This recipe for easy 4 ingredient artisan bread is a favorite in our home! This no-knead crusty bread has the most incredible texture on the outside, and chewy crumb on the inside similar to sourdough. It looks like it comes straight out of a European bakery! If you’ve ever wanted to be able to make homemade artisan-style bread but have limited time, this recipe is for you.
This yeast bread is very simple to make and perfect for beginning bread makers. Having a dutch oven to bake it in makes all the difference!
Reasons to love this Easy 4 Ingredient Artisan Bread:
- It’s only a few ingredients that you probably already have on hand!
- It’s no knead and does not require a stand mixer
- It is low maintenance, mix the dough and walk away
- Easy to make but results in an incredible bakery-style loaf
- Can be used as a side to soup, for sandwiches, or as a snack with butter and jam!
Dutch oven method
Using a dutch oven to bake this loaf makes ALL the difference in how the texture turns out! If you don’t own a dutch oven pot, now would be the perfect time to invest in one. You will use it time and time again for bread-making, but also for soups (like this Beef and Barley!), and other cooking (like fried chicken!) I’ll link 2 favorites below with different prices.
My Staub dutch oven was an investment but I have noticed my bread bakes more evenly and never burns on the bottom. This will also be a lifelong dutch oven that I plan to give to my daughter someday.
What makes this recipe so special?
- I love that this loaf takes just moments to prepare. You simply mix a few ingredients together and let magic happen as the dough sits to rise. You do not need a stand mixer for this dough! I use mine to speed up the process, but this dough can be mixed by hand.
- Be sure to involve little ones in making this recipe with you! Watching the dough rise is kitchen science, and it’s a really fun way for them to learn how yeast activates and allows bread to rise.
- Once the dough is risen it only takes a few moments to prepare the dough for baking. In no time at all you’ll have the most delicious warm loaf from the oven. We LOVE to listen to the crust crackle after it comes out of the oven.
Easy 4 Ingredient Artisan Bread
- Serrated knife or bread lame
- Parchment baking sheets
- Kitchen Aid mixer and paddle attachment. (Can be mixed by hand if needed!)
- 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon yeast
- 1 1/2 cups warm water
- In a Kitchen Aid mixer with a paddle attachment or a bowl and wood spoon, combine dry ingredients. Slowly add water while the mixer is on a low speed, and mix until everything is combined. If hand mixed, leave dough in the bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. If mixed in your Kitchen Aid, transfer dough to a medium mixing bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. (Do not spray with non-stick spray, it is not necessary).** Allow dough to sit and rise for 4 up to 24 hours. The longer the time, the richer the sourdough-like flavor comes through. I enjoy the flavor even after 4 hours, it's so delicious! I usually make it between 4-8 hours because after that the dough will become more wet and hard to handle. You may need to add some flour to it if you're letting it sit closer to the 24 hour mark. When the dough is risen, generously flour your counter top. Scrape the loose, wet dough onto a floured surface and sprinkle top with more flour. Quickly pull edges around and to the bottom of the loaf, forming a sort of ball as you tuck the edges under itself. Use extra flour to help with "stickiness". This process should only take about 10-15 seconds, you do not want to overwork the dough (we want to keep some air bubbles in the structure!). Place prepared dough onto a parchment sheet, allowing to sit a few minutes while the oven heats. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Score the top of the loaf with a serrated knife or bread lame if you'd like. This bread will not keep a design but I like to score so I can control where the bread stretches as it rises in the oven. In my opinion, the best way to bake this bread is in a dutch oven pot. I cook it with the lid on for 30 minutes, then lid off for 15 more or until golden brown. If you don't have a dutch oven pot, you can use a pizza stone. Allow the stone to preheat with the oven. Then set bread (must be on a parchment sheet that can withstand this temp) on the stone. You will need to tent the bread with a sheet of tin foil to avoid it getting too brown. Bake for 30 minutes and remove the tin foil for an additional 15 minutes until golden. Remove bread from the oven and set on a cooling rack. I like to cover the loaf with a lightweight flour sack towel while it cools. This helps create the most delicious and beautiful crackly texture on the crust. The bread will soften as it cools. We love to enjoy our bread warm with honey and butter. Listen for the crust to crackle when it comes out of the oven… my kids love it!This bread freezes very well in a ziplock bag.
Kitchen essentials for bread making:
- Serrated knife: This is essential for slicing hot bread! Especially bread like this recipe that has a crispy crust. You don’t want to go to all that work and then smash your loaf while slicing.
- Parchment sheets (I cannot live without these for baking!)
- Kitchen Aid mixer: I know bread-making is totally doable without a mixer. However, Kitchen Aid makes things so much easier! I use mine several times a week and love it.
- Apron: Here’s my apron, I love having it on while baking to avoid getting my shirt dirty!
Shop tools used in this post:
The gift of gathering:
Bread making is so special. It’s not just about the taste of a warm slice, slathered in butter. It’s about welcoming people you love to the table to share a gift that you have truly put work and love into. Bread making takes care, time and patience. Bread is comforting. I love when my kids can smell a loaf baking and they run down the stairs to the kitchen to ask “What are you baking, mama!?”
I love sharing my homemade bread with friends, family and neighbors. It’s such a great way to say “I love you”.
Passion for bread-making, you ask? Well yes! And I just LOVE sharing these recipes with you, too.
Love this recipe for Artisan bread: THE EASY WAY? Be sure to pin it!
Check out my other favorite bread recipes here:
HANDMADE FARMHOUSE FAVORITE BREAD RECIPES
If you try my bread recipes, please let me know! I would love for you to tag me, @handmade.farmhouse on instagram! Thank you
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