Ingredients
4 cups (512 g) unbleached all-purpose or bread flour This forms the base of the dough, providing structure and gluten for a soft, tender crumb that makes the bread rise beautifully.
2 teaspoons (10 g) kosher salt Essential for enhancing flavors and controlling yeast activity, helping create that crave-worthy taste without overpowering the dough.
2 cups (454 g) lukewarm water (prepared by mixing 1.5 cups cold water with 0.5 cup boiling water) Activates the yeast and hydrates the flour, resulting in a sticky, high-hydration dough that leads to a moist interior.
2 teaspoons (8 g) sugar Feeds the yeast for a proper rise and adds a subtle sweetness that balances the bread’s flavor.
2 teaspoons (8 g) instant yeast The leavening agent that makes the dough double in size, ensuring a light and airy texture with minimal effort.
About 2 tablespoons room temperature butter for greasing bowls Keeps the dough from sticking and helps form a golden crust, adding a rich finish to the loaves.
Instructions
First Step: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, sugar, and instant yeast until everything is evenly combined. This sets the foundation for your dough and ensures the yeast distributes well for a consistent rise.
Second Step: Add the lukewarm water to the dry ingredients and mix with a spoon until the flour is fully absorbed, forming a sticky dough. Don’t worry if it’s messy this high-hydration mix is what gives the bread its soft crumb.
Third Step: Cover the bowl with a tea towel or plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm spot for 1 to 2 hours, until it doubles in size. To create a warm environment, briefly preheat your oven for one minute and then turn it off, but make sure it’s not too hot.
Fourth Step: Preheat the oven to 425°F and grease two 1-quart to 1.5-quart oven-safe bowls with the room temperature butter. Use two forks to gently deflate the dough by punching it down and scraping it from the sides, then divide it into two equal portions and place each into the prepared bowls.
Fifth Step: Let the dough rise again in the bowls for 20 to 30 minutes, until it rises above the rim. This second rise is key for that perfect, airy texture.
Sixth Step: Bake the loaves in the preheated oven for 15 minutes at 425°F, then reduce the heat to 375°F and bake for an additional 15 to 17 minutes. Keep an eye on them to ensure a golden crust forms.
Final Step: Remove the loaves from the oven, turn them out onto cooling racks, and if they look pale, bake them for an extra 5 minutes outside the bowls. Let them cool for 10 minutes before slicing to enjoy the full flavor. For the original inspiration, check out this original peasant bread recipe that started it all.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Notes
🍽 Use well-buttered oven-safe bowls to handle the sticky dough and get a great crust.
🌡 Create a warm rise environment by briefly preheating then turning off the oven for the first rise.
🍞 For variations, add nuts, seeds, dried fruit or substitute part of the flour with whole wheat to adjust flavor and texture.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Rising time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 32 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: No-knead baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice