Easy Rustic Bread (Printable)

Crusty artisan loaf with chewy interior, made with simple ingredients. Ready in under 3 hours.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 3 1/4 cups bread flour, plus extra for dusting
02 - 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
03 - 1 teaspoon instant dry yeast
04 - 1 1/4 cups lukewarm water

→ Optional for Dusting

05 - 1 tablespoon cornmeal or semolina

# How To Make It:

01 - Combine bread flour, salt, and instant yeast in a large bowl. Mix thoroughly to distribute yeast evenly.
02 - Pour lukewarm water into the flour mixture. Stir with a wooden spoon or hands until a shaggy, sticky dough forms.
03 - Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a damp towel. Let rise at room temperature for 1-2 hours until doubled in size.
04 - Lightly flour a work surface. Turn out dough and shape into a rough ball by folding edges underneath.
05 - Place dough seam-side down on parchment paper dusted with flour or cornmeal. Cover and rest for 30 minutes.
06 - Preheat oven to 450°F. Place empty Dutch oven inside if using to preheat simultaneously.
07 - Carefully transfer dough with parchment into hot Dutch oven or onto baking sheet.
08 - Use a sharp knife to score the top of the loaf with a single straight or curved slash.
09 - Cover with Dutch oven lid. Bake for 25 minutes to create steam for optimal rise.
10 - Remove lid and bake 15 more minutes until crust is deep golden brown and loaf sounds hollow when tapped on bottom.
11 - Transfer bread to a wire rack and cool completely before slicing to preserve texture.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You probably have everything you need in your pantry right now
  • The crusty exterior and chewy interior rival any bakery loaf
  • It is forgiving enough for first time bakers but impressive enough for dinner guests
02 -
  • The dough should feel sticky and tacky, not dry or smooth, so resist adding extra flour
  • Scoring the loaf is not just decorative, it allows the bread to expand where you want it to
  • A hollow sound when tapping the bottom means it is done baking
03 -
  • A Dutch oven creates steam naturally, but you can also add ice cubes to a hot baking sheet below your bread
  • For extra flavor, add roasted garlic, chopped rosemary, or even grated parmesan to the dough

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