Incredibly Easy Crusty Artisan Bread

Incredibly Easy Crusty Artisan Bread is a simple, 4-ingredient homemade dutch oven bread recipe that is absolutely foolproof. Perfect alongside every meal. Pair with a delicious cinnamon spreadable honey & it’s pure heaven.

I love bread. It’s one of my weaknesses. I especially love artisan bread & extra points if it’s hot & fresh right out of the oven.

But I obviously can’t hang out in the bakery at the store all day long waiting for the bread to bake. So I try to make a couple of loaves at home at least a couple of times a week.

Recipes like this one are so easy that there’s really no excuse for me to have to go without anymore. I just mix the dough before I go to bed & let it sit. After we are done with the chaos of breakfast the next morning I pop it in the oven to bake. The house smells amazing.

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Easy Homemade Bread Recipe

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Sometimes I will get the dough ready before we have dinner. That gives me enough hours of letting it rise that I can bake it first thing when I get up at 4 the next morning. My main motivation for doing this is because I want to have it for breakfast.

My favorite thing to have for breakfast is a slice of hot, fresh bread with some honey on it. It’s heavenly!

Here are some commonly asked questions

Please see the following frequently asked questions we get for this bread. This will help assure that it turns out perfect each & every time you make it.

What is the best way to store leftover bread?

I must say, we almost never have leftovers of this bread. However, if you happen to have a few extra slices laying around, place them in a zip-top bag or airtight container. This recipe should keep at room temperature for up to 3 days.

How many can this serve?

Depends on how you slice the loaf. So for my family of 5 – it’s good for about 1 dinner + seconds. They are crazy for the bread. But if each guest had 2, you could feed 10 people.

Can I use Gluten-Free flour?

I have not tried that yet. If you decide to give it a go, I would suggest using one that has a 1:1 ratio for the best possible results. Please let me know how it turns out. I’d love to share that with others.

Easy Artisan Bread

To make this recipe you will need…

• all-purpose flour
• salt
• dry active yeast
• lukewarm water

Can this recipe be doubled?

Probably not because the dough wouldn’t fit in a dutch oven. You could do 2 batches and bake the dutch ovens side-by-side if you need 2 loaves.

Can I make this without a dutch oven?

Unfortunately you NEED the heavy, lidded, oven-safe pot to get the bread to cook the way it does & give it the texture that it has. You can find them for about $30-40 & you will definitely get your use out it as they are so versatile.

Can I cook an enameled cast iron at that temperature?

Per the manufacturer’s description of the product “This enameled cast-iron Dutch oven can be used on any cooking surface, including induction. It’s resistant to heat, corrosion, rust, and water. The cast-iron Dutch oven is chip resistant & the lid knob is oven safe to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.”

Being that enameled cast iron is actually created by a particulate of glass, called frit, that is applied to the cast iron vessel and then baked at temperatures between 1200 and 1400° F. The glass frit melts and fuses to the cast iron, forming a bond. Since it is baked on at 3 times hotter than what this is baking it at, I’m not worried. But if you are worried about your enamel cracking, you can use a regular iron dutch oven.

HOW TO MAKE Easy Crusty Artisan Bread?

1. In a medium-size bowl, combine 3 cups of the flour along with the other ingredients & mix with a wooden spoon until fully combined.
2. Place plastic wrap over the top of the dough. (touching the dough- not just covering the top of the bowl)
3. Set aside in a warm, dark place to rest at least 8 hours. (up to about 24 hours)
4. Remove dough from bowl & place on a well-floured surface & work into a ball. (if it’s too wet or sticky you can work more flour in- but it should not be too firm)
5. Allow to rest approx 30 minutes.
6. Place cast iron dutch oven with lid in oven & preheat oven to 450 degrees.
7. Carefully remove once preheated & spray the bottom with cooking spray.
8. Place dough in the pot, slash the top several times.
9. Cover & bake 30 minutes.
10. Remove lid & bake an additional 10-15 minutes or until golden & brown.
11. (you know it’s done if it sounds hollow when tapped with your fingernail)
12. Cool slightly before serving.

Products I love when making this bread…

This bread recipe is SUPER EASY and delicious – and if you’re like me, then you maybe already have some of these items on hand OR maybe you have never made homemade bread before, & you might be a bit nervous – but you’re going to love this turns out. I have made a list below of the things I absolutely can’t live without when it comes to making this bread recipe.

• mixing bowl
• all-purpose flour
• table salt
• yeast
• plastic wrap
• cooking spray
• oil mister
• Dutch oven
• parchment paper

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