Easiest Dutch Oven Bread

This easiest Dutch oven bread also just happens to be the best artisan-style bread. It has a crisp-chewy crust, big artsy holes, and the perfect resistant texture. Double the recipe for an extra loaf – it makes a great gift!

Sometimes the best things in life are easy to come by:

An evening spent on the porch when it’s the perfect temperature.

Sleeping in clean sheets.

Eating a perfectly ripe banana.

This bread:

Honestly this Dutch oven bread is nothing short of incredible.

And it’s incredibly easy. Simple ingredients, simple instructions. Does it get much better when you’re talking about homemade bread?

If you don’t eat the whole loaf as soon as it comes out of the oven, it makes fantastic toast. And grilled cheese sandwiches (I would imagine – I’m back to dairy free eating for the time being).

Dunk a slice in some hearty soup, or slather it in peanut butter and homemade jam.

Since this Dutch oven bread does take a little bit of planning, we usually make two loaves at once. That extra loaf is a great bargaining chip when you want to make a trade with someone for their garden abundance. Depending on the person they may take sauerkraut or fermented horseradish mustard. But bread is much more broadly accepted.

This easiest Dutch oven bread is also great for gifting. It’s an excellent way to make someone’s day, without taking up a huge chunk of your own.

Easiest Dutch Oven Bread:

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons active dry yeast

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups warm water

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a medium size mixing bowl (we have a set similar to these bowls). Mix to combine (a sturdy wooden spoon does the trick nicely). The dough should be quite wet and sticky. Cover and let rest at room temperature for at least 18 hours and up to 24 hours.

Place a Dutch oven (such as this one) in the oven, then turn oven on to 450 degrees F. Meanwhile, plop the dough onto a generously floured countertop. The dough will be loose, but you should still be able to form a ball. Place that dough ball on a sheet of parchment paper. Once the oven has preheated, remove the Dutch oven and place the parchment with the dough on it inside.

Cover the Dutch oven with the lid, return it to the oven, and bake for 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake an additional 15 minutes. Remove from oven and carefully lift bread out of Dutch oven. Allow bread to cool slightly before slicing.

I highly encourage you to double this easiest Dutch oven bread recipe so you can share a loaf with a co-worker, a neighbor, or *ahem* new parents.

Print