Artisan Bread

 

Artisan Bread

I'll be honest with you, I've never been much of a baker and am just now beginning to get comfortable with experimenting with recipes. This is my favorite bread recipe. It's easy, delicious, and honestly, there is no greater satisfaction than watching your flour, water, and yeast rise into a fluffy dough. If you want to try your hand at making homemade bread, this recipe is the perfect place to start!

What you need:

1 packet of instant yeast (3/4 tablespoon)

1 1/2 cups of warm water (it should be about 105-115 degrees, test it with your finger and it should feel slightly warm)

3 cups of all purpose flour (no need to sift it)

1 tsp of salt

1 tsp of sugar

How to make it:

1. Start by adding your packet of dry yeast to the 1 1/2 cups of warm water. I like to do this in a measuring cup. Let sit for about 10 minutes so the yeast can activate. You should start to see bubbling from the yeast. 

2. Combine your flour, salt, and sugar in a large glass or metal mixing bowl. 

3. Add the yeast and water mixture to the flour.

4. Combine with a wooden spoon. It should form a shaggy dough. The dough should form a ball but will be slightly sticky. I also like to need mine with my hands a few times just to make sure everything is combined.

 

5. Place in a warm spot (about 80 degrees) and cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let it sit for about an hour. It should double in size. Warm is key here. Your dough will not rise if it is not around 80 degrees. 

6. After the dough has risen, place it on a piece of parchment paper that has been slightly dusted with flour. Using a bench scraper (or your hands) carefully fold the dough in on itself about 5 times, be gentle with your dough. This should help make sure the dough has flour on the outside and isn't sticky to the touch anymore. 

7. Place the parchment paper with the dough on it in a large dutch oven (an oven safe pot will work but it needs a lid).

8. Place the pot with dough in a warm spot again for its second rise for at least an hour. 

9. When ready to bake, turn on the oven to 450 degrees and place the pot with dough in the oven as it is heating up. Set the timer for 35 minutes.

10. After the first 35 minutes is up, remove the lid and bake for an additional 5-15 minutes or until the top is  nicely browned. 

11. Remove from the oven, let cool enough to slice and then serve with butter. Give yourself a pat on the back, you made bread from scratch!

Serves 8