My life has been changed by this amazing bread recipe. I have been mind blown by the easiness of this recipe and the deliciousness of the end result. I am sure my domestic goddessness has risen at least 10 points! I found this recipe on the blog simply so good called crusty bread, however I believe the original recipe was presented by Jim Lahey in the New York Times found here. This bread has so many possibilities, so I will show you my first attempts at making the best home made bread ever!
This loaf was my second attempt at this bread. The first loaf I made plain, but this one I added a little excitement.
This recipe is super simple:
- 3 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt (the original recipe calls for 1 3/4 teaspoons salt, I found this made the bread too salty)
- 1/2 teaspoon yeast
- 1 1/2 cups water (adjust as needed, I had to use an additional splash to make it all moist)
THAT’S IT!
To make more exciting bread you can use your imagination to make any flavor combination. For my second loaf I added 3/4 cup shredded old cheddar cheese and a jalapeno! YUM!
Now for the method. I forgot to take pictures of the first few steps but they are super easy to understand.
Step 1: Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl, then add the water and other flavorings as you wish. mix this all together until everything is moist. You may need to add a little extra water to make sure there is no dryness.
Step 2: Then cover the bowl with saran-wrap and let sit for at least 12-18 hours. I just make the dough before bed and bake it the next day. Your dough will double in size!
Step 3: Remove the dough from the bowl and use a heavily floured surface to shape the dough into a ball.
Step 4: Then use the plastic wrap from the bowl to cover the dough while you wait for the oven to preheat. The dough should rest for about a half hour while you preheat the oven to 450 degrees and heat your heat safe pot. I used this pot (I don’t know what it is called) but you can use a cast iron pot, which I wish I had, or anything pot with a lid works that can take the heat. The pot needs to be very very hot before you add the dough!
Step 5: Be careful and drop your dough into your pot. cover with the lid and put in the oven for 30 mins.
Step 6: Remove the lid and bake for another 15 mins
Step 7: Remove the amazing bread and let cool! So exciting!!
And this is what you can make. So easy and so YUMMY!
Slice the bread and see how moist the bread is. It is perfect!
This is the only picture I had of the first plain loaf. It was amazing. This will defiantly be a staple in our house.
Let me know what flavor combinations you come up with.
I hope you have as much of a great time making this bread as I did. Have fun creating!
XO JCL
Super Amazing Easiest Bread Recipe EVER!
Just 4 ingredients to make the Easiest Best Bread Ever! Experiment with different favors. Let it sit over night and bake it in the morning. You may need to make one everyday as this bread very rarely lasts longer than a day in our house. It's just that delicious! BEWARE!
Ingredients
- 3 cups All Purpose White Flower Unbleached
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1/2 teaspoon Yeast Active Dry Yeast
- 1 1/2 cups Water Add a bit more if our dough seems a little to dry
Optional Flavors: I tried Jalapeno and Cheddar. See comment section of this post for more flavor ideas!
Instructions
-
Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl, then add the water and other flavorings as you wish. mix this all together untill everything is moist. You may need to add a little extra water to make sure there is no dryness.
-
Then cover the bowl with saran-wrap and let sit for at least 12- 18 hours. I just make the dough before bed and bake it the next day. Your dough will double in size!
-
Remove the dough from the bowl and use a heavily floured surface to shape the dough into a ball.
-
Then use the plastic wrap from the bowl to cover the dough while you wait for the oven to preheat. The dough should rest for about a half hour while you preheat the oven to 450 degrees and heat your heat safe pot. The pot needs to be very very hot before you add the dough!
-
Be careful and drop your dough into your pot. Cover with the lid and put in the oven for 30 mins.
-
Remove the lid and bake for another 15 mins.
-
Remove the amazing bread and let cool! So exciting!!
Canadian Friends: you can find products like the ones used in this post here!
Amarican Friends: you can find products like the ones used in this post here!
OMG this looks TOO GOOD! I am obsessed with homemade bread. The chewier, the better! This looks like perfection!
It is! So yum! Now that I’m thinking about it I wish I had some fresh right now. ❤️
That’s so easy even I could that. And I struggle with boiling water! (Nice Pics Too!)
Do you have a sourdough version of this bread? I have made this version many times and everyone loves it! I like to use Romano Cheese and Sun-dried Tomatoes in it.
Thanks
MMMMMmmmmm I’ll have to try that combo! Unfortunately I don’t have a sour dough version. But that sounds delicious!
Is the first 12-18 hrs rise in the fridge?
The dough will rise well just left on the counter. ❤️??
Did you soak the pot or grease it?
No I did not ?
When you make this bread do you put the yeast in warm water first to to activate it ?
Nope there is no need. I believe the yeast activates as it sits overnight. ?
Could I bake it on a pizza stone or in a loaf pan covered with aluminum foil?
