If you’ve never made homemade bread in a Dutch oven, now is the time! This is a quick and easy artisan bread recipe that is adaptable.
It’s perfect for smothering in butter, dipping in oil, or slicing for sandwiches. This homemade bread is moist on the inside, crusty on the outside, and full of flavor!
Finish with rosemary and olive oil for a beautiful savory artisan bread that is even better to eat than it is to look at!
If there’s one thing I know, it’s bread. I’ve been addicted to bread as long as I can remember.
Right or wrong, I judge restaurants on the bread they serve. A great loaf of bread leaves a lasting first impression and keeps me coming back for more.
This is a homemade bread recipe that we’ve been making for years. It feels special and creates a warm and cozy fragrance in your home – just the feeling we all need right now!
Every now and then, I like to treat myself by making my favorite homemade bread – it’s so easy and requires little hands-on time.
Homemade Bread in a Dutch Oven
We bake a lot around here. While many of my bread recipes are quick breads that don’t require yeast (like this carrot cake loaf or my brown sugar bread), yeast creates an entirely different experience in your kitchen.
Why You’ll Love It
If you love baking with yeast, you’ll love my homemade 30 minute dinner rolls if you love this delicious artisan bread! Another idea? Making stretchy, gooey soft homemade cinnamon rolls just feels so special for breakfast or brunch!
Ingredients and Substitutions
See printable recipe card for complete ingredients and instructions.
- Flour – Use your favorite brand of all-purpose flour for this recipe.
- Instant Yeast – Add instant yeast straight into the mix of dry ingredients for ease and convenience. Get all my best tips and tricks for baking with yeast here.
- Milk – adds much-needed creamy moisture.
- Sugar – Adds just a touch of sweetness to your loaf of bread, helps caramelize the top, and helps keep your homemade bread soft and moist.
- Salt – To flavor and season the bread.
Variations
- Olive Oil – Brush olive oil on top for a hint of amazing flavor.
- Herbs – Fresh or dried rosemary, oregano or thyme. Add to the dough, on top just after brushing with olive oil or both! This Beau Monde Seasoning is a fabulous addition.
- Cheese – Aged cheeses work well. Consider asiago, parmesan, gruyere or sharp cheddar.
- Sun Dried Tomatoes – Another delicious addition to this delightful bread.
Tools to Use
- Mixer (You can also mix by hand)
- Liquid Measuring Cups
- Measuring Cups + Measuring Spoons
- Cocotte (Or any Cast Iron or Dutch Oven)
How To Make
- Preheat the oven as directed.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, yeast, salt, and sugar.
- In a small saucepan, warm the milk and butter. You don’t want the milk mixture to be too hot or it will kill the yeast. Gradually mix it into the flour mixture and add the remaining flour until smooth.
- Using a dough hook on your stand mixer simply using or your hands, knead the bread dough for 4-5 minutes. Once you have kneaded the dough (using a dough mixer or by hand) you’ll leave the dough (covered) in a warm place for an hour. I place my bread in a warm oven to allow the dough to rise, and cover it with a very light tea towel so that it can breathe.
- Lightly coat a baking sheet or cocotte with olive oil. Place homemade bread dough in the dish and cover with a light towel. Place in the oven for 1 hour, turning the heat off.
- Remove and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Punch down dough, create a new ball, brush with olive oil, and sprinkle with sea salt and rosemary.
- Bake the bread as directed.
Tips
- Just warm the milk and butter before adding it to the dry ingredients, do not boil it.
- Knead the bread for at least 4 to 5 minutes.
- Allow one hour for the bread to rise.
- Bake the bread in a pre-heated oven.
- Flour sack towels are great for covering doughs when allowing dough to rise, but any kitchen towel will do.
- If you have a little extra time, punch it down and let it rise again.
Frequently Asked Questions
When we think of the term “artisan” we think of people who have mastered their craft, and the same rings true for baking. Artisan breads are shaped by hand and focus on the most basic of bread ingredients: flour, water, yeast and salt.
With no chemical additives, the focus in this type of bread recipe is time and tradition.
A traditional Dutch oven is made of coated cast iron, which immediately creates a very high heat. That helps the water become trapped inside your dough, allowing it to evaporate and creating steam inside the pot. That’s what creates such a beautiful crust, trapping moisture inside the bread.
Serving Suggestions
- This tastes great alone, with softened butter
- honey butter
- strawberry butter
- Or, try it dipped with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Check out this bread dipping spice mix recipe for an incredible way to dip.
- Or add a smear of garlic butter!
- This easy homemade bread recipe can also be sliced for sandwiches and gourmet grilled cheese.
How to Store
Most homemade bread will not last long because unlike grocery store breads, there are no preservatives. The good news? It’s definitely eaten before it could possibly go bad!
- Room Temperature – In order to preserve freshness, it’s ideal to place your homemade loaf inside a paper wrap, just like you’ll find it at the grocery store. It keeps about 2-3 days.
- Refrigerator – Don’t store this artisan bread in the fridge, as the humidity will pull the moisture from your bread.
- Freezer – Yes, you can freeze this homemade bread. Wrap the loaf tightly in plastic wrap, placing inside a resealable freezer bag to prevent freezer odors from seeping in. It will store well for up to six months.
More Bread Inspiration
Homemade Bread In Dutch Oven
Ingredients
- 3¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 package instant yeast
- 1½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon white granulated sugar
- 1¼ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons butter unsalted
optional
- extra virgin olive oil salt and rosemary to top bread
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200℉.
- In a mixing bowl, combine 1½ cup flour, yeast, sugar and salt.
- In a small saucepan on your stovetop, warm milk and butter just enough to melt the butter, but not to a boil so that it doesn't kill the yeast.
- Mix into flour mixture and add remaining flour until smooth.
- Using a dough hook (or your hands) knead dough for 4-5 minutes.
- Lightly coat baking dish or cocotte with olive oil. Place dough ball in cocotte and cover with a light towel. Place in oven for 1 hour, turning the heat off.
- Remove and preheat oven to 350℉. Punch dough down, create a new ball and brush with olive oil (and optional sea salt and rosemary).
- Bake 35 minutes.
Julie’s Tips
Variations
- Olive Oil – Brush olive oil on top for a hint of amazing flavor.
- Herbs – Fresh or dried rosemary, oregano or thyme. Add to the dough, on top just after brushing with olive oil or both!
- Cheese – Aged cheeses work well. Consider asiago, parmesan, gruyere or sharp cheddar.
- Sun Dried Tomatoes – Another delicious addition to this delightful bread.
Video
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
Do you use all purpose flour or bread flour?
I always use all purpose flour. I’m a basics kind of girl. Enjoy!
Omg, yes! This looks amazing – can’t wait to try it!
Thanks, Kathleen! I hope you’re having a beautiful day!
This bread looks incredibly yummy ♥
summerdaisy.net
What kind of yeast are you using?
Just made this bread and my family loved it. 🙂
Thanks for the recipe!
karianne
You wasted no time, my fellow carb lover! Thanks!