Easy Rustic Bread (Printable)
Simple artisan-style loaf with crusty exterior and chewy interior using basic ingredients.
# 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 - In a large bowl, combine bread flour, salt, and instant yeast. Mix well until evenly distributed.
02 - Add lukewarm water and stir with a wooden spoon or your hands until a shaggy, sticky dough forms.
03 - Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let it rise at room temperature for 1–2 hours, or until doubled in size.
04 - Lightly flour a work surface. Turn out the dough and shape it into a rough ball, folding the edges underneath to create tension.
05 - Place the dough seam-side down on a piece of parchment paper dusted with flour or cornmeal. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.
06 - Preheat your oven to 450°F. If using a Dutch oven, place it empty in the oven to preheat as well.
07 - Carefully transfer the dough with the parchment paper into the hot Dutch oven or onto a baking sheet.
08 - With a sharp knife or bread lame, score the top of the loaf. Cover with the Dutch oven lid and bake for 25 minutes.
09 - Remove the lid and bake for another 15 minutes, or until the crust is deep golden brown and the loaf sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.
10 - Transfer the bread to a wire rack and let cool completely before slicing to preserve texture.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The dough is incredibly forgiving, so even if you're new to bread making, you'll end up with something beautiful
- It requires zero kneading and uses ingredients you probably already have in your pantry right now
- The smell of fresh bread baking will make your entire home feel warm and welcoming
02 -
- The dough should look quite sticky and shaggy after mixing, resisting the urge to add more flour is what keeps the bread light and airy
- Scoring the dough isn't just decorative, it gives the bread a controlled place to expand as it bakes
- Letting the bread cool completely before slicing might be the hardest part, but cutting into hot bread makes the texture gummy
03 -
- A Dutch oven creates the perfect steamy environment for bakery style crust, but a pizza stone with a tray of ice cubes underneath works surprisingly well
- The hollow tap test is the most reliable way to know when your bread is done baking