I have not tried this. Great idea! Sounds delishious! Can you let me know how it turns out? ❤️
I’ve just made this bread and used a whole wheat flour. It tastes as good as it looks but I found a little too salty for my liking. Next time I’ll use less salt. Very easy recipe:-)
Yes I agree I also decrease the salt in our bread. It’s soooo yummy!
This is the best most descriptive of this bread method I’ve read. While I appreciate the pictures as you go along, I only wish that the recipe would have been presented at the end with ingredients and instructions all together. I can’t wait to try — hope my dutch oven can take 450.
Awesome! I’m glad you loved it too. Great suggestion! I’ll add the recipe at the end of the post. I also love being able to scroll to the end of a post for a recipe ❤️
What do you
Use if you don’t have one of the dish and lids.
Any dish that is oven safe and has a lid would work. If the dish is not big enough you could try making smaller rolls instead for individual servings. ❤️
Thank you for this recipie, made some great rolls that were devoured straight out of the oven. Will definitely be making this again.
Awesome idea. I’ll have to try making several smaller ones for dinner. I wonder if they could also be used as hollowed out soup bowls?!? Yummy! ❤️
I made this yesterday and it came out amazing! Trying a new batch today with half white flour half whole wheat!! Any recommendations on how to keep it from going stale?
Eat it all in one day! Haha that’s what happens in this house when I make it. So glad you love it too. It’s defiantly a family favourite here.❤️
NOSSA MARAVILHOSO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chives and garlic.
Yummy!❤️
Your pot is called a Schlemmentoph (phonetic spelling). I got one 35 years ago. You soak it in water then cook the moistest chicken ever!
You know I don’t know what it is called. I inharited it from my mom. I remember her cooking the most yummy dinners in it too. Thanks for the tip. I’ll try soaking it and cooking chicken in it soon for my family ❤️
What kind of yeast do u use?
Hi Tammy,
I used Fleischmann’s Traditional Active Dry Yeast
Just stumbled upon your your fantastic bread recipe!….great bread!…great instructions!…love it…thank-you…it’s my new “go to” bread recipe 🙂 Loving your faux chenille quilt too…who knows..I just might have to start one ;-.
Awesome! I love to hear people being inspired to create beautiful things for their own! Send me a pic when you create your quilt. Everyone’s creations inspire me too! ❤️
Grated Asiago cheese is an awesome addition. I also make it with cinnamon, raisins, and walnuts.
Yummy! I’ll have to try that combination soon ❤️
Thank you for this recipe. I have wanted to make this type of yummy, crusty bread for *years* but always thought I had to have a dutch oven (which I don’t have). But I do have a big Corningware dish with a lid that can handle high heat, so I tried it and it worked! THRILLED! Thanks again!
Just took mine out of the oven and it looks delicious. Can’t wait to eat this. The first time with sucess. Thanks for the easy-to-use instructions. Will be making again and adding different flavors.
Yay! Let me know what flavour is you favourite ❤️
It’s a Schlemertopf Clay Pot. Can’t wait to try this.
The bread looks so good!!! Do i have to put the dough in the fridge overnight or just let it sit on the counter?
I just let it sit on the counter. Enjoy creating the best yummy bread ever! ❤️
I am addicted to this bread ; so easy and so good! My favorite mix is dried cranberries, orange zest, and toasted pecans.
Oh yumm!! I’ll have to try this too. Thanks so much for the great idea ❤️
Super easy and came out perfect. I used my clay cooker also and it made the best faux brick oven. I mixed King Arthur Flour pizza enhancer in mine. Tasty!
Sounds yummy! Glad you loved it too! ❤️
Thanks! Bread came out amazing!
Awesome! ❤️
Gonna try this. Thanks!. The pot is called a Römertopf
Thanks you so much for letting me know. So many people have asked me this question and I didn’t have an answer for them. Now I do! Enjoy your awesome bread ❤️
This is so easy! I made the plain loaf last weekend. I am warming my oven now for a loaf of jalepeno cheddar. Yum. My boys loved it and house smelled yummiest!
Yay! Isn’t it the best ever?!?! ❤️
I’ve made a lot of homemade breads over the years and this is the best I’ve made! I used a deep cast iron dutch oven with a lid to bake it. It turned out just as pictured with a crispy crunchy crust and super delicious soft center. It’s awesome. Thank you so much for this.
Thanks so much! I so happy you love it too! ❤️
i made this bread yesterday and this morning, love, love, love it!!! even my friend love it, too! thanks for sharing the recipe!!
Awesome! Enjoy! ❤️
I repinned your blog this morning. I love this method of no knead bread. It makes life so much easier. I use my own sour dough starter instead of yeast. I sometimes add sliced olives, fresh thyme and prosciutto. Brie and prosciutto. Small cherry tomatoes and sprigs of rosemary.
