How many calories does tomato basil bread have? A comprehensive breakdown

November 14, 2025 •

4 min read

While a standard slice of white bread has around 67 calories, the calorie count for tomato basil bread is highly variable. How many calories does tomato basil bread have depends heavily on factors like the recipe, ingredients, and slice size, making a single answer impossible.

Quick Summary

The caloric content of tomato basil bread fluctuates significantly based on preparation, including oil content, ingredients, and portion size. Homemade loaves can vary widely from commercial versions, making precise calorie counts difficult without a specific recipe.

Key Points

Variable Calories: A single slice of tomato basil bread can contain anywhere from 100 to over 250 calories, depending heavily on the recipe and slice size.
Ingredient Impact: Additions like excessive olive oil, cheese, or added sugar can significantly increase the calorie density of the bread.
Homemade Control: Baking your own tomato basil bread allows for precise control over ingredients, enabling you to manage the final calorie count.
Sourdough Differences: Sourdough tomato basil bread may offer a slightly different calorie profile and is often easier to digest than standard yeast bread.
Accurate Calculation: To find the exact calorie count for a homemade loaf, calculate the total calories of all ingredients and divide by the final baked weight.
Healthier Swaps: Using whole wheat flour and fresh, rather than oil-packed, sun-dried tomatoes can create a lower-calorie and more nutritious bread.
Commercial vs. Homemade: Commercial breads, like those from Panera or Breadsmith, have standardized nutrition info, while homemade versions vary widely based on the cook's recipe.

The question, "How many calories does tomato basil bread have?", does not have a single, universal answer. Instead, the final calorie count is influenced by numerous factors, including the recipe's specific ingredients, the preparation method, and the size of the slice. A commercial bakery's formulation will differ from a homemade loaf, and even homemade recipes can vary greatly depending on the type of flour and the amount of fat used.

Factors Influencing Tomato Basil Bread Calories

Recipe Ingredients

Flour Type: The type of flour is a primary determinant of the bread's caloric density. A loaf made with white all-purpose flour will have a different calorie count than one made with whole wheat or ancient grains. For example, sourdough bread, which often has a longer fermentation process, may contain slightly fewer carbohydrates and calories than standard yeast bread.
Added Fats: Many recipes for tomato basil bread incorporate olive oil, butter, or other fats to enhance flavor and texture. The amount of fat used can significantly increase the calorie count. For instance, a recipe might call for a small amount of olive oil, while a rich focaccia version could be soaked in it, drastically changing the nutritional profile.
Tomato and Basil: While tomatoes and basil themselves are low in calories, the form in which they are added matters. Using oil-packed, sun-dried tomatoes will contribute more calories from fat compared to using fresh or rehydrated sun-dried tomatoes.
Optional Add-ins: Ingredients like cheese (especially Parmesan), sugar, and garlic can also increase the total calories per slice. A cheesy garlic tomato basil bread will have a much higher calorie count than a basic version with just herbs and tomato.

Portion Size Variability

A "slice" of bread is not a standard unit of measurement. The calorie count can change dramatically depending on the thickness and weight of the slice. For example:

A thin, half-inch slice from a bakery like Breadsmith is reported to have around 100 calories.
A larger, 2-ounce serving from a cafe like Panera Bread has 130 calories.
A slice from a homemade recipe could range from 121 calories to over 200 calories, depending on the recipe's yield and the final slice size.

Homemade vs. Commercial Tomato Basil Bread

To highlight the calorie differences, a comparison table can be helpful. This table shows the variability in calorie counts for different types and sources of tomato basil bread, based on available nutrition data.


