It is a truth universally acknowledged that nothing beats the smell of freshly baked bread. Whether it's flavoured with herbs and spices or just a plain, simple white loaf, even the faintest whiff of the stuff is enough to make anyone hungry.

Despite this near-universal appeal many people baulk at the idea of making bread themselves, fearing it would be too difficult or require endless technical apparatus. Needless to say, this is far from the case. Our collection of easy bread recipes aims to reassure any nervous amateur bakers that bread is very much within the reach of even the earliest of novices - just remember to have a read of our guide on how to bake bread before you start.

Kevin Mangeolles' Rye bread recipe is fantastic served up alongside soup or salad, while Paul Ainsworth's easy Focaccia recipe makes the perfect accompaniment to oil and vinegar. If time is of the essence try Adam Bennett's Soda bread recipe, a quick bread which rises as it bakes thereby significantly reducing the preparation time.