You can make bakery-style artisan bread at home with this easy, no-knead recipe. This method delivers a loaf with a crackly, golden crust and a soft, airy interior crumb using only simple pantry staples.
Author:emilyharrison
Prep Time:5 min
Cook Time:45 min
Total Time:13 hours 50 min
Yield:1 loaf 1x
Category:Baking
Method:No-Knead Baking
Cuisine:American
Diet:Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
3 cups All-Purpose Flour
1 1/2 teaspoons Salt
1/4 teaspoon Instant Yeast
1 1/2 cups Cool Water
Instructions
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and yeast.
Pour in the cool water and mix with a wooden spoon until just combined. The dough will be very sticky and shaggy; do not knead it.
Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let the dough rest at room temperature for 12 to 18 hours. This long rest develops the flavor.
After the long rest, lightly flour a work surface. Gently scrape the dough out of the bowl. Fold the dough over itself a few times to form a rough ball. Do not overwork it.
Place the dough ball on a piece of parchment paper, cover it loosely with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel, and let it rest for 30 minutes.
While the dough rests, place a 5- to 6-quart Dutch oven, with the lid on, into your oven. Preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C). Allow the Dutch oven to preheat for at least 30 minutes.
Carefully remove the hot Dutch oven from the oven. Lift the dough using the parchment paper and gently place it inside the hot pot.
Cover the Dutch oven with the lid and place it back in the oven. Bake for 30 minutes.
Remove the lid and continue baking for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the crust is deep golden brown.
Carefully remove the bread from the Dutch oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack before slicing to achieve the best interior crumb texture.
Notes
Using cool water helps control the long, slow fermentation process, which builds flavor.
A Dutch oven traps steam, which is essential for developing that signature crackly crust.
You can substitute up to half of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for a more rustic flavor.