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Easy Homemade Crusty Bread

Easy Homemade Crusty Bread

This easy homemade crusty bread recipe is perfect for novice bakers and experts alike.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Rise Time 2 hours 40 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 25 minutes
Course Bread
Cuisine American
Servings 24 slices
Calories 125 kcal

Equipment

  • large mixing bowl
  • Heavy duty whisk
  • Loaf pans
  • Pizza Peel
  • instant-read thermometer

Ingredients
  

  • 3.25 cups lukewarm water about 100° F.
  • 1.5 tablespoon dry active yeast
  • 6.5 cups bread flour if you have it.
  • 1.5 tablespoon kosher salt May use less if desired.

Instructions
 

  • Combine water and yeast and stir until the yeast is dissolved. Add flour and salt and mix until thoroughly combined.
  • Allow the dough to rise for 2 hours at room temperature, covered with a kitchen towel.
  • Apply a light dusting of flour over the dough and divide it in half and shape into 2 loaves, rounding the top. If you only want to make one loaf of bread at this time, store the unused dough in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 2 weeks until ready to use.
  • Place the unbaked loaf(s) on pizza peel that is lightly dusted with cornmeal. Apply light dusting of flour over top and cut three slashes into top of dough, using a serrated knife. Cover dough with kitchen towel and allow to rest for 40 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 450° F with baking stone on the center rack. When bread is ready to go in the oven, slide the dough off pizza peel onto hot stone. Place 1 cup hot water into oven broiler (or other oven safe pan), on bottom rack of oven. Quickly close oven door to create a steam bath within the oven. This will help produce a crisp outer crust.
  • Bake for 30 minutes and allow to cool slightly before slicing. Enjoy!

Notes

Read all of the instructions first. Have all of the ingredients and kitchen tools laid out and ready before starting. Make sure your yeast is alive. Proof the yeast to be sure. Use a hot stone or skillet to bake your bread on. Know your oven and babysit the bread as it bakes. Rotate if necessary to ensure even baking. If your oven runs hot, adjust the temperature as necessary. Have patience while making homemade bread and take notes. Adjust the level of moisture to the unbaked bread as necessary by adding a bit of flour if it is too wet, or a splash of water if it seems too dry.

Nutrition

Serving: 1sliceCalories: 125kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 3gSodium: 438mgPotassium: 43mgFiber: 1gCalcium: 6mgIron: 1.6mg
Keyword Baking Bread, Beginner Bread, Crusty Bread Recipe, Easy Homemade Crusty Bread, Homemade Bread, Simple Bread
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