No Knead Crusty Bread

If you are new to baking bread, it’s very important to start with the easiest recipes first. Once you master the easy recipes, you can move on to harder recipes. I find that if you build your confidence, you will be more likely to succeed as you move up the bread ladder. I think the best place to start with bread baking is this no knead crusty bread. Having a beginner bread recipe that is super easy is imperative in the beginning of your bread making journey. It’s no knead and doesn’t take long to make at all!

If someone asked me the best first recipe for baking bread, this would be it! I highly recommend you start with yeasted bread first. Sourdough bread is quite a bit more involved and really relies on a basic knowledge of bread baking to be successful.

In my years of baking bread, I have learned that the simplest loaves are my favorite. Even with sourdough, I prefer something very simple and mostly hands off. This loaf fits the bill and it is still a very delicious loaf of bread!

This particular recipe uses unbleached all purpose flour, active dry yeast, salt, and water. The simplest of ingredients.

I highly recommend purchasing an enamel dutch oven for this bread recipe. Later on, if you want to start sourdough, you will use this dutch oven as well.

I find that no knead breads are the best way to go, as well. In time, you can try your hand at kneading or invest in a stand mixer. But, this recipe doesn’t require a stand mixer.

To make the bread, add 1 1/4 cup of warm water (105-110 degrees F) to a large mixing bowl. Add 3 teaspoons of active dry yeast and stir it in. Cover the bowl and allow the yeast to bloom. This usually takes about 5-10 minutes. You will know your yeast is active when it bubbles up in the water.

Once the yeast is active, add 3 cups of unbleached all purpose flour and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt.

Stir together with a wooden spoon or dough whisk until combined well.

Now, cover the bowl and allow it to rise for at least 1 1/2 to 2 hours. It should double in volume.

Preheat your oven with the dutch oven inside to 450 degrees F.

Take the dough and turn it onto a floured surface to shape. You want to shape it into a ball shape and pull it towards you a few times to build tension and seal the seam.

Now place your ball of dough on a piece of parchment paper. Take a razor blade or sharp knife and score a gash down the center of the dough.

Place in the dutch oven and put lid back on. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the lid and continue to bake until deep golden brown, about 10-15 additional minutes.

Remove the bread and place on a cooling rack to cool completely before slicing.

That’s it! Bread on the table in less than 3 hours that will impress your family, for sure!

I hope you will give this a try if your are new to bread baking!

See you soon!