1. Set up your bread gradient

We will re-use this radial gradient for all our bread buns. You can set up color styles or variables for the individual colors if need be.

2. Start with a simple shape

Bread comes in all shapes and sizes. 😌 In this tutorial, we will be making Brioche buns! We will start with a simple rectangle and edit the radius to make it feel organic. You don’t have to use my exact values.

3. Apply the gradient

Apply the radial gradient to the shape. It already looks like a bun. 10/10.

4. Apply a texture effect

Apply a texture effect to the shape and have fun with the sliders until it looks right. Personally, I keep going until my ancestors tell me to stop. 😌

5. Add highlights

Add some highlights to the bread using simple shapes and a similar texture effect as step 4 above. If you don’t want the texture confined to a shape, uncheck Clip to shape. We are using the lightest color in our gradient (#F5EDE2) for the first highlight, and white (#FFFFFF) for the second.

6. Duplicate and assemble!

Duplicate the shape and assemble into the desired baked good. In this example we are making Brioche buns, so I made 3 copies and slightly rotated them. To help with realism after assembly, move the highlights on each bun slightly toward a single source of light.

7. Create an outline for the combined shape

Make copies of the buns and Union the copies into a single shape. Next, flatten that shape and add a dark red stroke. Remove the fill (if there is one) and set the dark red stroke to Overlay.

8. Add a dynamic stroke (optional)

To add a hand-drawn feel to the outline, add dynamic stroke. It looks very fancy. ✨

9. Add a sticker outline (optional)

Duplicate the shape outline. Remove the stroke on the duplicate and add a white fill. Use the Offset Vector tool to offset the duplicate. Move the offset shape to the bottom of the layer list. (Keyboard shortcut is “[”)

10. And we’re done!!

Congrats on your baked masterpiece. Go forth and bake more bread!