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This easy crusty no knead artisan bread recipe is SO good!!
When I bring it anywhere, everyone LOVES it and it honestly looks a lot more impressive than it actually is because it’s so incredibly easy to make. You will need a round dutch oven to cook this bread with. I have the Le Creuset dutch ovenย because it’s so pretty that I like it keep it out on stove, but I also bought this dutch ovenย that is a lot cheaper and it works just as well. AND I just bought this dutch oven from Amazon and it’s incredible, too! AND even less expensive! Trust me, it’s worth it to buy a dutch oven just for this bread!! BUT you will also use it for soups and other great cooking as well.
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Easy Crusty No Knead Artisan Bread Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose or bread flour, more for dusting
- 1/2 tsp instant or rapid rising yeast
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 cups water at 70 degrees
Instructions
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In a large bowl combine flour, yeast, and salt. Add 2 cups water, and stir until blended; dough will be SUPER sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. The original recipe that I adapted this from said to let the dough rest at least 14 hours, and preferably about 18 or more, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees. I, however, have found that it only needs a few hours to rise, so you can make it in the morning and then when the surface is dotted with bubbles which is about 8 hours (this is all in the next step), you can fold the dough a few times, and let it rest for 30 minutes before cooking (SEE NEXT STEP...the point is, it definitely does not take 14 hours, and I actually prefer it to sit a lot less than that because I like my bread a little more dense and thick).
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Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Tear off a piece of parchent paper and set it next to you. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it then sprinkle it with a little more flour. Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, fold it over on itself once or twice, then gently and quickly shape dough into a ball, seam-side down. Place dough on parchment paper and let it rest for 30 minutes as oven heats up.
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Heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 5-to 7-quart dutch oven pot in the oven while it heats. When oven is heated, carefully remove pot from oven and take off the lid. Gently lift the dough with the parchment paper and set it all inside the pot. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 10 to 15 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack. It's best to slice it when it has cooled down a bit so it doesn't smush together!
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This is a very simple recipe. I’ll try it out soon.
This was so easy and delicious!! Thank you.
I’m glad you liked it!! ๐
So how long do you let it sit the first time? (Before folding it a few times and letting it rise for 2 hours.) and do you have a picture of what it should look like between those 2 steps? I would love to try making this but Iโm totally new at it and getting nervous just thinking about it. ๐ฌ haha
Hi friend! I let it sit for at LEAST 8 hours and up to 18. I don’t think that it needs to go much longer than 8 but it’s fine if you let it! ๐ It will have little bubbles over the top of it. It’s SO easy that if you let it sit for at least 8 hours, you’ll be good! ๐
Do you have to use a Dutch oven pot to make this bread? I donโt have one, but really want to make it๐
Yes, you have to use a dutch oven pot of some type! I’ve tried to use other pots and it didn’t work for me ๐ I’m sorry!!
Can you freeze this bread? Is it as good?
That’s a great question! I haven’t tried to freeze it before! I normally freeze any bread, so I’m sure it would be fine ๐
Hi, this looks amazing! What size is the Le Creuset dutch oven you use?
I use the 6 quart!
Thanks for this! So, it bakes along with the parchment paper, right? Can you substitute whole wheat bread flour for some of the all purpose?
Yes! It bakes with the parchment paper ๐ I’ve never done whole wheat flour, but I would imagine it would work just fine! ๐
When I let my bread rest while the oven is heating up, it spreads out so much. Is that normal?
It spreads out a little bit, just make sure you are letting it sit for at least 8 hours when you initially mix the dough ๐ When you knead it, don’t knead it too much but shape it into a nice bread shape and let it sit for no more than 30 minutes. It is normal for the dough to spread out a little bit ๐ Hope that helps!!
Is this 70 degrees Fahrenheit or Celsius for the water?
Fahrenheit ๐
I bought the Dutch oven you recommended on Amazon and Iโm making this recipe today (so excited) but I noticed that Amazonโs pot says it is safe to use in oven up to 400 degrees but your recipe says 450! Have you noticed any problems with your Dutch oven when you use it higher than 400 degrees? Seriously so pumped to make your bread!
I’ve never had a problem with using it at 450! ๐