No-Knead Crusty Artisan Bread - Recipe Diaries (2024)

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Are you stuck at home and learning how to make bread? This recipe for no knead crusty artisan bread is a good starter recipe for those who have never made bread before and it's pretty legit. Trust me, I've made it a lot of times now.

It makes pretty awesome toast as well. You can spread just about anything on it like peanut butter, Nutella, jam, and avocado. Also, make sure to read the tips below to help you out during the whole process!

Jump to:
  • Why You Will Love This Recipe
  • Ingredients Needed
  • How to Make No Knead Bread
  • Variations for No Knead Bread
  • Tips for No-Knead Bread
  • Other Recipes You Might Like
  • No Knead Crusty Artisan Bread

Why You Will Love This Recipe

If you are a fan of bread, then you know there is nothing quite like a freshly baked, crusty artisan loaf. However, creating this type of bread can seem daunting, particularly if you are not an experienced baker. With the no-knead crusty artisan bread recipe, however, anyone can create a delicious, homemade loaf that is sure to impress.

The beauty of this recipe is that it requires very little effort. In fact, the dough comes together in just a few minutes, and then it is left to rise overnight. This extended fermentation time is what gives the bread its complex flavor and airy texture. The result is a loaf that is crusty on the outside, yet soft and chewy on the inside.

Ingredients Needed

No-Knead Crusty Artisan Bread - Recipe Diaries (2)
  • All Purpose Flour - is a type of wheat flour that is commonly used in cooking and baking. It is versatile and can be used for a variety of recipes, including bread, cakes, cookies, and pastries.
  • Salt - bread without any salt is pretty boring and bland, gotta add some flavor to it!
  • Active dry yeast- this helps the dough rise, make sure that the yeast is still good and that it's not expired before using.
  • Luke-warm water - if the water isn't warm the bread will not rise. I've made this mistake plenty of times before trust me!
  • See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

How to Make No Knead Bread

Step 1: Combine the three dry ingredients in a large bowl, then pour in the luke-warm water.Stir until completely combined. The dough will look messy and not smooth and that is completely okay.Once combined, cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or set a towel over the bowl; let sit on the counter overnight.

No-Knead Crusty Artisan Bread - Recipe Diaries (3)

Step 2: When the dough is done rising and ready to bake, preheat oven to 450 degrees F.Stick a 6-quart enamel-coated cast iron Lodge Dutch Oven (or similar) in the oven for about 30 minutes to heat.

No-Knead Crusty Artisan Bread - Recipe Diaries (4)

Step 3: Heavily flour clean countertop or surface. Remember this is no-knead! Dump the dough onto a floured surface and shape into a round ball.

Step 4: After dutch oven has preheated, take the dutch oven outCAREFULLY with some oven mits or hot pads. Note handles will beextremely HOT!Place the ball of dough in the dutch oven and cover with lid.

No-Knead Crusty Artisan Bread - Recipe Diaries (6)

Recipe Tip: Brush the top of the bread with egg wash to get the top a golden brown color.

Step 5: Bake at 450 degrees F for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove lid and bake for an additional 15 minutes until done. Bread will be golden in color.

Variations for No Knead Bread

Once you've mastered this whole process of baking bread you can change up the flavors a bit with this exact same method. Think cinnamon raisin bread, love cinnamon raisin bread, no knead focaccia bread, cranberry walnut bread, cheddar and garlic, the list goes on and on and you are going to be a happy camper when you eat this. 🙂

The dough can be customized with different types of flour, seeds, or other add-ins to create a variety of different flavors. For example, you could try using whole wheat flour, rye flour, or spelt flour instead of all-purpose flour. You could also add in some chopped herbs, sun-dried tomatoes, or olives for a savory twist.

Tips for No-Knead Bread

When you are ready to bake the bread, you will need to heat your dutch oven first for 30 minutes. I've tested this step before without preheating the oven and the bread didn't turn the golden brown color like the pictures show. Do NOT skip this step.

Make sure to use oven mitts or hot pads for safety, when transferring the heated dutch oven.

No Dutch Oven:Use anoven-safepot or pan with a lid on it. The dutch oven creates steam inside since it is covered.

The last ten minutes you take the cover off of the dutch oven and bake the bread uncovered so it gets those crusty brown edges.

Oh yah and if you love avocado toast try it with homemade fresh bread. You'll be amazed at how good it is. 🙂

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Other Recipes You Might Like

  • WW Instant Pot White Chicken Chili
  • Creamy White Chicken Chili
  • Weight Watchers Spaghetti Pie
  • Air Fryer Pumpkin Seeds

If you tried this No Knead Crusty Artisan Breadorany other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. I love hearing from you! Follow along on Tiktok @jennarecipediaries

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No-Knead Crusty Artisan Bread - Recipe Diaries (12)

No Knead Crusty Artisan Bread

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4.5 from 11 reviews

  • Author: Jenna
  • Total Time: 1hr
  • Yield: 12 1x
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Description

Are you stuck at home and learning how to make bread? This is a good starter recipe for those who have never made bread before and it's pretty legit. Trust me, I've made it a lot of times now.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 3 cups All Purpose Flour
  • 1½ tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. active dry yeast
  • 1½ cups luke-warm water

Instructions

  1. Combine the three dry ingredients in a large bowl, then pour in the luke-warm water.
  2. Stir until completely combined. The dough will look messy and not smooth and that is completely okay.Once combined, cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or set a towel over the bowl; let sit on the counter overnight.
  3. When the dough is done rising and ready to bake, preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
  4. Stick a 6-quart enamel coated cast iron Lodge Dutch Oven (or similar) in the oven for about 30 minutes to heat.
  5. Heavily flour clean countertop or surface. Remember this is no-knead! Dump the dough onto a floured surface and shape into a round ball.
  6. After dutch oven has preheated, take the dutch oven out CAREFULLY with some oven mits or hot pads. Note handles will be extremely HOT!
  7. Place the ball of dough in the dutch oven and cover with lid.
  8. Bake at 450 degrees F for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove lid and bake for an additional 15 minutes until done. Bread will be golden in color.

