkin purée, ripe bananas, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, oil, vanilla, flour, baking soda, baking powder, pumpkin spice, and salt create a moist quick bread. Try it before Thanksgiving so you can adjust the bake time for your pan, then slice it for breakfast or dessert. Write down the pan and bake time.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Banana Bread
Sourdough Bread
Long fermentation gives Sourdough Bread a 6-hour, 15-minute recipe for eight servings. Bread flour, water, active sourdough starter, and salt form the dough for a crusty loaf with a chewy center. A trial bake lets you check the timing and crumb before the holiday, and the finished bread can accompany soup, gravy, or a sandwich spread. Track the proofing and bake time.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Bread
Garlic Knots
Twisted knots make Garlic Knots a 2-hour, 45-minute recipe that yields eight. Water, yeast, sugar, butter, salt, garlic powder, flour, Parmesan, fresh garlic, parsley, and sea salt create soft pieces with a buttery topping. Bake them as a test run to see how much oven space they need, then serve them with pasta, appetizers, or leftover turkey soup. Note how many fit on one tray.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Knots
Sourdough Biscuits
Quick sourdough baking puts Sourdough Biscuits on the table in 26 minutes and makes 12. All-purpose flour, cold salted butter, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sourdough discard, and milk create tall biscuits with a tender crumb. Try them before Thanksgiving to check the texture, then plan them for breakfast, gravy, or a bread basket. Check the height and browning.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Biscuits
Buttery Garlic Bread
Warm slices make Buttery Garlic Bread a 25-minute recipe for six. A French loaf, softened butter, garlic, garlic powder, water, fresh parsley, and salt flakes create a simple side with a crisp edge. Bake it before the holiday to find the right browning time, then serve it with soup, pasta, or a smaller Thanksgiving meal. Note the edge color before serving.
Get the Recipe: Buttery Garlic Bread
Mini Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Bread
Small portions make Mini Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Bread a 55-minute recipe for three. Refrigerated biscuits, Brie, cranberry sauce, butter, and cooking spray create a warm pull-apart bread with sweet and creamy bites. Test it before Thanksgiving to see how the cheese melts in your pan, then use it as a breakfast side or appetizer. Check how the bread pulls apart.
Get the Recipe: Mini Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Bread
Zucchini Muffins
Savory muffins give Zucchini Muffins a 27-minute cook time and six portions. Flour, Emmental cheese, zucchini, onion, milk, eggs, and flaky salt bake into tender handheld pieces. A practice batch helps you check the texture before the holiday, then the muffins can fill a breakfast basket or add a vegetable option to a casual Thanksgiving spread. Note the bake time for your pan.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Muffins
Sourdough Focaccia
Open crumb and a long rise shape Sourdough Focaccia, a 12-hour, 55-minute recipe for 10 servings. Active starter, kosher salt, water, bread flour, olive oil, flaky sea salt, and fresh rosemary build the dough. Make a trial loaf to learn when it is ready for the oven, then serve it with dips, soup, or turkey sandwiches after the feast. Track the rise before the feast.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Focaccia
Banana Bread
Moist slices make Banana Bread a 75-minute recipe that yields 12 servings. Flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg, browned butter, eggs, Greek yogurt, vanilla, ripe bananas, and nuts create a tender loaf. Bake it before Thanksgiving to test the crust and center, then serve it at breakfast or keep slices ready for afternoon coffee. Write down the bake time for later.
Get the Recipe: Banana Bread
Copycat Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits
Cheesy biscuit tops make Copycat Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits a 30-minute recipe for eight. Flour, sugar, baking powder, garlic powder, buttermilk, butter, Cheddar cheese, cayenne, and parsley create tender rounds with a seasoned finish. Bake them as a holiday trial run, then pair them with seafood, soup, turkey leftovers, or a basket of savory sides. Check the biscuit size and color.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits
Soft Pretzels
Chewy twists make Soft Pretzels a 2-hour recipe that yields eight. Warm water, active dry yeast, sugar, flour, salt, butter, baking soda, egg, and coarse sea salt build the dough and topping. Try a batch before Thanksgiving to practice shaping and browning, then serve the pretzels with mustard, cheese sauce, or a simple dip for guests. Note the shaping time for later.
Get the Recipe: Soft Pretzels
Buttery Cheddar Biscuits
Golden edges make Buttery Cheddar Biscuits a 30-minute recipe that yields 12. All-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, cold butter, shredded Cheddar, fresh thyme, buttermilk, and melted butter create tender biscuits with a savory finish. Bake them today to see how they fit your oven schedule, then plan them for breakfast, soup, or the Thanksgiving bread basket. Track the browning before Thanksgiving.
Get the Recipe: Buttery Cheddar Biscuits
Dinner Rolls
Soft rolls make Dinner Rolls a 2-hour, 45-minute recipe. Milk, yeast, sugar, egg, butter, salt, flour, and honey create a lightly sweet dough for the table. A practice bake gives you time to check the rise, shaping, and browning before Thanksgiving, then the rolls can accompany gravy, turkey, vegetables, and every last bit of the meal. Note how much time the dough needs.
Get the Recipe: Dinner Rolls
Southern Cornbread
Crumbly squares make Southern Cornbread a 35-minute recipe. Butter, flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, buttermilk, and eggs create a tender side with a familiar golden top. Bake it before the holiday to test the pan and texture, then serve it with chili, greens, soup, turkey dressing, or a bowl of leftover gravy. Check the crumb before planning the batch.
Get the Recipe: Southern Cornbread