Learn about the tools, ingredients and techniques you need to bake delectable bread at home in expert baker Bryan Ford’s workshop, Fundamentals of Baking: Bread.

Fundamentals of Baking: Bread

Get to know the essential ingredients used in baking appetizing bread, including flour, salt, water and yeast, and how they all come together to create the ideal texture and flavor. 

Essential Ingredients

Discover the essential tools you need to bake master quality bread at home as well as alternative methods for improvising with everyday tools you may already have in your kitchen.

Essential Tools

Learn about the types of yeast you can use to leaven a batch of bread, including three widely-available and convenient options: active dry, instant and fresh yeast.

Basics of Yeast

Bake along with Bryan as he demonstrates how to make pre-ferments like sourdough starter and levain from scratch using a variety of flours, all to help bring unique flavors and aromas to your bread.

Making a Starter

Learn how to properly mix and knead dough to create a smooth texture that’s ready to be shaped.

Mixing and Kneading Dough

From crafting classic loaf to creating more advanced shapes, learn the proper way to shape your dough to prepare it for baking.

Shaping Dough

Follow along as Bryan guides you through how to properly proof and bake your finished dough for tasty results every time.

Proofing and Baking

Bryan shares his personal recipe for a crispy, rustic table bread, along with different ideas for serving.

Rustic Sourdough Bread

Bake a sweet treat with Bryan as he guides you through a personal recipe from his childhood: Semitas de Chocolate.

Semitas de Chocolate

Master the secrets and techniques for breadmaking with baker Bryan Ford.

You will see in my recipes that I use the same levain build, or a slightly modified version of it, when I mix bread. Whether the final bread is enriched, sweet, or rustic, I find this levain build to work just fine. There are many, many ways to build a levain but I believe using this one build makes life at home easy.

Sourdough Starter and Levain

Master Dough for Sandwich Loaf

Rustic Table Bread

Pan Dulce: Chocolate Semitas (Semitas de Chocolate)

Course: Fundamentals of Baking: Bread
Chapter: Making a Starter

Course: Fundamentals of Baking: Bread
Chapter: Mixing and Kneading Dough

Course: Fundamentals of Baking: Bread
Chapter: Rustic Sourdough Bread

Course: Fundamentals of Baking: Bread
Chapter: Semitas de Chocolate

Chocolate Semitas (Semitas de Chocolate)

Afro-Honduran Bryan Ford found his calling when he changed careers from CPA to baker. Inspired by his at-home baker mother, he pursued his passion for artisanal sweet and savory goods, becoming an internet sensation, a best-selling author, and working in some of the most prestigious bakeries in America.

Bryan Ford

Create your free Magnolia Perks account to start watching this Workshop.

Watch Workshops FREE with a Magnolia Perks account

Magnolia Network shows and workshops are only available with a discovery+ subscription. Start your 7-day free trial to start watching!