If you’ve ever wanted to bake your own bread but felt intimidated, you’re in the right place. Today, I will show you how to make the most delightful Easy Artisan Bread with just a few simple ingredients and a tiny bit of packaged yeast.

This recipe is perfect for beginners and seasoned bakers alike—it’s a no-fuss, hands-off approach that yields a beautifully rustic loaf with a crisp crust and a soft, chewy interior. Trust me, your kitchen will smell heavenly, and your family will think you’ve become a master baker overnight!

So watch the video tutorial below and find out why anyone can bake bread!

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Table of Contents

How to Make an Easy Artisan Bread Video

Watch Mary make this Easy Artisan Bread in A Bread SO EASY Anyone Can Make It! video

Why You’ll Love This Easy Artisan Bread Recipe

One of the things I adore about this bread is how incredibly simple it is. With just four ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry, you can create a loaf that’s perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re serving it alongside a hearty soup, making sandwiches, or enjoying it warm with a pat of butter, this bread is sure to become a staple in your home.

Plus, there’s something so satisfying about baking your own bread from scratch. It’s a way to connect with traditional methods, slow down, and enjoy the simple pleasures in life.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Find the full printable recipe with ingredients below.

Let’s start by gathering our ingredients to make this Easy Artisan Bread—also known as a boule. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 3 cups flour: I recommend using all-purpose flour, but you can also experiment with bread flour for a slightly chewier texture.
  • 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon packaged yeast: Just a small amount is all you need to give this bread a nice rise.
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons fine-ground sea salt: This enhances the flavor of your bread without overpowering it.
  • 1 1/2 to 2 cups water: Use lukewarm water to help activate the yeast and bring everything together.

How to Make an Easy Artisan Bread

Find the full printable recipe with measurements below.

Here are the step-by-step instructions:

  1. Mix the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, yeast, and salt. Gradually add the water, starting with 1 1/2 cups, and stir until a sticky dough forms. You can add a bit more water if needed, but the dough should be shaggy and sticky—not dry or stiff.
  1. Let it Rise: Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and let the dough rest at room temperature for 8-18 hours. Yes, that’s right—just let it sit there and do its thing! The dough will rise during this time, and the yeast will work its magic, developing wonderful flavors and texture. Want a longer rise time? No problem. Put the dough in the fridge and let it slowly rise over a 24-48 hour timeframe.
  1. Shape and Preheat: After the dough has risen, it will be bubbly and slightly larger. Place it on a floured surface and gently shape it into a round loaf. No Kneading required. The long rise did the job for you! Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 500°F (260°C) and place a Dutch oven or heavy oven-proof pot with a lid inside the oven to heat it up.
  1. Bake the Bread: Carefully transfer your dough to a piece of parchment paper, then lower it into the preheated Dutch oven. (Or, if you are brave, you can carefully plop your dough right into the Dutch oven.) Be sure to remove the parchment paper. Cover the Dutch oven with its lid and bake for 30 minutes. For a small oven, turn the temperature down to 425°F (218°C). You can set larger ovens to 450°F (232°C). After 30 minutes, remove the lid and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and has a crisp crust.
  1. Cool and Enjoy: Once baked, remove the bread from the Dutch oven and let it cool on a wire rack. I know it’s tempting, but resist the urge to slice into it right away—let it cool completely to set the texture.

Variations

Try these variations to make your Easy Artisan Bread even more special.

  • Flour Options: While any all-purpose flour or bread flour works beautifully, including the all-purpose versions of ancient grains, like Spelt and Einkorn, you can also try using a 1:1 ratio of whole grain flour to all-purpose or bread flour for a heartier loaf or a mix of flours for a unique flavor profile.
  • Add-Ins: Consider adding seeds, nuts, dried fruits, herbs, or even some grated cheese to the dough for a special twist.
  • Storage: This bread is best enjoyed fresh but will keep for a day or two at room temperature in a bread bag or wrapped in a clean kitchen towel.

Recipe Tips

When it comes to making a successful artisan bread, keep these tips in mind:

  • Don’t add too much flour! You want a sticky, shaggy dough.
  • Every kitchen is different, and every oven is different. You may have to experiment with your first boule to find just the right temperature for your oven. If at 450°F (232°C) the bottom browns too much, just lower the temperature next time.
  • I share a lot more tips for making this Artisan Bread in my recipe video that will help you create the perfect boule every time!

