15 Holiday Bread Recipes Filling the House With That Fresh-Baked Smell

Holiday baking can take time, and choosing what to put on the table can be another decision to make. This collection brings together breads and bakes in several forms, including rolls, biscuits, muffins, cornbread, focaccia, and pretzels. Use the list to find a soft option for breakfast, a savory side for dinner, or a centerpiece bread for a holiday spread.

Several golden-brown pretzels with coarse salt are arranged on a light surface next to a small bowl of salt. — Soft Pretzels. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Southern Cornbread

Close-up of two stacked pieces of cornbread with melted butter on top, showcasing a golden-brown crust and moist, crumbly texture. — Southern Cornbread. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Golden edges and a tender crumb give Southern Cornbread a place beside holiday soups, greens, and main dishes. Its familiar cornbread style makes it easy to bring into a meal without competing with the rest of the menu. Slice it into squares for passing around the table, or serve it alongside a pot of soup when the day calls for a simple baked side.
Get the Recipe: Southern Cornbread

Zucchini Muffins

A batch of Zucchini Muffins offers a small, easy-to-serve bake for breakfast or a snack between holiday plans. The muffin format keeps portions ready to pick up, while zucchini gives the recipe its signature name and place among the breads here. Set them out with coffee in the morning, or tuck a few into a snack plate when guests want something baked without sitting down for a full meal.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Muffins

Dinner Rolls

Soft rolls bring a familiar bread choice to the holiday table, and Dinner Rolls are easy to serve one at a time. Their individual shape works well beside a main dish, soup, or a spread of sides, with no slicing needed at the table. Place them in a basket for guests to pass around, or keep them near the serving dishes so everyone can add one to a plate.
Get the Recipe: Dinner Rolls

Focaccia Bread

Dimpled focaccia gives Focaccia Bread a different shape and texture from the rolls and biscuits in this collection. Cut it into pieces for sharing, then serve it alongside soup, salad, or a holiday meal. Its broad, flat format also makes it a useful option when a basket of individual rolls is not what the table needs. Bring it out as a savory bread to round out a generous spread.
Get the Recipe: Focaccia Bread

Sweet Orange Rolls

A round baking dish lined with parchment paper holds several cinnamon rolls covered in a thick layer of icing. — Sweet Orange Rolls. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Citrus brings a bright note to Sweet Orange Rolls, a sweet roll option for a holiday breakfast or brunch. The rolled format makes each portion easy to serve, while the orange flavor gives the bake a different direction from plain rolls or biscuits. Arrange them on a platter for guests to take with coffee, or include them in a breakfast spread when you want a sweet bread alongside savory dishes.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Orange Rolls

Banana Bread

A slice of Banana Bread fits a breakfast table, snack tray, or casual dessert spread during the holiday season. The loaf format makes it easy to cut portions as needed, and its familiar banana bread style offers a softer, sweeter choice beside savory breads. Serve slices with coffee in the morning or set the loaf out for guests who want a small bite between larger meals.
Get the Recipe: Banana Bread

Garlic Knots

Twisted into individual portions, Garlic Knots bring a savory bread option to the holiday meal. Their knot shape makes them easy to serve from a basket, and they pair naturally with pasta, soup, or a main dish that benefits from bread on the side. Put them out while dinner is being served, or add them to a shared meal when rolls feel too plain for the menu.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Knots

Mini Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Bread

A baked pull-apart bread ring with melted cheese and cranberries on a gray plate, garnished with rosemary sprigs. — Mini Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Bread. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Sweet-tart cranberry and brie make Mini Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Bread a shareable choice for a holiday gathering. Its pull-apart style invites guests to take a small piece, while the cranberry and brie pairing places it comfortably among both breads and party bakes. Set it out as an appetizer before dinner or add it to a snack table where guests can graze as they arrive.
Get the Recipe: Mini Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Bread

Sourdough Focaccia

Close-up of sliced focaccia bread topped with coarse salt and rosemary, showing a light, airy crumb. — Sourdough Focaccia. Photo credit: Your Perfect Recipes.

The sourdough style sets Sourdough Focaccia apart from the other flatbreads and rolls in this list. Cut the focaccia into pieces to serve beside soup, salad, or a holiday dinner, making it practical for a shared table. Its shape gives guests an easy piece to pick up, while the sourdough base offers a distinct option for anyone looking beyond familiar dinner rolls.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Focaccia

Buttermilk Biscuits

Three golden-brown biscuits are stacked, with the top one missing a bite. A small sprig of greenery with red berries is visible in the corner. — Buttermilk Biscuits. Photo credit: Hungry Cooks Kitchen.

Flaky layers and a tender center are what people look for in Buttermilk Biscuits, a classic choice for breakfast or a savory holiday meal. Serve them warm alongside soup and sides, or split them at breakfast and add a favorite topping. Their individual portions make them easy to pass around, and their familiar biscuit shape works at both a brunch table and a dinner spread.
Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Biscuits

Buttery Garlic Bread

Slices of garlic bread topped with chopped parsley and sea salt sit enticingly on a wooden board, accompanied by a small bowl of salt and fresh cloves of garlic. — Buttery Garlic Bread. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

A crisp outside and soft center make Buttery Garlic Bread an easy companion to pasta, soup, and other holiday mains. Slice the loaf for sharing so each person can take a piece with their plate. Garlic bread gives the table a savory option alongside sweeter bakes, and it is a straightforward choice when dinner needs a familiar bread side that guests can serve themselves.
Get the Recipe: Buttery Garlic Bread

Pumpkin Banana Bread

Close-up of several slices of banana bread on parchment paper, showing a moist, textured interior and golden-brown crust. — Pumpkin Banana Bread. Photo credit: Splash of Taste.

Pumpkin and banana bring two familiar flavors together in Pumpkin Banana Bread, a loaf suited to fall and holiday breakfasts. Slice it for a coffee break or add it to a brunch spread with both sweet and savory choices. The loaf format allows portions to be cut as needed, making it easy to offer a small taste without adding another individually portioned bake to the table.
Get the Recipe: Pumpkin Banana Bread

Sourdough Biscuits

A stack of flaky biscuits with honey drizzled on top, set on a plate with more biscuits in the background. — Sourdough Biscuits. Photo credit: My Reliable Recipes.

Tangy sourdough flavor meets a familiar biscuit format in Sourdough Biscuits. Their individual size makes them practical beside a holiday dinner or on a breakfast table, while the sourdough base gives them a clear place among the breads in this roundup. Pass them around with soup and sides, or split one for breakfast when a biscuit is more useful than a slice from a loaf.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Biscuits

Buttery Cheddar Biscuits

A close-up of several golden-brown biscuits stacked on parchment paper, garnished with a few sprigs of fresh herbs. — Buttery Cheddar Biscuits. Photo credit: Pocket Friendly Recipes.

Cheddar gives Buttery Cheddar Biscuits a savory note that works beside soups, casseroles, and holiday mains. The biscuit shape keeps them easy to portion and pass, while the cheese flavor offers a change from plain rolls and sweet breads. Put them in a basket for dinner or serve them at brunch with eggs and other savory dishes when the menu needs a baked side.
Get the Recipe: Buttery Cheddar Biscuits

Soft Pretzels

A chewy bite and the familiar twisted shape make Soft Pretzels a fun addition to a holiday snack table. Their handheld size works well for guests moving between conversations, and they offer a different option from sliced loaves or dinner rolls. Serve them as an afternoon snack, place them with dips, or include them among casual party foods before the main meal is ready.
Get the Recipe: Soft Pretzels