Artisan Bread

Simple to make rustic artisan bread recipe that can be baked in a clay bread cloche, dutch oven, or baking sheet.

Baking bread has become my new obsession. I used to think that baking bread was difficult and that it would be too difficult to learn. Unfortunately, that false idea kept me from enjoying fresh baked homemade bread for years. I am so glad that I have discovered that making bread at home is not difficult at all! 

One of my recent bread recipes is this Cinnamon Swirl Bread which is perfect for breakfast, dessert or simply for snacking!

Another of my favourite types of bread is artisan loaves. I love this rustic type of crusty bread that has a soft and chewy inside. Artisan bread is hearty and perfect to go alongside a meal. I love it dipped in a big bowl of stew or chili! This bread is also great for those simple times when you are just craving a slice of bread with butter.

Simple to make rustic artisan bread recipe that can be baked in a clay bread cloche, dutch oven, or baking sheet.

I have recently discovered that making artisan could not be simpler! Recently, I received the the Emile Henry Bread Cloche which is perfect for baking artisan bread. A bread cloche creates an environment similar to a steam injected oven and creates a round bread with an awesome crust. This bread is incredible! 

While the bread cloche is a great way to bake this artisan bread, it is also possible to use a Dutch oven

Simple to make rustic artisan bread recipe that can be baked in a clay bread cloche, dutch oven, or baking sheet.

To knead the dough, I use a stand mixer with the dough hook attached. While you can totally knead the dough by hand, I make quite a bit of bread and using a stand mixer is so easy and it allows you to do other things in the kitchen while it kneads.

While the dough is mixed, it should pull away from the sides of the bowl and form a ball around the dough hook. The dough should not be sticky or tacky to the touch.

What kind of yeast?

The recipe for this bread calls for active dry yeast. This yeast needs to be dissolved in warm water first, before being mixed in with the flour and kneaded. Make sure that the flour is warm, but not too hot. I aim for a temperature of 95-105F.

If you prefer to use instant yeast, make sure to stir it in with the dry flour, salt and sugar. Then mix in the water and knead.

Simple to make rustic artisan bread recipe that can be baked in a clay bread cloche, dutch oven, or baking sheet.

Grease a large bowl with oil. Form the dough into a ball and place in the bowl. Turn so that all sides lightly coated in the oil.

Simple to make rustic artisan bread recipe that can be baked in a clay bread cloche, dutch oven, or baking sheet.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Place in a warm spot and let proof and rise until doubled in size, about 1 1/2 hours.

Simple to make rustic artisan bread recipe that can be baked in a clay bread cloche, dutch oven, or baking sheet.

After the dough has finished its first rise, punch it down and knead it to work out the big air bubbles.

Simple to make rustic artisan bread recipe that can be baked in a clay bread cloche, dutch oven, or baking sheet.

Shape the dough into a ball and place on the base of bread cloche or in a dutch oven. I line the base with round parchment paper. This ensures that the bread does not stick to the base. Sprinkling the base or bottom of the dutch oven with a light dusting of flour also works well!

Simple to make rustic artisan bread recipe that can be baked in a clay bread cloche, dutch oven, or baking sheet.

The dough needs to rise one more time. Put the lid on the bread cloche or dutch oven and let rise for another hour. The dough should be close to doubling in size.

Simple to make rustic artisan bread recipe that can be baked in a clay bread cloche, dutch oven, or baking sheet.

Brush the dough with milk.

Simple to make rustic artisan bread recipe that can be baked in a clay bread cloche, dutch oven, or baking sheet.

Sprinkle the top of the dough with a light dusting of flour.

Simple to make rustic artisan bread recipe that can be baked in a clay bread cloche, dutch oven, or baking sheet.

Use a bread lame or sharp knife to score the top of the dough. You can score a cross mark on the top or a few score lines an inch apart.

Simple to make rustic artisan bread recipe that can be baked in a clay bread cloche, dutch oven, or baking sheet.

Scoring the top of the dough provides a place for the bread to rise and stretch while baking. Without this, the bread could develop cracks or splits during baking.

Simple to make rustic artisan bread recipe that can be baked in a clay bread cloche, dutch oven, or baking sheet.

Place the bread cloche or dutch oven, with the lid on, in a 450F oven for 35 minutes.

Simple to make rustic artisan bread recipe that can be baked in a clay bread cloche, dutch oven, or baking sheet.

One of the great things about using a bread cloche is that it simulates a hearth oven. The bread comes out of the oven with an awesome crusty exterior and a chewy inner crumb. Trust me when I say that this bread is totally delicious!

