Do you need baking powder to bake bread?

Here's why:

* Yeast is the primary leavening agent in bread. Yeast ferments sugars in the dough, producing carbon dioxide gas which creates the air pockets that make bread rise.

* Baking powder is used for quick breads. It's a chemical leavening agent that reacts with moisture and heat to release carbon dioxide gas, which is what makes quick breads rise.

However, there are a few exceptions:

* Some bread recipes might call for a small amount of baking powder. This is usually added to give the bread a slightly "lighter" texture.

* Some bread recipes specifically designed for quick baking might use baking powder instead of yeast. These recipes are usually designed to be made with minimal rise time.

In short, baking powder is not essential for baking bread, but it can be used in some recipes for specific purposes.