What Is Bread dough and How Can I Use It?
Bread dough is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store it, what to substitute, and 68 recipes to get you started.
Key Points
- Ready-made frozen or refrigerated yeast dough that you thaw, shape, and bake at home.
- Frozen loaves thaw and rise on the counter in about four to six hours.
- Shape into loaves, rolls, pizza, monkey bread, or calzones, or wrap fillings inside.
- Do not rush the rise; cold dense dough bakes up gummy in the middle.
- Keeps months frozen; once thawed, bake the same day and never refreeze.
What is bread dough?
Bread dough on a recipe ingredient list almost always means the ready-made kind: a frozen loaf of raw yeast dough, or a tube of refrigerated dough you pop open and shape. It is the shortcut between baking bread from scratch and serving none at all.
You skip the mixing and the first proof and still get a warm homemade loaf out of your own oven. The dough does the work. You just thaw, shape, and bake.
Most frozen loaves come three to a bag in the freezer aisle, near the dinner rolls.
How to Use Bread Dough
Frozen dough needs a slow thaw and a rise before it bakes. Set a loaf in a greased pan, cover it loosely with oiled plastic wrap, and let it thaw and rise on the counter until it doubles, usually four to six hours.
In a hurry, thaw it overnight in the fridge instead, then bring it to room temperature before baking.
The dough is a blank slate, so shape it into whatever you need. Roll it flat for Frozen Bread Dough Pizza, pinch it into pieces for pull-apart Cheesy Sun-Dried Tomato Monkey Bread, or fold it around a filling for a Deli Stuffed Calzone.
It also wraps things. Russian Meatloaf bakes inside a dough crust, and Pizza Rolls and Antipasto Bread roll a savory filling up inside the loaf before baking.
Cooking and Pairing
Brush the shaped dough with egg wash for a shiny brown crust, or with melted butter for a softer one. A scatter of sesame seeds or flaky salt on top turns a plain loaf into something that looks made from scratch.
Inside, it carries garlic and herbs with melted cheese, or cured meats and roasted peppers. For a sweet pull-apart, fill it with jam and cinnamon sugar instead.
The number one mistake is rushing the rise.
Dough that goes into the oven still cold and dense bakes up tight and gummy in the middle, no matter how long you leave it. Give it the full proof until it is puffy and springs back slowly when poked.
Underproofed dough also tears instead of stretching when you try to shape it.
Substitutes
Refrigerated pizza dough or pizza crust in a tube swaps in directly for most shaping jobs and needs no thawing, though it bakes up thinner and chewier than a risen loaf.
Canned crescent or biscuit dough works for quick wraps and monkey bread, but it is richer and flakier, closer to pastry than bread. Use it when you want tender rather than chewy.
For a from-scratch swap, any basic white or pizza dough recipe gives you a pound of dough per frozen loaf, with more control over flavor and rise time.
Thawed pie crust is not a substitute here. It has no yeast and will not rise.
Buying and Storage
Buy frozen loaves rock-hard with no soft or freezer-burned spots, and keep them frozen until the day you bake. Refrigerated tube dough sits in the dairy case and carries a use-by date worth checking.
Frozen bread dough keeps several months at zero°F (minus 18°C). Once it thaws, treat it like fresh dough and bake it the same day, because the yeast is awake and will overproof if it sits too long.
If a thawed loaf rises faster than you are ready for, punch it down once and let it rise again. You can also slow it in the fridge to buy a few hours.
Never refreeze dough that has already thawed and risen. The yeast loses its lift and the second bake comes out flat and dense.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 oz (28g)Quick facts
Where to find bread dough: Bread dough is usually found in the frozen foods section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.
Food group: Bread dough is a member of the Baked Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.
- In Chinese
- 面团
- British (UK) term
- Bread dough
- en français
- pâte à pain
- en español
- masa de pan
How much does bread dough weigh?
| Amount | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 ounce | 28 grams |
| 1 slice | 42 grams |
| 1 slice, thin (3-3/4" x 5" x 3/8") | 33 grams |
Related
Baked Products
Recipes using bread dough
There are 68 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Rob's Focaccia
Rob's focaccia: pillowy overnight-risen bread crowned with peeled Roma tomatoes, roasted eggplant, fresh basil, anchovy, and parmesan. A rustic Italian flatbread baked golden and fragrant.
Best Rosemary-Olive Focaccia
Rosemary olive focaccia with kalamata olives, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and Parmesan. Made fast with frozen bread dough for Italian-bakery results in 60 minutes.
Deli Stuffed Calzone
A cheesy pizza pocket stuffed with 3 kinds of cheese, spinach, tomatoes, olives and salami.
Cheesy Sun-Dried Tomato Monkey Bread
If you want to have some fun with bread, then try this scrumptious recipe with bits of sun-dried tomato and cheese that makes pull-apart fun and delicious.
