A beautiful loaf of crusty bread really doesn’t take a lot of work, or any special ingredients. This is how you make “Artisan Bread” easy.

Based on what I am seeing in the grocery stores these days, a lot more of you are planning on learning to become bakers than normal. I know, loaves of bread flew off of the shelves almost as fast as toilet paper. And then you went for the flour. Now you’re in full on panic mode because you have 73 lbs of flour, and don’t have a clue what to do with it. It’s ok. There is a reason bread has become such a staple of Western Society. It’s easy. I mean, stupidly easy. If you had realized how easy it was years ago, you would have already had a stockpile of favorite recipes to chose from.

I’ll work on getting you some more varieties to expand your repertoire shortly, but first we are going to start with the basics. I only have one loaf easier than this one, and it just substitutes the olive oil with an equal amount of water. But this one is a little more versatile (makes a great pizza or calzone dough) and is going to give you a beautiful confidence building loaf right off the bat.

🥖 Ingredients for the D.I.Y. Artisan

It really is this simple.

• 1 1/4 cups warm water
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 tbsp active dry yeast
• 3 1/4 cups bread flour (All purpose will work)
• 2 tsp course salt

🧑🏽‍🍳 Directions

1. In a large heavy bowl, mix water, olive oil, yeast and 1/4 cup flour. Let proof for 5 minutes.
2. Add remainder of flour and salt, stir with a sturdy spoon until well mixed.
3. knead the dough just until it forms a cohesive ball in the bowl, maybe 60 seconds.
4. Cover loosely and let rise for 2 hours.
5. With well dusted (in flour) hands, remove the dough from the bowl and shape it into a smooth ball.
6. Place dough on a flour dusted wood board or wicker rising bowl. Let rise 30 minutes.
7. Preheat your oven to 450, placing a dutch oven inside.
8. Using gloves, remove hot Dutch oven and slide dough into it, slashing the top of the dough with a sharp knife.
9. Cover the Dutch oven, and return to your 450 degree oven. Bake for 30 minutes.
10. Remove lid from Dutch oven and bake an additional 12 minutes.
11. Remove from oven, and place bread on a wire rack to cool.

📜 Notes

If you don’t have a Dutch oven, do not despair. This easy artisan bread can be baked on a sheet pan, stone, or even an oven safe skillet. Heat it up as you would the Dutch oven, and then place a small oven safe dish with 1/2 cup of water in the oven with the bread. Total bake time will be 40 minutes, no need to do anything else while the baking is going on.

Looking for more ways to use up all of that flour? I have some great breads for you to try out!

• crusty corn bread
• skillet focaccia with herbs
• simple wheat bread

If you have tried my Easy Artisan Bread recipe, or any other recipe on  Real Life with Dad, please rate the recipe.  And be sure to follow us on FaceBook and Instagram @RealLifeWithDad

Yield: 1 loaf

Easy Artisan Bread

Print

A beautiful loaf of crusty bread really doesn't take a lot of work, or any special ingredients. This is how you make "Artisan Bread" easy.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Rising Time 2 hours 30 minutes

Cook Time 42 minutes

Total Time 3 hours 22 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups warm water
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 tbsp active dry yeast ( or 1 packet)
• 3 1/4 cups bread flour (All purpose will work)
• 2 tsp course salt

Instructions

1. In a large heavy bowl, mix water, olive oil, yeast and 1/4 cup flour. Let proof for 5 minutes.
2. Add remainder of flour and salt, stir with a sturdy spoon until well mixed.
3. knead the dough just until it forms a cohesive ball in the bowl, maybe 60 seconds.
4. Cover loosely and let rise for 2 hours.
5. With well dusted (in flour) hands, remove the dough from the bowl and shape it into a smooth ball.
6. Place dough on a flour dusted wood board or wicker rising bowl. Let rise 30 minutes.
7. Preheat your oven to 450, placing a dutch oven inside.
8. Using gloves, remove hot Dutch oven and slide dough into it, slashing the top of the dough with a sharp knife.
9. Cover the Dutch oven, and return to your 450 degree oven. Bake for 30 minutes.
10. Remove lid from Dutch oven and bake an additional 12 minutes.
11. Remove from oven, and place bread on a wire rack to cool.

Notes

If you are not using a Dutch oven, place a small oven safe dish with 1/2 cup of water in the oven with the bread. Total bake time will be 40 minutes, no need to do anything else while the baking is going on.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  Lodge 5 Quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven. Pre-Seasoned Pot with Lid and Dual Loop Handle
• 
  KitchenAid Professional 600 6 Qt Lift Bowl Stand Mixer (Certified Refurbished)
• 
  Top Rated Bellemain Stainless Steel Non-Slip Mixing Bowls with Lids, 4 Piece Set Includes 1 Qt, 1.5 Qt, 3 Qt. & 5 Qt.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

2 slices
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 354Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 780mgCarbohydrates: 55gFiber: 2gSugar: 0gProtein: 10g