The Easiest Bread in the Entire World Recipe
This recipe for the easiest bread in the entire world yields a simple, no-knead artisan-style loaf with a crusty exterior and tender crumb. By using rapid-rise yeast and letting the dough rise slowly without kneading, you create a flavorful and rustic bread at home using just a few ingredients. Baking in a preheated Dutch oven produces a perfectly baked loaf with a crisp crust, ideal for any bread lover looking for an effortless baking experience.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes (minimum, includes rising time)
- Yield: 1 large loaf (about 12-16 servings) 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 6 cups bread flour
- 2 packets rapid-rise yeast (about 4 1/2 teaspoons)
- 1 tablespoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 3 cups warm water (around 100°F / 38°C)
Instructions
- Mix Ingredients: In a very large bowl, combine the bread flour, rapid-rise yeast, salt, and warm water. Stir together with a spoon until the mixture forms a ball of dough. Avoid kneading to prevent overmixing.
- First Rise: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow the dough to rise at room temperature for at least 3 hours, or up to 2 days. The dough should roughly double in size during this time.
- Preheat Oven and Dutch Oven: When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place your Dutch oven with its lid inside the oven to heat for at least 30 minutes to ensure a hot baking vessel.
- Shape the Dough: Lightly flour your counter and gently shape the risen dough into a ball without kneading. Place this ball onto a piece of parchment paper for easy transferring.
- Bake the Bread Covered: Carefully remove the hot Dutch oven from the oven, remove the lid, and lift the parchment with the dough ball into the Dutch oven. Cover with the lid and bake for about 1 hour at 400°F (200°C).
- Bake the Bread Uncovered: After 1 hour, check the crust color. Remove the lid and bake uncovered for an additional 15-20 minutes to brown and crisp the top crust. Optionally, place a stainless steel bowl with water on the bottom oven rack during baking to create steam for a crispier crust.
Notes
- Do not knead the dough; gentle stirring and shaping are sufficient.
- The dough can be risen for up to 2 days in the refrigerator for more flavor.
- Using a Dutch oven helps mimic the steam environment of professional bread ovens for a better crust.
- Preheating the Dutch oven is crucial for proper heat retention and crust formation.
- The optional water bowl creates steam, which can enhance crust crispness but is not necessary.
Keywords: no-knead bread, easy bread recipe, artisan bread, Dutch oven bread, homemade bread, crusty bread
