How to make easy homemade bread: moist and delicious!

There's nothing like the homemade aroma wafting through our kitchen as it bakes. This easy bread recipe bakes up deliciously golden brown! It’s a classic no-knead bread. To make it you will need flour, water, salt, and yeast. Simply make the dough, allow it to rise, and bake until golden. It’s hard to believe you only need four ingredients and minimal effort to make bread that tastes like it’s straight from the bakery. Golden and crispy on the outside, and soft and tender on the inside. Enjoy it on its own with real butter and a fruit preserve, or serve it as a side to a hearty soup. It’s one of those recipes that will make you feel like a proper baker!

Homemade Bread Ingredients

Flour – use all-purpose flour, no need for special bread flour

Water – use lukewarm water

Yeast – make sure the yeast you use is still active and not expired

How to Make Homemade Bread

What’s great about this bread is that there is no kneading involved.

While making the dough, place the Dutch Oven in a preheated oven to heat up.

Start by mixing together all the ingredients until the dough is smooth and elastic. Fold over the dough a few times, then divide it into two.

Place the two dough loaves in the heated Dutch Oven. Make sure to handle the hot pot very carefully so as not to burn.

Tips

If you found the dough sticky to work with, you can either grease your hand slightly, or use a spatula to mix the dough.  Don’t be tempted to add more flour, as this will create dry bread.

The Dutch Oven should be preheated for at least 30 minutes, but up to one hour. Just be careful as it will be very hot!

Make sure to keep the lid on for the first half an hour. It’s the secret to perfectly crispy ‘artisan bread’.  The lid traps steam while the bread bakes on the inside, creating crispy bread with a tender crumb.

How to Store Homemade Bread

Because it does not contain preservatives like store-bought bread does, homemade bread will not keep for long (a great reason to enjoy it fresh out of the oven). Store the loaves at room temperature for up to 3 days, making sure they’re tightly wrapped.

Can You Freeze Homemade Bread

Bread is great for freezing. Once cooled, wrap the bread tightly with plastic wrap. Add another layer of aluminum foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw at room temperature, then heat in a low-heat oven.

Can I Make It Ahead of Time?

Yes, you can make the dough and keep it in the fridge for up to 5 days (cover it with plastic wrap). Allow the dough to come to room temperature before placing it in the Dutch oven.

Instructions

Place the flour with dry yeast and salt in a bowl and mix well.

Add water and mix to form a smooth dough.

Cover the dough and let rise for one hour or until doubled in size.

Press the dough slightly flat, and then fold (at least 3 times).

Place the dough in a hot Dutch oven. Use a knife to score the top of the bread. Cover and bake at 250°C/480F for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, remove the lid and continue bake for 20 minutes to allow the bread to turn brown.

When the bread is ready, remove the Dutch oven and let the bread cool for at least 1 hour before slicing it.

Enjoy!