Description
This Dutch Oven No Knead Crusty Bread recipe offers an easy, hands-off way to bake a rustic, golden loaf with a crunchy crust and soft interior. Using just basic ingredients and your oven combined with a preheated Dutch oven, you can create artisan-quality bread without the need for kneading. Perfect for beginners and bread lovers looking for a simple homemade bread.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups warm water (about 100°F)
- 1 packet active dry yeast (2.25 teaspoons)
- 1 ½ teaspoons fine grain salt
- 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Mix yeast and water: In a mixing bowl, combine warm water, yeast, and salt. Whisk until fully dissolved to activate the yeast and evenly distribute the salt.
- Form the dough: Add all the flour at once, stirring with a spoon until a sticky dough forms. Be careful not to overmix—the dough should be shaggy and wet.
- First rise: Cover the bowl and leave the dough in a warm spot for 2-3 hours until doubled in size. This slow rise develops flavor and texture.
- Preheat the Dutch oven: About 30 minutes before baking, place your Dutch oven with its lid inside your oven and preheat to 450°F to ensure it’s hot.
- Shape the loaf: Sprinkle a piece of parchment paper with flour, then scrape the risen dough onto it. Shape the dough gently into a rough round loaf.
- Transfer and bake: Using the parchment paper, carefully place the dough into the preheated Dutch oven. Cover with the lid and bake for 35 minutes.
- Finish baking uncovered: Remove the lid and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes until the crust turns golden brown and crisp.
- Cool before slicing: Remove the bread from the Dutch oven and cool it on a wire rack so the crust sets properly before slicing.
Notes
- Make sure the water is warm but not hot to avoid killing the yeast.
- Rising time can vary based on room temperature; the dough should roughly double in size.
- Preheating the Dutch oven is essential to get a crisp crust.
- This bread keeps best when stored in a paper bag or bread box to maintain crustiness.
- For a softer crust, brush the cooled loaf with melted butter.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: no knead bread, Dutch oven bread, crusty bread, homemade bread, easy bread recipe