Breakfast Loaves
Pull-apart breakfast bread with frozen dough, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and pudding mix for a caramel-sticky glaze. An easy monkey bread-style brunch treat.
Halloween Pizza
Halloween jack-o'-lantern pizza for kids' parties. Pepperoni borders, olive eyes, and green pepper grins on a cheesy mozzarella-cheddar base. Bakes in under 30 minutes.
Peanut Butter & Jelly Filled Spiders
Halloween peanut butter and jelly bread spiders. Frozen bread dough shaped into spider bodies stuffed with PB and strawberry jam, then baked. Three ingredients, one creepy treat.
Cherry Pie Filling Bread with Cinnamon Sugar
Cherry pie filling bread made with frozen dough or bread machine dough. Slits are filled with cherry pie filling, then the loaf is brushed with butter and cinnamon sugar before baking.
Mighty Mexican Pizza
Mexican pizza on cornmeal-dusted personal crusts topped with seasoned ground beef, taco sauce, cheddar, and finished with cool lettuce, tomato, sour cream, and scallions. Pizza-night-meets-taco-night.
Monster Bread
Monster-shaped bread for Halloween made from store-bought dough with cinnamon sugar filling, raisin eyebrows, and candy decorations. A fun baking project kids can help shape and decorate.
Mexican Pizza with Salsa
Mexican pizza topped with crumbled chorizo, garlic, Monterey Jack and Muenster cheese, fresh cilantro, and salsa on a cornmeal-dusted bread dough crust.
Sausage Bread
Italian sausage bread stuffed with hot sausage, mozzarella, Romano cheese, and eggs rolled in bread dough. A savory jelly-roll appetizer that freezes well.
Delicious Cinnamon Swirl Loaf
Cinnamon swirl loaf made easy with frozen bread dough, rolled jelly-roll style around a cinnamon-sugar spiral, baked golden and drizzled with vanilla icing. Beginner-friendly and made for morning toast.
Pepperoni & Cheddar Stuffed Pizza
Pepperoni and cheddar stuffed pizza bread baked from frozen bread dough. Four ingredients, golden crust, melty cheese center. Easy game-day or after-school snack.
P.B. & J.Specials
PB&J specials made with rolled bread dough stuffed with peanut butter and jelly, topped with melted butter and chopped peanuts, then baked golden. A fun twist on a childhood classic.
Hearty Barbecue Pizza
Barbecue pizza on a cornmeal-crisped crust, topped with hot Italian turkey sausage, smoky BBQ sauce, green peppers, mushrooms, black olives, and melty mozzarella.
Garlic Focaccia
Garlic focaccia: olive oil bread dough with basil or oregano and parmesan, studded with garlic slivers, brushed with olive oil, baked on a hot pizza stone. Crisp bottom, soft chewy crumb.
Pizza Alla Ferrovia
Pizza alla ferrovia is a Neapolitan railway-station-style pizza: crisp rectangular crust topped with tomato sauce, olives, mozzarella, crumbled tuna, and a generous hit of red pepper flakes. Salty, spicy, and defiantly old-school.
Pinto Pizza Ole'
Pinto Pizza Ole with a seasoned beef and mashed bean base, Monterey Jack cheese, green pepper, and fresh guacamole on top. A Mexican-inspired pizza that's also great meatless.
Spinach Calzone Pizzas
Low-calorie calzones made with frozen bread dough, stuffed with spinach, fat-free mozzarella, tomato paste, mushrooms, and a splash of red wine. Golden, cheesy, and guilt-free.
Frozen Bread Dough Pizza
Use frozen bread dough in this ham, pepperoni, eggs, and cheese Stromboli-like recipe that fits the bill for a quick, hearty, and satisfying main dish that can be prepared in advance and served warm or at room temperature.
Very Easy Breadsticks
Turn frozen bread dough into warm, garlic butter breadsticks topped with Parmesan in under 30 minutes. Just slice, bake, brush, and dip into marinara.
Cran-Apple Streusel Bread
Braided bread filled with cranberry apple pie filling, walnuts, and orange zest, topped with a buttery cinnamon streusel. Uses store-bought frozen dough for an impressive shortcut.
Breakfast Sausage Bread
Breakfast sausage bread rolls mild and hot Italian sausage, mushrooms, onion, and mozzarella into a stuffed jelly-roll loaf for sliceable, freezer-friendly brunch wedges that beat any boxed pastry.
Lemon Sticky Buns
Lemon sticky buns made with frozen bread dough, lemon-corn syrup glaze, and cinnamon-nutmeg sugar swirl. Bright citrus twist on classic sticky buns, baked golden and inverted onto the plate.
