The most delicious crusty bread recipe I have tried. It is easy to make and requires very little effort and delivers a perfectly delicious loaf every time.
Before you think “Oh, it can’t be the BEST bread she’s ever had”, let me be clear. I am not exaggerating when I say that the first time I tasted this bread I was absolutely blown away. I set out to develop a good, crusty loaf of bread but I honestly wasn’t planning on it being THIS good. All I wanted was a nice, easy bread recipe. What happened was the most delicious, perfectly seasoned and well-flavored bread I had ever baked.
But, I am a bread addict so I asked my husband and brother (both harsh critics and not easily impressed) to try and they both agreed that this was insanely good bread. My brother in fact begged me to bake him a loaf. I’ve baked this bread more than 10 times since then and every time I am surprised at how good it turns out.
Tips for making the best crusty bread
- Using a stand mixer with a dough hook definitely simplifies this recipe even more but it can totally be made by hand.
- Giving the dough a good 90 minutes to proof allows a good amount of flavor to develop. You can leave the dough in the fridge overnight for slow fermentation to happen too.
- Preheating the dutch oven (casserole pot/pot with a lid) in the oven is perhaps the most important step in this recipe. The screaming hot pot is 100% the reason the crust is so shatteringly crisp.
- Even though a loaf of bread straight from the oven is one of the most glorious things in the world, resist temptation and allow the bread to cool to room temperature before slicing. Cutting into the loaf too quickly can cause the interior to be gummy. Allow the bread to cool completely for the fluffiest, softest interior just begging for a thick layer of butter and flaky sea salt.
Making ahead and freezing
- Make ahead: This dough can be made up to 4 days ahead and kept in an airtight container in the fridge. Allow to come to room temperature before baking as instructed.
- Freezing: The kneaded dough can be frozen in freezer bags for up to 4 months. Thaw in a bowl covered with a damp tea towel and allow to rise before baking as directed. Baked bread can be wrapped and frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat, bake from frozen for 30 minutes or until the bread is hot throughout and crusty.
What to serve with crusty bread
Bread recipes
- Easy soft and fluffy bread rolls
- Easy white bread
- Rosemary Pecorino Potato bread
- Cheese and herb Irish soda bread
- Brioche loaf
Easy crusty bread
Equipment
- Dutch Oven / Oven-safe pot with lid
Ingredients
- 1½ cups warm water (When you put your finger in the water, it should feel like nothing. This is called blood temperature. 98.6°F or 37°C)
- 10 g (2tsp) instant yeast
- 1 tsp sugar
- 3 cups flour (+1 cup for dusting)
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the water, sugar and yeast. Allow to stand for 5 minutes until foamy.
- Add the flour and salt then knead with the dough hook for 5 minutes.
- The dough will be slightly sticky but shouldn't be wet. If it is, add 1-2 tbsp flour and knead in.
- Bring the dough together into a ball with your hand. Dust over 1-2 tbsp flour (you want it to be well covered).
- Cover the bowl with a damp tea towel and allow the dough to rise for 1 hour until doubled in size. Leaving the dough in a warm spot will aid the rising.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F. Place a pot (dutch oven) with a lid into the oven to preheat.
- When the dough has proved, turn it out onto a floured surface. Fold the edges into the center of the dough then place into a floured bowl, seam side down. Dust over more flour.
- Cover with the tea towel and allow to rise for another 30 minutes.
- Carefully remove the pot from the oven and remove the lid. Transfer the dough to the pot and cover with the lid.
- Place in the oven and allow to bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove the lid and bake for another 10-15 minutes until the bread is golden brown.
- Remove the bread from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack for 20-30 minutes (or until it has cooled to room temperature) before slicing and serving.
Nutrition
How long to knead by hand?
Approximately 5-10 minutes until the dough is smooth.
This was my first time making homemade bread. It turned out great and it was very easy to make. It is awesome with butter and jam or butter with a little salt. YUM
How do you store the left overs?
My partner is concerned if I put it into ziploc that I’ll kill the delicious crust.
Your partner is correct, covering with plastic will cause the crust to soften. You can either store it in a paper bag or just wrap it in a clean tea towel.
Can bread flour be used in this recipe?
Absolutely!
Novice bread maker & 3rd time making this recipe in as many weeks & it turns out better each time. Thanks so much. How & what could I add as flavourings. I tend to make it to have with soup
Amazing! I’m so happy to hear that Sharon!
This easy crusty bread recipe is an absolute winner! The loaf of bread didn’t last longer than a day in my house because everyone loved it so much. Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe, I will definitely be baking it again.
So glad you liked it Rosie!
Best bread recipe ever.Can switch in different flours.I used a seeded one with great results.So easy to make,and am going to continue to bake it regularly after lockdown eases.Shared with a lot of friends.
Yummy, easy and very well written recipe. Even a novice like me got it right!
Thanks so much Ruby!
This is such a super easy, no fuss but crazy delicious bread. Thanks for the recipe Alida!
Awesome. 🙂 Thanks so much for your comment Heike!
The easiest no fuss bread I have made. Completely satisfying to any carb lover.
So good to hear, thanks Jessica!
What kind of flour do you use – cake flour or white bread flour? White bread flour is seeming a little hard to come by during lock down
Either will work. Most commercial brands are interchangeable.
How important is a Dutch oven to this recipe as I don’t own one.
It definitely helps create a crispier crust but I have seen people bake the bread in a loaf pan too with great success.
what is a dutch pot
A Dutch Oven is a casserole pot like a Le Creuset or Staub. Any ovenproof pot with a lid will work though.
Hi Alida, I do not have a warm place in my home. The average temp is about 70 degrees F in any room. Not being a bread maker, is this temp ok for the dough to rise sufficiently? Of course, this time of year this temp is about normal. In summer, we usually have the AC on so stays about the same. Thanks for any help you can give me as I definitely want to try making this bread! Thanks!
Not a problem at all. It might take slightly longer for the dough to rise, that’s all.
What size Dutch oven did you use? Thanks.
I used a 25cm.
Bread is in the oven and it isn’t browning! I’ve made bread for 55 yrs and have never had this happen. Used a pot w/ a lid. Any ideas on what I could’ve done incorrectly? TIA
If you remove the lid and bake for another 20 minutes it should brown.
thank you
I do not have a mixer at all can I still. . Need the bread by hand
Absolutely!