Incredibly Easy and Tasty Artisan Bread

bread flour

🥗Healthier: whole wheat flour

💰Cheaper: all-purpose flour

Whole wheat flour adds fiber and nutrients, while all-purpose flour is more economical.

yeast

🥗Healthier: sourdough starter

💰Cheaper: instant yeast

Sourdough starter offers a unique flavor profile, while instant yeast is usually less expensive.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: vegetable oil

Avocado oil has health benefits, while vegetable oil is budget-friendly.

butter

🥗Healthier: margarine

💰Cheaper: shortening

Margarine can reduce saturated fat, while shortening is often less expensive.

Add 3.5 cups of bread flour to a large bowl.

Add 2.25 teaspoons of rapid rise yeast and 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar to the bowl.

Add 1.5 teaspoons of table salt and stir until combined.

Pour in 1.5 cups of warm water (about 115°F) and stir until a sticky dough forms.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place for about 2 hours until doubled in size.

Dust a surface generously with flour and turn the dough out onto it.

Use the stretch and fold method to shape the dough into a ball, folding it over at 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, and 9 o'clock.

Transfer the shaped dough onto a piece of parchment paper and lightly cover it with plastic wrap.

Let the dough sit for 30 minutes while preheating the oven to 450°F and warming a 4-quart cast iron dutch oven inside.

After 30 minutes, carefully remove the plastic wrap and transfer the dough using the parchment paper into the hot dutch oven.

Score the top of the dough with a sharp knife before covering with the lid and baking.

Bake covered for 30 minutes, then remove the lid and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Let the bread cool in the dutch oven for 10-15 minutes before transferring it to a cooling rack.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens