Food and Recipes Bread Quick Breads Our Best Quick Bread Recipes—No Long Rise Required By Marissa Wu Marissa Wu Marissa Wu is a writer with a love for home, food, travel, and art stories. She holds a journalism degree from Boston University. When not editing and producing articles or updating the homepage, she's trying new recipes, jolting along in her manual transmission car, Fitz; hammering out a manuscript on her 1930s Royal Aristocrat typewriter, Georgie; and making film photographs with her Rolleiflex, Cecil. She's currently an Associate SEO Editor for PureWow. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on January 7, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Homemade bread is really something special. There's nothing like pulling hot, pillowy dinner rolls out of your oven and spreading on the butter. However, with busy schedules, a fluffy, from-scratch Parker House roll just isn't always in the cards. That's where our tasty quick bread recipes come in. Quick breads can encompass everything from the iconic banana bread to treats like muffins, scones, and biscuits. The only qualifier (besides not being cake) is that they are chemically leavened, as opposed to using baker's yeast. So, there's no long rise required. We can attest that these quick bread recipes are downright delicious. Bake up a loaf of Zucchini Bread or a batch of Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins to add some pizazz to breakfast. (They're also great on the go as the kids are running for the school bus.) Peach scones are a delightful summer afternoon treat, and we'd never forget the cornbread, a staple at every Southern table. The next time you find yourself in a pinch, whip up one of these simple recipes, and you're guaranteed a winner. 01 of 24 Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread Alison Miksch; Styling: Lydia Degaris Pursell Recipe: Pumpkin-Honey-Beer Bread Pumpkin pie spice, mellow honey, and some bubbly beer make a deliciously soft loaf. 02 of 24 Nana's Banana Bread Robbie Caponetto Recipe: Nana's Banana Bread Banana chunks and a hint of lime juice bring out a wonderfully fresh, fruity taste in this pillowy-soft quick bread. 03 of 24 Cream Cheese-Banana-Nut Bread Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas Recipe: Cream Cheese-Banana-Nut Bread Enjoy banana bread without all the guilt with this healthy banana bread recipe. 04 of 24 Carrot Cake Quick Bread Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Carrot Cake Quick Bread The drizzle of icing adds a sweet note to the spicy, dense bread. A generous handful of pecans ensures a little crunch. 05 of 24 Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Pumpkin Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins Tender, moist, with pumpkin spice—it's the perfect sweet treat to start your morning or afternoon. 06 of 24 Sweet Potato Biscuits Micah A. Leal Recipe: Sweet Potato Biscuits Just slightly earthy, our Sweet Potato Biscuits are light, fluffy, and begging to be served with a slab of butter and drizzle of honey. 07 of 24 Zucchini Bread Micah A. Leal Recipe: Zucchini Bread The beauty of this quick bread? It's good pretty much any way you serve it. Throw in some chocolate chips, toast with butter, and eat it at breakfast or as a snack. 08 of 24 Applesauce Muffins Micah A. Leal Recipe: Applesauce Muffins The addition of applesauce yields a fluffy, soft crumb. Cinnamon, ginger, and cloves add warmth and spice. If you fancy them, golden raisins are also a sweet addition to this quick bread. 09 of 24 Buttermilk Cornbread Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn Recipe: Buttermilk Cornbread Whether you are team sugar or not where cornbread is concerned, there's no denying that it's a dinnertime staple side. 10 of 24 Biscuit Cinnamon Rolls Alison Miksch Recipe: Biscuit Cinnamon Rolls If you don't have time to let the dough rise, this quick bread promises cinnamon rolls in a jiffy—20 minutes of hands-on time, to be exact. 11 of 24 Buttermilk Drop Biscuits Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Recipe: Buttermilk Drop Biscuits We packed this quick bread with whole-grain mustard, garlic powder, fresh chives, and Parmesan for a super-savory biscuit that will fly right off the dinner table. 12 of 24 Banana Bread Southern Living Recipe: Banana Bread The best solution for those overripe bananas sitting on your counter? Banana Bread, of course. It's a go-to quick bread that never fails to please. 13 of 24 Sweet Potato-Cranberry Scones with Molasses-Orange Butter Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: Kellie Gerber Kelley Recipe: Sweet Potato-Cranberry Scones with Molasses-Orange Butter Are you here for the tender scones or the delightful Molasses-Orange Butter? If you answered both, you are correct. 14 of 24 Carrot Cake Muffins Micah A. Leal Recipe: Carrot Cake Muffins These are the classic cake in muffin form, packed with coconut, golden raisins, and carrots, of course. A drizzle of molasses adds a rich flavor profile. 15 of 24 Peach Scones Micah A. Leal Recipe: Peach Scones Serve these tender, peach-laden scones at a summer brunch or breakfast and watch the compliments roll in. 16 of 24 Apple Bread Micah A. Leal Recipe: Apple Bread With a generous sprinkling of cinnamon, cubes of Granny Smith apples, and a tender crumb, this is the quick bread you'll want every morning along with your coffee. 17 of 24 Apple Butter-Pecan Quick Bread Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Apple Butter-Pecan Quick Bread A favorite fall spread works its way into a nutty quick bread. Cut generous slices, toast, and serve with an exuberant swipe of butter as an afternoon snack. 18 of 24 Mini Cream Scones Micah A. Leal Recipe: Mini Cream Scones Hosting an afternoon tea? Put these simple scones on your menu and serve with homemade jam. 19 of 24 Ham and Cheese Cake Salé Quick Bread Sheri Castle Recipe: Ham and Cheese Cake Salé Quick Bread A sweet quick bread may be familiar, but have you tried a savory version? Ours is loaded with Gruyère, smoked ham, and olives for a delightfully homey, crumbly creation. 20 of 24 Lemon-Poppy Seed Muffins Southern Living Recipe: Lemon-Poppy Seed Muffins Zingy lemon and crunchy poppy seeds come together to create a light, nutty breakfast treat. 21 of 24 Buttermilk Breakfast Scones Southern Living Recipe: Buttermilk Breakfast Scones Crisp, sugared tops, plump currents, and that zing of orange zest make these Buttermilk Breakfast Scones a hit at the morning meal. 22 of 24 Piña Colada Quick Bread Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Piña Colada Quick Bread Fans of the drink and pineapple upside-down cake will say cheers to this pineapple-packed bread. 23 of 24 Blackberry-Lime Drop Biscuits Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner Recipe: Blackberry-Lime Drop Biscuits The beauty of these biscuits is in the name. No shaping, just drop them on the pan. Now that's one of the easiest quick breads we ever did see. 24 of 24 Bacon Cheddar Scones Joy Howard Recipe: Bacon Cheddar Scones We love a good savory scone, especially when bacon and cheddar are the winning combination. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit