This is a phenomenal bread recipe. The best, EASY yeast bread you will ever make, beginners love how simple it is while bread connoisseurs appreciate the Artisan bread qualities – the thick crispy crust and chewy crumb with big fat holes like sourdough!
No knead, 3 minutes active effort, very forgiving recipe. Make this today, then the Cheese Bread version tomorrow!
Phenomenal EASY yeast bread recipe
This is an extraordinary white bread recipe with outstanding results. While it’s easy and forgiving, making it suitable for beginners, experienced bakers will recognise and appreciate the Artisan bread characteristics – large holes in the crumb like your favourite sourdough bread with that signature chewiness, and a thick, crispy crust.
It’s a gold nugget recipe, and you may never buy bread again after trying this!
Here’s why it’s so easy:
No knead, no stand mixer
3 minutes active effort – you won’t even get your hands dirty
Dutch oven (cast iron pot) ideal but not necessary
Incredibly forgiving dough, with rise times ranging from 2 hours to 3 days (yes, really, you choose what works for you)
Easy but yet no compromise on quality of bread
What you need to make this homemade bread recipe
Here’s what you need to make homemade bread from scratch – yeast, flour, salt and water. Yep, really, that’s it!
No yeast?
Make this famous Irish Soda Bread instead, or this incredible No Yeast Sandwich bread based on the traditional Australian Damper!
Yeast – my base recipe uses Rapid Rise or Instant Yeast which does not need to be dissolved in water. But it works just as well with normal yeast (“Active Dry Yeast” or just “dry yeast”) – you just need to change the order of the steps and dissolve the yeast in water first. The bread comes out exactly the same!
Best flour for homemade bread – use bread flour if you can. Bread flour has more protein in it than normal flour which means more gluten, and this makes the dough more elastic and yields a more fluffy yet chewy texture inside the bread, as well as creating the big holes you see in the photos, like sourdough bread. However, this bread is still spectacular made with normal flour too!
How to make the world’s easiest homemade bread – Artisan style!
Here are process steps with tips, but also see the video below – super handy to see the dough consistency, and how to form the dough.
1. Make wet sticky dough
Mix together the flour, salt and yeast, then add warm water and mix. The “dough” will be very wet and sloppy, not kneadable at all – this is what you want! See video at 17 seconds for consistency.
2. Rise!
Cover with cling wrap then place it in a warm place (25 – 30°C / 77 – 86°F) for 2 hours. The dough will increase in volume by double or more, the surface will become bubbly and the dough will be wobbly, like jelly. See video at 24 seconds for consistency.
OPTIONAL – develop flavour: Once dough has risen, you can bake immediately. OR, for better flavour, refrigerate for a minimum of 8 hours, up to 3 days. Time = better flavour development.
Bread in photos and video were baked immediately. I usually make this dough in the morning, refrigerate all day then bake in the evening. Or make the dough in the evening, refrigerate overnight and bake fresh in the morning! (10 – 12 hours in fridge). Beauty of this bread is that you can bake anytime!
No dutch oven? No problem! Just bake it on a tray – see the recipe notes.
3. Preheat oven & pot
30 minutes before dough has risen, or while refrigerated dough is coming to room temperature, place dutch oven (cast iron pot) in the oven to preheat at 230°C/450°F.
Hot oven + hot pot = bread rising boost!
4. Scrape dough out
Scrape dough out of bowl onto floured work surface. It will be wet and sticky and that’s exactly what you want – because we will not be kneading it! In fact, you won’t even touch it with your hand.
PRO TIP: Dough handling and shaping technique devised to minimise addition of flour. Less flour = wetter dough = bigger air pockets, fluffier bread and more moist.
5. Shape the dough very roughly
Use a dough scraper or anything of similar shape (spatula, cake server, or large knife) to fold the sides in so it roughly resembles a round disc.
Don’t get too hung up on the shaping – you’ll deform it in the next step!! This step is mainly to deflate the dough.
6. FLIP dough upside down onto paper
Slide a large piece of baking / parchment paper next to the dough, then flip it upside down onto the paper using the scraper so the seams from the step above are face down, and you have the smooth side up.
Slide/push the dough into the centre, then briefly reshape it into a round or slightly oval shape.
Do not get too hung up on a neat shape – this bread is supposed to be rustic! Besides, scruffier shape = more awesome crispy ridges
7. Prepare to bake!
Remove very hot pot from oven, then use paper to pick up the dough and put it in the pot, and put the lid on.
See recipe notes for no dutch oven method.
8. Bake!
Bake for 30 minutes with the lid on (this creates a steamer effect, allowing the bread to rise while it cooks before crust sets), then 12 minutes with the lid off to brown and crisp up the crust. The surface will crack – and you want this, for extra crispy ridges!! And it looks authentic, just like the Artisan bread you buy at bakeries. 😇
Cool for 10 minutes before slicing. This is important – to let the centre of the bread finish cooking (if you slice too early, it will seem a bit doughy. Patience was never my greatest virtue, so I learnt this first hand!)
Remember – you can make this bread recipe WITHOUT a dutch oven!
Why this bread recipe works – and TIPS!
Loose, sticky dough = easier to rise than firmer dough.
No kneading = rough dough, but because the dough is so soft, it puffs up enough to “smooth out” the roughness.
Super forgiving dough – too stiff, add water. Too wet, add flour. Dough not rising? Move it to a warmer place. Takes 45 minutes to rise or 5 hours? It will still work. As long as your dough is the same consistency as what you see in the video and you let it rise to double the volume, this bread recipe will work as long as the yeast is not past its expiry date!
Why you need a preheated dutch oven for no knead bread recipes – to create a steamy environment to give the bread a rise boost before the crust sets (which stops the bread from rising). Professional bakeries are equipped with steam ovens – the cast iron pot is the home method!
Don’t have a dutch oven? No problem! Recreate the steamy environment by placing hot water in a pan in the oven, and bake the bread on a tray.
Big holes in the crumb – loose dough from less flour, high oven temp and preheated pot allows the yeast to give the bread a great rise boost, creating big air pockets. Also the use of bread flour rather than normal flour helps – you get less large holes using normal flour.
Bake immediately if it’s a bread emergency….
…but you’ll be rewarded with tastier bread if you leave the dough 8+ hours in the fridge! I normally make dough first thing in the morning (it takes 3 minutes!) then bake that night. Or make dough at night and bake in the morning. (~12 hrs in fridge for both scenarios)
Why refrigerating the dough creates a better tasting bread – because the fridge slows down the fermentation of the yeast (ie dough stops rising, if it kept rising it would kill the rising power of the yeast), allowing the enzymes in the yeast to do their work, transforming starch into sugar which creates a more flavourful bread. So we let the dough rise first, then refrigerate it.
All the ways to eat this bread!
Everything you do with bread you buy, you can do with this bread. It truly has the structure of bakery bread, so there are no limits!
Eat it fresh out of the oven, slathered with butter. Make sandwiches, toast it, mop plates clean, dunk it in soups and stews. Make bruschetta, garlic bread, grilled cheese, CHEESY garlic bread or Cheese and Garlic CRACK Bread!
I hope you enjoy this crusty bread recipe as much as I do. This really is one of those gold nugget recipes that you’ll make once and treasure forever! – Nagi x
Watch how to make it
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World’s Easiest Yeast Bread recipe – Artisan, NO KNEAD
Ingredients
- 3 cups (450g) flour , bread or plain/all purpose (Note 1)
- 2 tsp instant or rapid rise yeast (Note 2 for normal / active dry yeast)
- 2 tsp cooking / kosher salt , NOT table salt (Note 3)
- 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) very warm tap water , NOT boiling or super hot (ie up to 55°C/130°F) (Note 4)
Dough shaping
- 1 1/2 tbsp flour , for dusting
Instructions
- Mix Dough: Mix flour, yeast and salt in a large bowl. Add water, then use the handle of a wooden spoon to mix until all the flour is incorporated. Dough will be wet and sloppy – not kneadable, but not runny like cake batter. Adjust with more water or flour if needed for right consistency (see video at 17 sec, Note 5).
- Rise: Cover with cling wrap or plate, leave on counter for 2 – 3 hours until it doubles in volume, it’s wobbly like jelly and the top is bubbly (see video at 24 seconds). If after 1 hour it doesn’t seem to be rising, move it somewhere warmer (Note 6).
- Optional – refrigerate for flavour development (Note 9): At this stage, you can either bake immediately (move onto Step 5) or refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- Take chill out of refrigerated dough – if you refrigerated dough per above, leave the bowl on the counter for 45 – 60 minutes while the oven is preheating. Cold dough does not rise as well.
- Preheat oven (Note 7) – Put dutch oven in oven with lid on (26cm/10" or larger). Preheat to 230°C/450°F (220° fan) 30 minutes prior to baking. (Note 8 for no dutch oven)
- Shape dough: Sprinkle work surface with 1 tbsp flour, scrape dough out of bowl. Sprinkle top with 1/2 tbsp flour.
- Using a dough scraper or anything of similar shape (cake server, large knife, spatula), fold the sides inwards (about 6 folds) to roughly form a roundish shape. Don’t be too meticulous here – you’re about to deform it, it’s more about deflating the bubbles in the dough and forming a shape you can move.
- Transfer to paper: Slide a large piece of parchment/baking paper (not wax paper) next to the dough, then flip the dough upside down onto the paper (ie seam side down, smooth side up). Slide/push it towards the middle, then reshape it into a round(ish) shape. Don't get too hung up about shape. In fact, lopsided = more ridges = more crunchy bits!
- Dough in pot: Remove piping hot dutch oven from oven. Use paper to place dough into pot, place lid on.
- Bake 30 minutes covered, then 12 minutes uncovered or until deep golden and crispy.
- Cool on rack for 10 minutes before slicing.
Recipe Notes:
- Fridge up to 3 days – Rise dough per recipe, then leave in bowl and refrigerate up to 3 days. Flavour gets better with time. Dough will stay bubbly for a day or two, then will deflate – that’s fine. Shape into round and place on paper per recipe, then leave for 45 – 60 minutes to take the chill out of it, then bake per recipe. Cold dough won’t rise as well.
- Bread in photos & video is 2 hr rise, immediate bake.
- Cooked bread – great fresh for 2 days, then after that, better warmed or toasted. Keep in an airtight container or ziplock bag. This stays more fresh than usual homemade bread, especially if you use bread flour.
- Freeze cooked bread for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Information:
More bread recipes
Life of Dozer
Just keeping a close eye on it for me….
Good job Dozer. Here’s your treat. Look, I even buttered it for you! (PS He’s in his robe because it’s a rainy day yet I still took him to the beach!!!)
Rachel Axe says
Really is super easy to make. And tastes truly delicious! Thanks for this great recipe which has saved us during quarantine!
Carole Harwood says
Can you make this bread if you don’t have parchment paper
Reshma Ragoonanan says
Hi do you preheat and bake. Top and bottom or bottom only?
Nagi says
Hi Reshma, I use a fan forced oven but you could use the top and bottom oven. Always preheat to bring up to temperature before cooking – you need the high heat here. N x
Lesley says
I’ve made this bread many times and always a huge success. Question if i shaped it in a long French loaf style on a cookie sheet what adjustment to cooking time is needed if any??? Thank you – love your site – awesome
Stacey says
I’ve made this 3-4 times. The kicker for me – don’t fudge on the baking time! Bread always looks done when it’s not. Each time I’ve been rewarded with doughy bread in the middle. You have to bake as long as the recipe says. Trust me!
As someone who really doesn’t enjoy getting their hands messy, this recipe is a Godsend! Delicious!
