Artisan Bread Recipe (2024)

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Crusty Homemade Artisan Bread is so easy to make with NO KNEADING required. Soft on the inside with an irresistible chewy crust!

A no knead bread recipe without special equipment, stand mixers or dough hooks? YES! If you’ve never made bread before, youwill LOVE how easy and forgiving this recipe is. Bread lovers will appreciate thethick, chewy crust and soft open crumb, similar to Ciabatta, perfect to smother with butter.

Have warm, homemade bread from scratch on your table in less than 3 hours!

Artisan Bread Recipe (1)

ARTISAN BREAD

It looks too good to be true, I know. Fluffy, crusty bread with no effort? No way. But ever since we first saw this recipe a few years ago, we have been baking it just about every week. Now you will too! Beginner bakers rejoice: no intimidation needed!

Nothing beats fresh warm bread coming out of your oven, tearing it apart to see hot steam escape while the sweet carb smells make you dizzy. Dip chewy bread pieces into a hot bowl of chicken soupor chili for bread soaked in delicious flavours.

Artisan Bread Recipe (2)

HOW TO MAKE NO KNEAD BREAD

All you need is:

FLOUR: Bread flour results in a softer, fluffier bread because of the higher protein content. Regular all purpose or plain flour also work really well, with the texture changing only a little. If using wholewheat flour, useabout 1/4 cup less flour and add more as you go, if needed.

SUGAR: Yeast feeds on sugar and starch, the perfect pairing in bread dough. The mix releases carbon dioxide gas, causing the bread to rise while baking. The bubbles push the dough up and out, creating a soft and spongytexture.

YEAST: We have tried this recipe over the years with dried, instant and rapid-rise.We found the dried yeast did not need activating before mixing it through the dry ingredients. If hesitant, feel free to activate it first in the warm water and oil for a couple of minutes before adding the rest of your ingredients.

THE SECRET TO SOFT BREAD

OIL is what makes our bread even softer. You need this sneaky little addition for a silky, soft crumb.

WARM WATER:Not too hot or it will kill your yeast. 130°F or 55°C is the perfect temperature. You can also do the finger test: if you dip your finger in the water and its nice and warm, it’s perfect. If it burns, let it cool down slightly until warm.

MIX ALL OF YOUR INGREDIENTS TOGETHER UNTIL YOU GET A WET AND SLOPPY MESS

Artisan Bread Recipe (3)

RISE BABY!

Cover with plastic wrap and place in a draft-free warm place for about 2 hours.The dough will double in size; the surface will possibly alarm you, becoming dotted with bubbles. The texture will be like jelly and super sticky. KEEP GOING You’re on the right track.

Artisan Bread Recipe (4)

PREHEAT YOUR OVEN AT THIS POINT! You want to place you dutch oven in so it gets nice and hot!

SCRAPE OUT AND FOLD INWARDS

Lightly flour your work surface AND spatula with up to 1 tablespoon flour. Scrape dough out of bowl onto work surface, sprinkle with a little flour and fold it inwards over itself about 5-6 times.

Don’t use too muchflour! You still want it quite sticky for moist, fluffy soft bread.

SHAPE DOUGH
Transfer dough onto a large piece of parchment paper and shape it into a rustic round shape with your spatula. You’re mainly doing this to get some of the air out of it!

Carefully remove your HOT pot using oven mitts. Then, grab the ends of your parchment paper to lift the dough into your pot.

Artisan Bread Recipe (5)

BAKE!

Don’t forget to put the lid back on. This creates steam to bake your bread in before the crust sets in. To get that golden, crunchy crust, remove the lid and bake for a further 12-15 minutes.

You won’t believe how good it looks when it comes out of the oven. Cracks and all!

Let it cool before cutting into it to let the centre of the bread finish cooking.Slather with butter and prepare to have your mind blown! If you love bread, this homemade bread recipe is truly life changing!

