Crusty Artisan Bread (Printable)
Rustic loaf with golden crackling crust and chewy interior. Simple no-knead method with just four ingredients creates bakery-style bread at home.
# What's Needed:
→ Dough
01 - 3 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
03 - 1/2 teaspoon instant yeast
04 - 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
# How to Make It:
01 - In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, and instant yeast. Stir until thoroughly blended.
02 - Add lukewarm water and mix with a spatula or wooden spoon until a shaggy, sticky dough forms.
03 - Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a clean towel. Let rest at room temperature (70°F) for 12-18 hours until dough is bubbly and doubled in size.
04 - Lightly flour a work surface, turn out the dough, and gently shape into a round ball.
05 - Place dough on parchment paper and cover loosely with a towel. Let rise for 30-45 minutes.
06 - Place a Dutch oven or heavy lidded pot in the oven and preheat to 450°F for at least 30 minutes.
07 - Remove the hot pot from the oven. Carefully lift the dough with parchment paper and lower into the pot. Cover with lid.
08 - Bake for 30 minutes with the lid on to create steam.
09 - Remove lid and bake for another 10-15 minutes until crust is deep golden brown.
10 - Remove bread from the pot and cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing.
# Tips for Success:
01 -
- This bread makes you look like a baking genius while you barely lift a finger
- The crust rivals anything from an artisan bakery without the fancy equipment or skills
02 -
- The dough will look impossibly wet and shaggy after mixing, but that is exactly right and not a mistake
- Skipping the preheated Dutch oven will give you a pale, soft crust instead of the crackly exterior you want
03 -
- Use a kitchen scale if you have one, because weighing flour is more accurate than measuring cups
- Letting the bread cool completely before storing prevents the crust from getting soft