Nagi says
Hi Stacey, yes it can be deceptive but it really needs the full cook time 🙂 N x
berry says
Got the recipe off to a tee after experimenting with cooking time for my oven ( 55 mins for me). White loafs are perfect but all my granary wholemeal breads do not seem to rise much compared to the strong white flour and end up baking a bit flat. Any tips
Nagi says
Hi Berry, that’s because wholemeal requires more water for hydration and doesn’t work quite the same as white flour – something I’d need to test to make a wholemeal loaf sorry! N x
Susan says
What size Dutch oven do you use?
Nagi says
Hi Susan, mine is a 26cm pot. N x
caroline says
So impressed with how it turned out, mixture seemed very dry at first but looked as it should once proved x
Romeo says
Super easy to make and so delicious! As a first time bread maker this is definitely a keeper. Thank you. Followed the directions as noted and it turned out perfectly.
Debbie says
Has anyone tried this with almond flour??
Nagi says
Hi Debbie, this recipe won’t work with almond flour sorry. You need the gluten here to produce a great loaf. N x
Rachel says
This is the best, easiest bread I have ever made! Thanks Nagi for another terrific recipe. Proved overnight and baked in time for lunch today and really wish I didn’t have to share it with anyone! Absolute winner.
Ronit Fabro says
Great recipe… thanks for sharing. Made this loaf earlier this week and just love it…
Nagi says
Perfect Ronit!! N x
Lilian says
When I made this bread, the centre of loaf was slightly damp. However after toasting it it was fine. Just wondering if the dampness when untoasted means it was undercooked? Or is that normal? Thanks!
Tracy Haferbier says
Lillian – I’ve had this happen on the last few loaves I made, even when adding extra minutes to the baking time. Outside crispy and beautiful, center slices still damp. I believe my electric oven isn’t calibrated quite right, and bakes hotter than it shows. Reduced heat to 425 and added 5-10 minutes to the covered baking time, and it’s perfect. Hope that helps!
Mary Mayfield says
Want to try the bread, but don;t think I have it right – 15 cups of water? How much?
Nagi says
1.5 cups Mary – you’re missing the dot in between – so 1 1/2 cups. N x
denise says
Hi Nagi,
I love your recipes. I’ve made quite a few. Just wondering what size your Dutch oven is? I’d like to get one. They are good for a lot of things.
Thanks,
Denise
Nagi says
Hi Denise, I have a 26cm dutch oven – but it depends on how many people you generally cook for and what you’ll be cooking 🙂 N x
Kat says
Hi Nagi, my Dutch oven is 24cm. Would the dough fit or should I halve the recipe? 😊
Nagi says
Hi Kat – that will be fine!! Enjoy! N x
Nany says
Hi Nagi, I’ve already made this bread 3 times in the last week and it’s all gone in one day. It’s fantastic and an easy, no fail recipe. I add a good amount of very finely chopped fresh basil and te taste is heavenly. Thank you so much for this perfect recipe! I wish I could post a pic…
A hug to cute Dozer 🙂
Sue R says
I did the leave it in the fridge for 3 days thing and while it was baking you’d swear it was sour dough. So good! I did find I preferred to leave it with the lid off longer till more golden though. Pinning to make again and again. So easy, you are right about that! Thanks again Nagi.
Nagi says
WOOT!!! Yes leaving it improved the flavour – I’m so glad you enjoyed it Sue! N x
Veronica says
I love this bread and have made it several times. One question I have is this, does anyone find the cut hard to cut through?
SUSANNE MCFADZEN says
I baked the dutch oven bread. It is just out of the oven. Looks great but have not tried it. The paper has baked into the dough on the sides, any way to prevent this? Oil? or forget about the paper all together. Love all your recipes.
Nina says
You could cut about 6 slits to the edges the paper all the way around so its fits the round baking dish a bit better
SUSANNE MCFADZEN says
It even stuck all over the bottom of the bread. It tastes very good and I will make it again. Really love the crust so much. Just need to find a way for the paper not to stick.
Nagi says
Hi Susanne, are you sure you used greaseproof baking paper? N x
SUSANNE MCFADZEN says
I used parchment paper