Easy Homemade Artisan Bread
There is nothing quite like the smell of freshly baked bread filling the kitchen — and once the cooler weather arrives, I officially consider it bread-making season! 🍞
If making bread from scratch has always seemed intimidating, this is the recipe I want you to try first. My Easy Homemade Artisan Bread uses just a handful of simple ingredients and requires very little hands-on work, but comes out looking like a beautiful bakery-style loaf.
The outside gets golden and wonderfully crusty while the inside stays soft, airy and delicious. And because it’s baked in a Dutch oven, you can get that gorgeous artisan-style crust right at home.
Serve it warm with butter, alongside your favourite fall soup, or simply tear off a piece while it’s still slightly warm — which is usually what happens in our house!
Why You’ll Love This Easy Artisan Bread
This is one of those recipes that looks far more complicated than it actually is.
There’s no complicated bread-making technique, and you don’t need to be an experienced baker to make a beautiful loaf.
You’ll love this recipe because it’s:
- Made with just a few simple ingredients
- Beginner-friendly
- No complicated kneading required
- Crispy and golden on the outside
- Soft and airy on the inside
- Baked right in a Dutch oven
- Delicious on its own or with fresh rosemary
- Perfect for fall and winter comfort meals
Ingredients for Homemade Artisan Bread
You’ll need:
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons instant yeast
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 1½ cups warm water
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Fresh rosemary, optional
That’s it!
One important tip: your water should be warm, but not hot. Very hot water can interfere with the yeast, so you want water that feels comfortably warm to the touch.
How to Make Easy Artisan Bread
Step 1: Mix the Dough
In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, instant yeast and salt.
Add the warm water and mix until everything is combined and a sticky, shaggy dough forms.
Don’t worry about making it look perfect. That’s part of the beauty of rustic artisan bread!
Cover your bowl and allow the dough to rise for approximately 2 hours.
Step 2: Stretch and Fold
After the first rise, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
Gently stretch and fold the dough approximately 5 times.
If you’re adding fresh rosemary, you can incorporate it during this step.
Cover the dough again and allow it to rest for another 1 hour.
Step 3: Preheat Your Dutch Oven
Preheat your oven to 450°F.
Place your Dutch oven inside while the oven preheats so that it gets nice and hot before the bread goes in.
This is one of my favourite tricks for achieving that gorgeous, golden artisan crust.
SHOP MY FAVOURITE DUTCH OVENS →
Step 4: Shape Your Bread
Once the dough has finished resting, gently form it into a round loaf.
Place the dough onto a piece of parchment paper.
The parchment paper makes it much easier to transfer the dough into the hot Dutch oven.
And remember — don’t worry about creating a perfectly shaped loaf.
The more rustic, the better!
Step 5: Bake
Carefully lower your dough and parchment paper into the preheated Dutch oven.
Cover with the lid and bake at 450°F for 30 minutes.
Then carefully remove the lid and continue baking for approximately 12 minutes uncovered, or until the top is beautifully golden and crusty.
Remove the bread from the Dutch oven and allow it to cool before slicing.
Your kitchen is going to smell incredible at this point!
My Favourite Bread-Making Tools
You really don’t need a lot of equipment to make homemade artisan bread, but there are a few things I use over and over again.
Dutch Oven
This is probably my most important tool for this recipe. Baking the bread covered inside a hot Dutch oven helps trap steam and gives the loaf its beautiful crust.
Parchment Paper
I use parchment paper underneath my dough so I can easily lower it into the hot Dutch oven.
Large Mixing Bowl
You’ll want a bowl with enough room for your dough to rise comfortably.
Bread Knife
Once you’ve made a beautiful crusty loaf, a good serrated bread knife makes slicing it so much easier.
🍞 SHOP ALL OF MY BREAD-MAKING FAVOURITES →
What to Serve With Artisan Bread
Truthfully, this bread is delicious all on its own with a generous spread of butter.
But it’s also perfect served alongside:
- Homemade soup
- Chili or stew
- Pasta
- Roasted chicken
- Charcuterie boards
- Dips and spreads
- Olive oil and balsamic vinegar
And if you have any left the next morning, toast a slice and add butter, jam or honey. So good!
0 comments