Description

This Artisan Bread Recipe delivers the perfect homemade loaf with a golden crust and soft, airy crumb. Simple ingredients and step-by-step instructions make it easy to bake bakery-quality bread in your own kitchen — no kneading machine or special equipment required.

Ingredients

Scale

3 cups (395 grams) all-purpose flour or bread flour
½ tablespoon kosher salt
¼ ounce instant or active dry yeast (one packet or 2 ¼ teaspoons)
1 ½ cups warm water (105°F)
Substitutions: Use whole wheat flour for nutty flavor or add 1 tbsp olive oil for extra moisture.

Instructions

Step 1: In a large bowl, mix together the flour, kosher salt, and yeast until evenly distributed.
Step 2: Pour warm water over the dry ingredients and stir until combined. Dough should be sticky but manageable.
Step 3: Cover bowl with towel or plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature for 2–10 hours (overnight is best).
Step 4: Wet hands, turn dough onto a floured surface, and fold edges into center to form a round loaf.
Step 5: Place dough on parchment paper, dust with flour, score 1–4 lines, and rest for 20–30 minutes.
Step 6: Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C) with baking stone, Dutch oven, or iron skillet inside.
Step 7: Transfer dough to hot surface. Add 1 cup hot water or 5 ice cubes to oven for steam, then close quickly.
Step 8: Bake 25–30 minutes until golden brown and crusty.
Step 9: Cool on wire rack for 30 minutes before slicing.
Step 10: Store bread in paper bag to keep crust crisp.

Notes

For best results, use steam during baking for a crisp crust. Avoid overworking the dough to maintain light texture. Always preheat oven and baking surface before baking.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Bread
Method: Baking
Cuisine: European

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: 200
Sodium: 600mg
Fat: 1g
Carbohydrates: 45g
Protein: 7g

Keywords: artisan bread, homemade bread, crusty bread, no knead bread, easy bread recipe