This is the year I became a bread baker. And while it still feels foreign to say that, it's true. I'm still learning the ropes, but with the help of these recipes and more on the site, I conquered my fear of yeasted-dough, learned that cream biscuits totally give you the most bang for your buck, and expanded my quick bread repertoire. Whether you count yourself as a bread baker too, or aspire to be one, you'll enjoy these favorites from 2017.

No matter what your experience as a bread baker is, this quick bread is suitable for everyone. This recipe calls for six bananas, which might seem like a lot, but it makes for the most tender, moist, flavorful banana bread you will bake.

This play on easy, classic cream biscuits skews slightly sweet and comes out of the oven feeling downright fancy. I love them with a spread of jam in the morning, or piled high with fruit and cream for dessert.

If your intention is to bake more bread in the coming year, this is a simple recipe you've got to add to your lineup. Use them to roll up a bunch of your favorite ingredients and as a partner to hummus and dips.

These pull-apart challah rolls are tender, rich with eggs, and baked in a regular baking dish, with no braiding required.

These pillowy dinner rolls are scented with fresh herbs and have sharp cheddar cheese in not just one but two places: Cheese is both kneaded into the dough and sprinkled generously over the top to form a golden-brown toasted crust.

Do yourself a favor when making this sweet quick bread, and skip the bag of pre-shredded carrots from the produce section. It's worth the effort to prep them at home with a box grater, and you'll be rewarded with a more flavorful, moist loaf.

I like to describe these recipe as fruit and cheese danish meets your favorite cinnamon roll, but way better. I lost count of how many times I made these buns this year, so it feels safe telling you that even the most reluctant baker can pull off the fancy yet deceptively easy buns.

And speaking of cheese danish, you should also give this yeasted-dough recipe a try. It will remind you of the Entenmann's danish of your youth, but so much better.