Storing

This bread is best enjoyed fresh but will keep for a day or two at room temperature in a bread bag or wrapped in a clean kitchen towel.

Always Remember – We Are Home Bakers

Making homemade bread doesn’t have to be complicated. Keep in mind that we are home bakers, not professional bakers. Nothing needs to be perfect. With this Easy Artisan Bread recipe, you can create a delicious loaf with minimal effort.

This Artisan Bread Recipe is perfect for beginners and experienced home bakers alike, and the results are always impressive. So go ahead, give it a try, and enjoy the simple joy of baking your own bread at home.

Home Baker Recipes

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Grind Your Own Flour with the Mockmill

If you’re new to baking bread, I recommend using all-purpose or bread flour from your local grocery store for this Easy Artisan Bread recipe. Once you find that you enjoy baking (and I’m confident you will!), you may want to store your own whole grains and grind them to make fresh flour. To do that, you’ll need a manual or electric grain mill.

When it comes to electric grain mills, after I did A LOT of research, I decided to buy a Mockmill. And am I so happy I did! The Mockmill is a very affordable but beautifully crafted German-made mill that stone grinds grain with settings ranging from 1 to 10—fine to coarse ground grain.

Learn more about Mockmill electric grain mills for making fresh flour and their Flake Lover’s Flaker that flakes whole grain in minutes. (This is not a sponsored post, I bought the Mockmill products that I show you, and I’m a happy user of their devices in my kitchen.)

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Anyone Can Make This Bread – Easy Artisan Bread

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Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 40 minutes
Total: 1 hour 10 minutes
Yield: 8 Slices
Author: Mary Bryant Shrader
Print Recipe Save Recipe
This easy artisan bread recipe yields a beautifully rustic loaf with a crisp crust and a soft, chewy interior.

Equipment

  • 1 Large mixing bowl
  • 1 Large Dutch Oven You can also use a baking sheet pan with parchment paper.

Ingredients

  • 3 cups Bread Flour You can also use All-Purpose Flour.
  • 1/4-1/2 tsps Yeast For an 8-12 hour rise use 1/2 teaspoon for a 12-18 hour rise use 1/4 teaspoon.
  • 1 tsp Fine Ground Salt You can also use up to 1 1/2 tsp of Fine Ground Salt.
  • 1 1/2 cups Water If needed for dough consistency, you can add up to 2 cups of water.

Instructions 

  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, yeast, and salt.
  • Gradually add the water, starting with 1 1/2 cups, and stir until a sticky dough forms. You can add a bit more water if needed. The dough should be shaggy and sticky—not dry or stiff.
  • Cover the bowl with a clean kitchen towel and let the dough rest at room temperature for 8-18 hours. The dough will rise during this time. (You can also put the dough in the fridge and let it slowly rise over a 24-48 hour timeframe.) After the dough has risen, it will be bubbly and slightly larger.
  • Place the dough on a floured surface and gently shape it into a round loaf. No Kneading required.
  • Preheat your oven to 500°F (260°C) and place a Dutch oven or heavy oven-proof pot with a lid inside the oven to heat it up.
  • Carefully transfer your dough to a piece of parchment paper, then lower it into the preheated Dutch oven. Remember to remove the parchment paper. (You can also carefully plop your dough right into the Dutch oven.)
  • Cover the Dutch oven with its lid and bake for 30 minutes. For a small oven, turn the temperature down to 425°F (218°C). You can set larger ovens to 450°F (232°C).
  • After 30 minutes, remove the lid and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and has a crisp crust.
  • Once baked, remove the bread from the Dutch oven and let it cool on a wire rack. Although tempting, resist the urge to slice into it right away—let it cool completely to set the texture.

Video

Notes

Find this recipe and video at https://marysnest.com/easy-artisan-bread/
For more traditional foods recipes and a guide to build your traditional foods kitchen, get my bestselling book, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook, at https://marysnest.com/my-cookbook/
Free and comprehensive lesson plans to teach traditional food recipes and kitchen techniques to students K-12, download The Modern Pioneer Cookbook Curriculum at https://marysnest.com/cookbook-curriculum/
Copyright © 2024 Mary’s Nest, LLC, All Rights Reserved

Nutrition

Serving: 1slices | Calories: 170kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 294mg | Potassium: 48mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 1IU | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Calories: 170
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