Print

Easiest Homemade Artisan Bread with Crispy Crust

Close-up of a freshly baked loaf of 4-ingredient bread, showing the open crumb structure and dark, crusty top.
Print Recipe
Save Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Create a bakery-style loaf at home with this simple, no-knead artisan bread recipe. You achieve a wonderfully crispy crust and a soft, airy interior using only four basic pantry ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 cups All-Purpose Flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon Instant Yeast
  • 1 1/2 cups Water (cool)

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, and instant yeast together.
  2. Pour in the cool water and mix with a wooden spoon until just combined. The dough will be shaggy and sticky; do not knead it.
  3. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let the dough rest at room temperature for 12 to 18 hours. This long, slow rise develops flavor.
  4. After the long rest, gently scrape the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Fold the dough over itself a few times to form a rough ball. Do not overwork it.
  5. Place the dough ball seam-side down into a piece of parchment paper. Cover the dough loosely with a clean kitchen towel and let it rest for 30 minutes.
  6. About 30 minutes before the second rest ends, place a Dutch oven (with the lid on) into your oven and preheat to 450°F (232°C).
  7. Carefully remove the hot Dutch oven from the oven. Lift the dough using the parchment paper handles and gently lower it into the hot pot.
  8. Cover the Dutch oven with the lid and bake for 30 minutes.
  9. Remove the lid and continue baking for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the crust is deep golden brown.
  10. Carefully remove the bread from the Dutch oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack before slicing.

Notes

  • Using cool water and instant yeast allows for the long, slow fermentation that creates the best artisan flavor and texture.
  • If you do not have a Dutch oven, you can bake this on a baking stone or sheet pan, but place a shallow pan of water on the bottom rack to create steam for the first 20 minutes of baking.
  • This recipe is excellent for beginners learning about baking with yeast.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://delishcraze.com/easy-artisan-bread-with-crispy-crust-bread/