Notes

If using Instant Yeast, the dough does not need to sit overnight, only a couple of hours.

No Dutch Oven: Use an oven-safe pot or pan with a lid on it. The dutch oven creates steam inside since it is covered.

  • Prep Time: 15 min
  • Cook Time: 45min
  • Category: Easy
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice
  • Calories: 111
  • Sugar: 3
  • Fat: 1
  • Saturated Fat: 0
  • Unsaturated Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 22
  • Fiber: 1
  • Protein: 3
No-Knead Crusty Artisan Bread - Recipe Diaries (2024)

FAQs

Why is my homemade no knead bread so dense? ›

Why is my bread dense: Usually bread will be too dense when there is too much flour. Keep in mind this dough will be pretty sticky, do not add more flour than specified. Other factors that come into play are humidity and age of flour. Little yeast, long rise, sticky dough are keys to a good, light loaf.

What is the point of no knead bread? ›

It's easy to see the appeal of the “no-knead” approach in bread baking: minimal effort produces maximum flavor. By simply mixing up your dough and giving it an extended rising period, you can enjoy gorgeous, golden loaves without having kneaded a thing.

How do you make bread lighter and fluffier? ›

All it takes is a small amount of dough enhancer per loaf to create a much lighter and fluffier result. Using a dough enhancer like Vital Wheat Gluten works to improve the texture and elasticity of the dough and elongate the strands of gluten. Doing so allows more room for the gas in the dough to develop and rise.

Why is my artisan bread so dense? ›

If your starter is not active, the bread will be dense. Under-kneading: Kneading helps to develop the gluten in the dough, which gives it structure and allows it to trap air bubbles. If the dough is not kneaded enough, it will be weak and dense. Under-proofing: Proofing is the time when the dough is allowed to rise.

Should I stretch and fold no-knead dough? ›

If the dough isn't mixed or kneaded to full development (e.g., full windowpane), adding in sets of stretch and folds during bulk fermentation will help continue its progress toward a firmer, more cohesive dough that's able to trap gas and hold its shape all the way to bake time.

What happens if you don't knead enough? ›

Dough that has not been kneaded, or hasn't been kneaded long enough, appears lumpy, doesn't stretch very well, and tears easily. If your dough is like this, it needs more kneading. Keep kneading it until it's smooth, stretchy, and more pliable.

How do you keep homemade crusty bread crusty? ›

Large crusty loaves can be stored unwrapped (to preserve their crispy crust) at room temperature for a day or so, cut side down on the counter. For optimum long-term storage (longer than a couple of days), wrap bread in single-day portions and freeze.

What makes homemade bread crust hard? ›

Baking quick breads at too high temperatures can cause a hard outside crust. Most quick breads bake in a moderate oven (350°F to 375°F). Double check your recipe to see the temperature they recommend. Oven thermostats can vary over time, requiring adjustments by the baker or calibration by a professional.

What are the cons of no knead bread? ›

Classic no-knead bread (made with ¼ tsp instant yeast and 2¾ cups of flour) often tastes flat and dull. That lack of flavor comes from the yeast outpacing enzymes and consuming too many of the available sugars in the dough.

What are the pros and cons of no knead bread? ›

Pros: Develops dough without adding additional flour (as with traditional kneading). Effective method, especially with slack doughs such as baguettes. Cons: Takes time and repetitions to master. Less effective with doughs that are either stiff or high hydration — best with medium-soft doughs.

What happens if I don't knead my bread dough enough? ›

The bread won't develop enough gluten to hold it up. You'll get a low, maybe flat bread. Unless of course you just put your dough in the fridge for a few days using a non-knead recipe. You don't need to knead if you let time do its work.

What to do if homemade bread is too dense? ›

Lack of gas and fermentation that makes the dough aerate results in dense and heavy bread. In these cases, it is either necessary to allow the dough to be proof longer or move it to the warmer room.

Why is my no knead bread crumb too dense? ›

  1. I've seen three major reasons for bread to come out too dense (other than dead yeast). The first is that you need to add more liquid. ...
  2. The second is that you're not giving it enough time to rise. ...
  3. The third is that the final rise has gone too long (it's overproofed) and has started to deflate.
Mar 28, 2023

Why is my homemade bread dense and heavy? ›

Fermentation is at the heart of many of them. (FYI: Fermentation refers to the process yeast goes through to make bread rise or proof.) If the fermentation is too fast or too slow, too long or too short, or not as predicted, dense bread is often the result.

How do you make homemade bread less dense? ›

How to Make Bread Less Dense?
  1. Proof The Dough Longer. As explained, under-proofing has been among the most popular reasons behind a dense bread texture. ...
  2. Give Your Yeast Better Environment. ...
  3. Activate The Yeast. ...
  4. Knead The Dough For Longer. ...
  5. Use Folds and Stretch For Bulk Fermentation. ...
  6. Adjust The Water Level.
May 27, 2023

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