Bread Type (Per Slice)	Calories (Approx.)	Fat (Approx.)	Carbohydrates (Approx.)	Notes
Homemade (Taste of Home)	121 kcal	2g	22g	Based on a specific recipe
Homemade (Girl Versus Dough)	205 kcal	6g	33g	Based on a specific recipe
Commercial (Breadsmith)	100 kcal	0g	22g	For a 1/2-inch slice
Commercial (Panera Bread)	130 kcal	0g	27g	For a 2 oz portion

How to Calculate Calories for a Homemade Loaf

For those who want precise calorie information for their own baked goods, a detailed calculation is necessary. This is especially useful for a personalized recipe that won't match standard nutritional information. The process involves tracking all ingredients accurately:

List all ingredients: Record every ingredient and its exact weight in grams.
Find nutritional data: Look up the nutritional information (calories per gram) for each ingredient. Online food databases can be helpful for this.
Calculate total calories: Multiply the weight of each ingredient by its calorie density and sum the totals to get the total calories for the entire loaf.
Bake and cool the bread: Proceed with baking as usual. Let the bread cool completely, as it will lose weight during the baking process.
Weigh the final loaf: Use a kitchen scale to weigh the fully cooled, finished loaf.
Determine calories per gram: Divide the total calories from all ingredients by the final weight of the loaf in grams.
Weigh your slice: When you cut a slice, simply weigh it and multiply the weight by the calories-per-gram value to get an accurate calorie count for that specific portion.

Tips for a Healthier, Lower-Calorie Version

If you are aiming to reduce the calorie count of your tomato basil bread, consider these modifications to your recipe:

Opt for Whole Wheat Flour: Substitute a portion of the white flour with whole wheat flour. This will add fiber and nutrients without significantly increasing calories. Some sourdough recipes can also utilize a blend of flours.
Reduce Added Fats: Use just enough olive oil to create a rich flavor, or substitute it with a low-fat alternative like a small amount of unsweetened applesauce in the dough. Using fresh tomatoes instead of oil-packed ones also cuts calories.
Increase Fiber: Adding extra fiber, such as psyllium husk or oat bran, can help create a more satiating loaf without piling on the calories.
Go Easy on Add-ins: Be mindful of extra ingredients. While cheese and extra sugar taste great, they add a significant amount of calories. Limit these for a healthier bread.
Use Fresh, Aromatic Ingredients: Focus on the flavor of fresh tomatoes and basil rather than relying on a lot of added fat. This delivers a robust taste with fewer calories.

Example Lower-Calorie Ingredients List

Whole wheat or a 50/50 blend of whole wheat and all-purpose flour.
Minimal olive oil (or none).
Fresh, chopped tomatoes or rehydrated sun-dried tomatoes.
Abundant fresh basil.
Minimal or no added sugar.

For a delicious, healthier version, consider following a recipe optimized for flavor and nutrition, like this one from Taste of Home.

Conclusion

To definitively answer "how many calories does tomato basil bread have?", you must consider the specific recipe and portion size. Commercial products offer a standardized count, but homemade bread can vary widely. By understanding the key factors and learning to calculate your own loaf's nutrition, you can enjoy this flavorful bread while staying mindful of your dietary goals. Homemade versions allow for precise control over ingredients, making it easier to create a delicious and healthy loaf that fits your lifestyle.

Frequently Asked Questions

There is no single answer, but a typical slice can range from 100 to over 250 calories, depending on the ingredients, recipe, and portion size. For instance, a half-inch slice from one commercial bakery might be 100 calories, while a larger homemade slice could be well over 200.

Sourdough bread often has a slightly lower caloric and carbohydrate count than standard yeast bread due to its fermentation process. However, the total calories still depend on the recipe, particularly the amount of oil, flour, and other additions used.

The highest-calorie culprits are typically added fats like olive oil or butter, optional additions like cheese, and any added sugars. Using oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes instead of fresh tomatoes can also increase the fat and calorie content.

To reduce calories, you can make several substitutions: use whole wheat flour for some or all of the white flour, minimize or eliminate added oils, and use fresh tomatoes and basil. These changes increase fiber and nutrients while cutting down on calories.

Not necessarily. The calories in both commercial and homemade versions can vary significantly. Store-bought options typically have standardized nutritional information that you can check, whereas homemade loaves are entirely dependent on the specific recipe.

To calculate the calories for a homemade loaf, weigh every ingredient, find its caloric value, and add up the totals. After baking and cooling the loaf, weigh it again. Divide the total calories by the final loaf weight to get calories per gram. Then, simply weigh your slice for an accurate calorie count.

Yes, slice size dramatically affects the total calories per serving. A recipe that claims a low calorie count per slice might be based on a very thin slice. Always consider the portion size when evaluating nutritional information.