Homemade Bread Recipe

This is an easy, no-knead bread recipe that anyone can make!

I am not on my sourdough journey!  I am a little scared of sourdough and how time consuming it seems – I would love to be a part of that journey but I’m just not!  But I do love fresh, homemade bread and this recipe is super easy and absolutely delicious.

In a bowl, add 3 cups of flour, 1 tsp of instant yeast, 1 tsp of salt and mix.  Then add 1 ½ cups of warm water and mix – I like to add about half the water and mix and then add the other half.  The dough will be sticky. 

Cover the bowl and leave in a warm, dark area for about 2 hours and 45 minutes to let the dough rise.

After you give the dough time to rise, prepare a clean, flat surface with flour – I usually use a cutting board. Use a spatula to scrape the dough from the bowl and onto the cutting board.  

Form the dough into a smooth ball – I will fold each side over once and then flip the dough over.  Then I move the dough around on the cutting board in circular motion until the dough becomes smooth.  Try not to overdo it with handling the dough!  This part only takes about a minute, once the dough is smooth and the shape of a ball I will stop.

I use a dutch oven to cook my bread – I add parchment paper to the inside and drizzle with olive oil.  Then add the ball of dough on top and sprinkle it with flour – I use a mesh strainer.  

You can score however you like – I usually do two lines (basically a big cross).

Bake at 450 degrees for 30 minutes while covered.  Then remove the top and bake for another 15 minutes uncovered.  

Let the bread cool for about an hour and enjoy! 

Ingredients

3 cups flour – I use all purpose

1 tsp instant yeast

1 tsp salt

1 ½ cups warm water

Directions

1. Mix flour, salt and yeast.
2. Add warm water and mix.
3. Cover and let sit in a warm, dark area for 2 hours and 45 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
5. Prepare a clean, flat surface with flour.
6. Remove dough with spatula.  
7. Fold each side over once on each side.
8. Move dough in circular motion to form a ball with a smooth surface – keeping the bottom on the flat surface.  (Careful not to over handle the dough – this process only takes about a minute once you remove the dough from the bowl).
9. Line a dutch over with parchment paper and drizzle with olive oil.
10. Add the dough to the dutch oven.
11. Sprinkle with flour and score.
12. Cover and bake for 30 minutes.
13. Remove cover and bake for 15 minutes uncovered.
14. Let rest for 1 hour before cutting and enjoy!