Artisan Bread Recipe (6)

MORE BREAD RECIPES

Easy Soft Dinner Rolls (NO MIXER + EGG FREE)
Easy Cheesy Garlic Bread
Soft Cinnamon Rolls
Hot Cross Buns

Artisan Bread Recipe (7)

A SUPER EASY homemade bread recipe! Soft on the inside with a a chewy, crunchy crust! A no knead bread with no special ingredients needed, just a pot and your oven. This recipe has been adapted from Jim Lahey of Sullivan Street Bakery, published by The New York Times.

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Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 42 minutes mins

Rising:: 2 hours hrs

Total: 2 hours hrs 52 minutes mins

Serves: 12 slices

Ingredients

  • 3 cups bread flour, or plain/all purpose (15.8 oz. or 450g)
  • 1 tablespoon white granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons dried, instant or rapid rise yeast
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) warm water
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) olive oil

Instructions

  • Combine flour, sugar, yeast and salt in a large bowl. Add water and oil, mixing to incorporate all of the ingredients together. Dough will be wet, sticky and shaggy.

  • Lightly spray the top with cooking oil spray. Cover with plastic wrap and place a dry tea towel over the top.

  • Leave in a warm, draft-free place for 2-3 hours, until doubled in size. Dough will have a lot of little holes or bubbles and be wobbly like jelly.

  • Place a large (10-inch or 26cm) dutch oven or heavy based pot in the oven with a lid. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C) 30 minutes before baking.

  • Lightly flour work surface and plastic spatula with up to 1 tablespoon flour. Scrape dough out of bowl onto work surface with spatula. Sprinkle the top of dough with a large pinch of flour and fold it over on itself with the spatula (about 5-6 folds). Roughly form a round shape.

  • Measure out a large piece of parchment paper, large enough to transfer the dough into the pot. Place paper next to the dough and roll dough onto the paper, smooth side up. Carefully move it to the centre of the paper and reshape if needed, or shake pan a couple of times to evenly distribute dough. (It will even out while baking.)

  • Loosely cover with plastic wrap and let rest while oven is preheating.

  • Use oven mitts to carefully remove hot dutch oven from oven. Grab the parchment paper from each end to pick up the dough and transfer it into the pot.

  • Cover with lid and bake for 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake for an additional 12-15 minutes, until loaf is beautifully golden browned.

  • Transfer to a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes before slicing.

Notes

FLOUR:Bread flour results in a softer, fluffier bread because of the higher protein content. All purpose or plain flour also work really well, with the texture being only slightly different.

SUGAR: Yeast feeds on sugar and starch, the perfect pairing in bread dough. The mix releases carbon dioxide gas, causing the bread to rise while baking. The bubbles push the dough up and out, creating a soft and spongytexture.

YEAST:we have tried this recipe over the years with dried, instant and rapid-rise.We found the dried yeast did not need activating before mixing it through the dry ingredients. If hesitant, feel free to activate it first in the warm water and oil for a couple of minutes before adding the rest of your ingredients.

OILis what makes our bread even softer. You need this sneaky little addition for a silky, soft crumb.

WARM WATER:not too hot or it will kill your yeast. 130°F or 55°C is the perfect temperature. You can also do the finger test: if you dip your finger in the water and its nice and warm, it's perfect. If it burns, let it cool down slightly until warm.

RISING TIMEcan vary according to a couple of elements: humidity levels, room temperature, different flours, different yeast, etc. Let the bubbly surface be your guide. As long as the dough rises to double its size, it's ready to continue as per the recipe above. Just remember, yeast thrives in warmer temps.

DON'T FORGET TO PREHEAT YOUR OVEN WITH THE POT!

The very first time I saw this recipe was on Pinch of Yumand The New York Times.

Nutrition

Calories: 140kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 1mg

Artisan Bread Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What makes artisan bread different? ›

The main differences between a loaf of artisan bread and regularly manufactured bread are the ingredients and methods used to create the bread. Artisan bread uses cleaner, less processed ingredients and is often handmade, making each loaf unique.