Wow! So many yummy suggestions! I can’t wait to try them. ❤️
I’ve made this recipe before with the jalapeño and cheese combination. Making another today using 1 cup of raisins and lots of cinnamon. My whole family loves this recipe, so simple, so delicious.
Awesome! Yes my kiddos love cinnamon and raisins too! Makes the house smell amazing too! ❤️
I know what I’m doing tonight before bed! Lol thanks so much for posting this:)
Yay! I’m often laying in bed and then think I wish I had made bread for the morning. Sometimes I sneak out of bed and whip some up. So fast and easy. Hope you enjoy it! ❤️
This looks AWESOME. Definitely going to try it!
It is awesome! Be careful it is addicting. Haha ❤️
I’m so excited to try this loaf! I’ve seen recipes for it popping up everywhere. Always wanted to make bread but put off by kneading, I need to do this sometime next week!
Yes, you have to try it. This is the easiest yummiest bread to make. Enjoy creating! ❤️
Dumb question, but what kind of yeast? All I have is dry active… Wondering if that would work… These look amazing:)
That is the kind that I used too. Fleischmann’s Traditional Active Dry Yeast. Enjoy creating!
my friend was raving about your recipe this weekend, and she just sent it to me. I am excited to try it!!
I just followed this from Pinterest. I have made a very similar recipe but it was double this recipe, more or less. It is the process that makes the bread. The first 1 I made according to my recipe & it was great. The second one I made with 3 cups white flour, 2 cups oatmeal, and 1 cup white cornmeal. I let that one rise about 40 hrs. It was a tad too long and the loaf did not rise. It had a wonderful flavor. There is just the two of us & I found while very good, this doesn’t keep well. It gets dried out & stale. So I halved my recipe tonight. I used 2 c whole wheat flour & 1 cup reg flour. I also added a tablespoon of honey as I always like my ww bread to have honey added to it. Can’t wait until tomorrow to bake it!
I’m going to try it with some fresh rosemary and then serve it with evoo. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
I make this all the time and my husband and I really like the mixture of shredded swiss cheese, poppyseeds, and chopped green onion.
Yummmmm ❤️
Making three loaves now! Rosemary, Cranberry/Orange Zest, and Dill!
Fabulous . I am making herb first then cheddar herb Thanks
I’m trying rosemary, garlic, and Parmesan cheese hope it turns out!!
We r having a soup and crusty bread cook off so I made 3 loaves
1 plain
1 goat cheese w Italian seasonings
And 1 asiago cheese w rosemary and tyme
Sounds fantastic! ❤️
Yes it’s a Roemertopf or Roman clay pot. I recently read that you’re supposed to soak them before but my family in Germany has used them over centuries without soaking them and we had no problems. I wish I had snatched one from my dad, haha. I got a small one at a yard sale, I wonder if it’s too small. So excited about this recipe!
I have made the dough using Gouda chees… I can’t wait untill tomorrow when I can put it in the oven. I hope it turns out as good as yours 🙂
This bread is AMAZING! It looks exactly like the pictures. I did a jalapeno, cheddar cheese and fresh garlic mixture. I also topped it with garlic and olive oil. It was gone within 20 minutes of coming out of the oven! I’m now making up a new batch with Rosemary, mozzarella and garlic…
I know!! It’s scary how fast it’s gone in our house too. Thanks for sharing your flavour combinations. I love everything rosemary. I’ll be trying it soon. ❤️
I just made this w/o adding anything, my very first home made bread using yeast. It was AMAZING and really was super easy! I can’t believe I made it haha. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
It’s so easy right?!?! Enjoy creating! ❤️
Rosemary!!
I added a couple tsp of garlic powder and several shakes of dried rosemary and it turned out perfectly! Thank you for sharing! This is going in my real recipe box for when the Internet crashes.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful bread recipe with us! As well the article that comes with it! I posted it onto my own Pinterest board and have unknowingly passed it on to over 85+ other Pinners! Have made it before and now as I type I have the aroma of fresh bread filling the kitchen…5 more minutes then the timer goes!! Thanks again…
Just found this on pinterest. Sounds wonderful and I certainly plan on trying it. What about adding crisp bacon bits to the jalapeno cheddar mix? I think maybe a maple or applewood smoked bacon might make a delicious addition.
I added cinnamon sugar and vanilla and its sensational! Thank you! Also tried a garlic cheddar which turned out great!
Your pot looks like a Romertoff. Did you soak the pot first? The instructions for mine always require soaking the pot and top 10 minutes before use. I have jalapeños from my garden waiting to be used .
I have made bread like this before, so easy, leaving it to rise overnight is the trick and it is delicous
It is soooo good! I am trying to think of new flavors to try! Thanks for all of your comments, hope to see you soon.
looks great! and jalapeno and cheddar…what a good combo!
Simply amazing and looks so good ,can,t wait to try some!