 

Artisan Bread

Simple to make rustic artisan bread recipe that can be baked in a clay bread cloche, dutch oven, or baking sheet.
4.70 out of 5
10 reviews
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Simple to make rustic artisan bread recipe that can be baked in a bread cloche or dutch oven.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Proof Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 1 round loaf

Ingredients

  • 2 tsp active dry yeast
  • 1 cup warm water 95-105F
  • 3 1/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 2 1/2 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp oil for greasing the proofing bowl
  • 1 tbsp milk
  • 1 tbsp flour for dusting

Instructions

  • Stir to dissolve the yeast in a bowl with the warm water. Set aside for 5 minutes.
  • Stir the salt and sugar with the flour and dump into a stand mixer bowl. 
  • Using the dough hook, turn on the stand mixer to low speed. Slowly pour in the water and yeast mixture. Continue to let the stand mixer knead the dough for about 5 minutes. The dough should come away from the bowl and not be sticky/tacky to the touch.
  • Grease a large bowl with oil. Shape the dough into a ball, place in the bowl and flip so all sides are coated in the oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Put the bowl in a warm place with no draft and let rise until doubled in size, about 90 minutes.
  • Punch the dough down and hand knead it for about 30 seconds. Shape it into a ball and place it in a bread cloche or dutch oven. Cover and let rise for another hour, so that it doubles in size.
  • Brush the dough with milk and dust with flour. Score the top of the dough ball with a lame or sharp knife.
  • Bake in a 450F preheated oven for 35 minutes.
  • Place on a cooling rack and let the bread come to room temperature before slicing.

Simple to make rustic artisan bread recipe that can be baked in a clay bread cloche, dutch oven, or baking sheet.

Disclaimer: Emile Henry provided me with the bread cloche. All the views expressed above are my honest reactions after using the product. This post contains affiliate links.

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Simple to make rustic artisan bread recipe that can be baked in a clay bread cloche, dutch oven, or baking sheet.

Did you try this recipe?

Leave a comment and let me know how it turned out. Or, take a picture to share on Instagram and tag me @theblackpeppercorn.

4.70 from 10 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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18 comments

  • Very easy recipe!!! Thank you came out perfect

    • Reply
  • I used unbleached flour, with the amount of water this recipe called for it was still dry so i added a bit more water. If that just due to it being unbleached?

    • Reply
    • It could be. Making bread dough is as much by feel as it is by a recipe. I have found times I need to add a little more water, and other times a little less. I think is sometimes depends on how packed the flour is in the measuring cup. I have come to know I want the dough to look and feel as it kneads and add water accordingly.

  • What do you do if you don’t have a stand mixer? There has to be a way this was done before these expensive mixers were available.

    • Reply
    • You can knead this bread by hand. I have hand kneaded bread a few times, but not this recipe. Definitely gives the forearms a workout! 🙂

  • 4 stars
    Good flavor, didn’t rise like I thought should.

    • Reply
  • 5 stars
    This came out fantastic! I have never done a rustic bread like this, and it came out perfect.

    • Reply
    • So happy to hear your first attempt at this rustic bread was a success!!

  • 5 stars
    This is the first time I do a bread and it was a success. I did the recipe exactly as indicated and it was easy. The taste is great!

    • Reply
  • Can I add cheddar cheese to this recipe? I want to make cheese bread.

    • Reply
  • 5 stars
    I love cooking and baking, I was a chef in a residential care home for ten years. And have been a stay at home mom since February 2018 and love being able to cook up things for my family from scratch, in the first lockdown I tried my hand at bread(just in loaf tins mainly) and was quite impressed with myself 🙂. I had a magimix XL for Christmas and as a free gift that came with it, I got an Emile Henry cloche, so I too used my Emile Henry cloche and has turned out fab 👏

    • Reply
  • I make this bread often – Learned a trick to keep the bottom more soft. I make a cusion of aluminum foil – making about four layers when folded. I let the dough rise on a large square of parchment paper that has been sprayed with Pam. Grasp the four corners to lift into Dutch Oven to bake – Makes it easy to grasp the four corners to take the hot loaf from the pan.

    • Reply
  • 4 stars
    This is a great recipe. I searched for an artisan bread recipe but most of them required a 12 hour rise or the dough was way too sticky and required too much manipulation. The only thing I did was uncover the Dutch oven after 30 minutes and give it an additional 10 minutes to brown. It smelled divine and looks beautiful.

    • Reply
  • 4 stars
    Steve, all went well until I tried to free it from the cloche. Apparently, I overdid the milk painting causing it to run down onto the cloche. Also, I had it on the lower oven rack which probably made the bottom too hot. The good news is after prying it loose with a spatula a rim of crust stayed with the cloche, giving me a chance to taste it. Great! I will try it again.

    • Reply
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  • Looks great

    • Reply

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