The Bread Day
Bread Making Course at River Cottage HQ
Bread has always been at the heart of River Cottage HQ, and our bread-making course is one of our most loved experiences. In this newly revamped version, our expert chefs will guide you through every stage of the baking process. By the end of the day, you’ll leave with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to bake a variety of breads at home.
At River Cottage, we bake all our bread from scratch, including our signature classic farmhouse loaf. Your day begins with mastering this delicious staple. From there, you’ll expand your repertoire by exploring international favourites like focaccia, crafting your own pizza dough for a wood-fired pizza lunch, and working with sweet doughs to make cinnamon doughnuts and chocolate brioche. You’ll also learn to whip up foolproof soda bread, perfect for a comforting teatime treat.
This course isn’t just about recipes—it’s about transforming the way you think about bread. Many of our guests say it’s a turning point, inspiring them to ditch shop-bought bread for good!
Curious about what the day involves? Keep scrolling for a step-by-step breakdown of the experience!
Highlights
- Craft a Classic Farmhouse Loaf: Perfect your skills with this traditional and versatile bread.
- Bake Focaccia: Learn the secrets to creating this soft, olive oil-rich Italian classic.
- Make Cinnamon Doughnuts: Using the tried-and-tested River Cottage recipe, these are a guaranteed hit.
- Create Your Own Pizza Dough: Prepare authentic dough for delicious wood-fired pizzas, ready for a mouth-watering lunch.
- Master Foolproof Soda Bread: Quick, easy, and ideal for beginners or busy bakers.
- Enjoy a Decadent Chocolate Brioche: A rich, buttery treat that’s perfect for any occasion.
Your day
10:00 - 17:00
Make yourself at home
You will meet your host, and begin the day with tea, coffee and treats fresh from the kitchen.
SESSION ONE
Dive straight in and start by creating the dough for a classic farmhouse loaf.
SESSION TWO
Prepare pizza dough, ready to be cooked in our wood-fired oven for a delicious lunch later in the day.
SESSION THREE
Next, you’ll learn to make a herby fougasse or focaccia, taught by our expert chefs using their tried-and-tested methods.
SESSION FOUR
Next, you'll make cinnamon doughnuts, perfect for enjoying as an afternoon snack.
Lunch
Finish your pizzas with seasonal toppings before they’re cooked in the wood-fired oven. You’ll enjoy them alongside fresh salads prepared by the River Cottage chefs.
SESSION FIVE
Next up, a teatime loaf—soda bread made with River Cottage yoghurt and cider.
SESSION SIX
To finish, you’ll craft a decadent chocolate brioche loaf, with soft, buttery layers and rich, melted chocolate swirled throughout.
Departure
There will be plenty of time to chat with your fellow bakers and the River Cottage team, sharing tips and stories, before you head back up the hill at 5pm with your freshly baked goods in hand.
Further Information
Directions
This course is run from River Cottage HQ on the Dorset/Devon borders. Full address details of HQ will be provided once you have booked.
Licensed Venue
We are a licensed venue. We have a wide selection of the finest organic wines available to purchase.
Accommodation
If you would like to stay at the heart of River Cottage, we offer overnight accommodation at River Cottage HQ in our beautiful 17th century farmhouse. We have three stylishly refurbished bedrooms for B&B plus the 2-bedroom Gardener’s Cottage. These get booked quickly so for more information go to rivercottage.net/stay to book. Alternatively, we have put together a list of our local accommodation which includes B&Bs, self-catering, hotels and camping.
Suitability
We would advise that this course is only really suitable for 12 years of age and upwards. Under 16s must be accompanied by a paying adult. We put these guidelines in place for the safety, comfort and enjoyment of all our guests.
Allergy Advice
Sorry, we’re afraid this course is not suitable for those who are gluten free, with coeliac disease or wheat intolerances. However we do run courses that are gluten free friendly. Please get in touch if you have any questions or need further details.