What flour is good for artisan bread? ›

FLOUR: Bread flour results in a softer, fluffier bread because of the higher protein content. Regular all purpose or plain flour also work really well, with the texture changing only a little. If using wholewheat flour, use about 1/4 cup less flour and add more as you go, if needed.

Why does artisan bread taste better? ›

Flavour and aroma: As most artisan breads rely on traditional fermentation of yeast or cultures, this allows greater flavour development. Artisan bakers may also work complementary spices or herbs into their dough to further enhance the taste and aroma.

Why is my homemade artisan bread so dense? ›

Make sure that your dough is not too wet or too dry, both extremes will result in a dense crumb. You can check to see if you are using the right amount of water for the type of flour you use (click here to check). And make sure you are measuring using the scoop-and-sweep method, click here for a video of that.

Is artisan bread healthier than regular bread? ›

Artisan bread is thought to be a healthier option than store-bought bread. While there haven't been clinical studies to clearly define the differences, artisan bread is made from wholesome fresh ingredients whereas store-bought bread contains processed ingredients and preservatives to stretch the shelf life.

Is there a difference between bread flour and artisan bread flour? ›

The differences lie in the product's quality and the quality of the goods you can make from it. Artisanal flours often produce a better aroma and flavor and are better for making crusty bread with tender insides. They're great for sourdough, enriched bread, French or Italian style bread, and pizza doughs.

What is the difference between artisan bread flour and all-purpose flour? ›

Bread flour has a higher protein content (around 13% more), which leads to more stability, form and rise in the dough, allowing it to lift and hold shape. All purpose flour has a lower protein content, resulting in lighter, shorter breads, which makes it an ideal flour for cookies, cakes and more.

Why is my artisan bread crust so hard? ›

Uneven kneading can also lead to uneven rising and uneven baking, dense and hard a crust. One way to combat this problem is to rise outside the oven before baking atleast rise 80% before putting it into the oven. You don't specify C or F. 250C, way too hot, 250 F, not nearly hot enough.

Why is my artisan bread so hard? ›

Bake at Lower Temperatures

Many artisan bread recipes will have you cook your bread at a higher temperature to crisp the crust. Often times, they'll follow up with a lower temperature to ensure an even bake.

Why does bakery bread taste so good? ›

The secret to the wonderful taste and aroma of freshly baked bread is the Maillard reaction. It's a chemical reaction between proteins, certain carbohydrates and some of the fatty acids that occur when bread is baked in the oven, which gives it a delicious flavour and fine colour.

Is it cheaper to make bread than buy it? ›

In a nutshell, if you're buying basic, cheap sandwich bread, it's probably cheaper than you can make it at home. But if you compare two loaves similar to what you could make at home — one made with high-quality ingredients as opposed to one made with lesser quality ingredients — home baking becomes much cheaper.

What is another name for artisan bread? ›

Also Known as Handmade Bread.

What is the difference between artisan bread and ciabatta bread? ›

Ciabatta loaves are more moist and spongy than most artisan breads. This is largely due to the addition of olive oil in the dough. Ciabatta is generally milder than sourdough but still has a slightly tangy, rustic sort of flavor.

What's the difference between artisan bread flour and regular bread flour? ›

Artisanal flour is inherently no different t regular flour since the ingredients are largely the same. The differences lie in the product's quality and the quality of the goods you can make from it. Artisanal flours often produce a better aroma and flavor and are better for making crusty bread with tender insides.

Why is artisan bread so important? ›

Fresher Taste

As mentioned above, artisan bread is carefully crafted, which means there's great interest in making it extra flavorful. They pick only the best, freshest, and most delicious ingredients to give you the yummiest taste with every bite.

Why is artisan bread so popular? ›

Artisanal bread is definitely the way to go when it comes to freshness and deliciousness! Also known as "craft bread," artisanal breads use traditional methods that take time and care to produce. This includes fermenting dough with starter cultures and longer bulk fermentation times.

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