Parmesan Bread Sticks
Parmesan bread sticks: four-ingredient twisted breadsticks from frozen bread dough, dipped in egg white and Parmesan-garlic coating. Sixteen restaurant-style sticks in 30 minutes.
Greek Style Pizza
Greek-style pizza on honey wheat crust with spinach, red bell pepper strips, crumbled feta cheese, and black olives. A Mediterranean twist on homemade pizza.
Cherry Cheese Coffee Cake
Cherry cheese coffee cake on a yeasted bread base with cream cheese filling, cherry pie filling, raisins, and a brown sugar streusel top. Uses frozen bread dough for the shortcut.
Sesame Buns
Sesame buns shape basic bread dough into 8 round burger or sandwich buns, brushed with egg white wash and topped with sesame seeds for that classic bakery finish.
Easy Focaccia Topped with Sage & Onion
Easy focaccia topped with sage and onion: individual rounds of bread dough brushed with olive oil and crowned with sliced onion, fresh sage, and kosher salt, baked hot and golden. A quick shortcut focaccia.
Cheese Dill Bread
Cheese dill bread using frozen bread dough, kneaded with cheddar and fresh dill, then baked with a melted cheese topping. A shortcut loaf with from-scratch flavor.
Chocolate Walnut Bread
Chocolate walnut bread made with frozen bread dough filled with chopped semi-sweet chocolate and walnuts, brushed with honey. A simple stuffed loaf with melty chocolate pockets.
Exquisite Calzones
Three-cheese calzones stuffed with ricotta, provolone, and fontina plus prosciutto, olives, pepperoncini, and sundried tomatoes. Baked golden in bread-dough crescents, equally good piping hot or packed cold for a picnic.
Pizza Horns
Pizza horns roll bread dough triangles around pizza sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, and green pepper, then bake into golden crescent-shaped pinwheels. Party-perfect handheld pizzas with frozen dough.
California Veggie Pizza
Personal veggie pizzas on honey wheat crust with broccoli, yellow pepper, roma tomatoes, fresh basil, and melted provolone. Three crispy pies in 30 minutes flat.
Spam Pizza Pockets
Homemade pizza pockets stuffed with sautéed SPAM, green pepper, onion, mushrooms, pizza sauce, and Parmesan, baked in bread dough until golden. Kids and grown-ups both go crazy for these handheld pockets.
Lunch-Box Handwiches
Lunch-box handwiches are ham and Swiss cheese pockets baked in bread dough until golden. Freezer-friendly and great warm or cold for school and work lunches.
Fennel Foccacia
Fennel focaccia made with frozen bread dough, olive oil, fennel seeds, and cornmeal. A crispy, aromatic Italian flatbread appetizer ready in just 30 minutes.
Raisin Cinnamon Rolls
Raisin cinnamon rolls built on frozen bread dough with cinnamon-sugar, plump raisins, toasted almonds, lemon zest, and a tangy lemon glaze. Make ahead overnight, bake fresh in the morning.
Sausage & Mushroom Calzones
I love this filling, it is full of flavor. I use Rhodes frozen bread dough, it is easy to roll out and tastes so close to homemade. Thanks!
Pineapple Cream Cheese Pizza
Pineapple cream cheese pizza on bread dough with a sweet cream cheese and crushed pineapple filling, strawberry jam, and toasted almonds. A dessert pizza kids and adults love.
Philly-Style White Pizza
Philly-style white pizza loaded with shaved roast beef, sauteed onions, peppers, and mushrooms over garlic-brushed bread dough. No tomato sauce, just melty cheese and cheesesteak energy.
Two Cheese Pepperoni Stromboli
Two-cheese pepperoni stromboli rolls melty mozzarella and provolone with spicy pepperoni inside a frozen bread dough loaf. An easy, crowd-pleasing handheld that slices into cheesy, golden spirals.
Apple Streusel Ladder Loaves
Impressive braided bread loaves filled with cinnamon apples and topped with streusel and almonds. Made with thawed frozen dough for easy preparation. The ladder shape shows off the pretty filling.
Greek Stuffed Footballs
Greek-spiced stuffed bread footballs filled with seasoned ground turkey, brown rice, and oregano. Football-shaped baked hand pies with sesame topping, served warm with cucumber-yogurt sauce.
Runza
Keep in the Freezer for left overs, and when you want it again just heat-up with Microwave oven.
Apple Pizza Dessert
Dessert pizza on bread dough crust with cream cheese layer, cinnamon apples, and almond streusel topping. Fun twist on apple pie. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.
Chicken, Broccoli & Cheddar Loaf
Frozen bread dough rolled around a filling of diced chicken, broccoli, and melted cheddar cheese, then baked until golden and hollow-sounding. A hearty stuffed loaf the whole family will love.
