This homemade 4-ingredient Artisan Bread is truly a wonderful thing. Crusty, chewy, and with fluffy holes inside, this bread is perfect for sandwiches, dipping in soups or just olive oil. In addition, the dough can be kept in the fridge for up to three days, so you can make it in advance and bake the bread just before serving.
The recipe is easy to make, but here are a few helpful tips to keep in mind. Flour: For best results, use bread flour. Bread flour creates the best flavor and chewy texture you’ll find in French baguettes and Italian ciabattas. Salt: I find coarse salt yields more flavorful results than table fine salt. Use 1 ½ teaspoons of fine salt, if that’s what’s available. Water: Use cool tap water at about 70 °F. A tip for a slightly crispier crust: Once the oven is hot, place a shallow metal baking pan on the bottom oven rack. Carefully pour in 3 to 4 cups of boiling water. Place the baking sheet pan with the shaped loaves on the center rack and immediately shut the oven. The steam created will result in a crispier crust.
To make the 4-ingredient Artisan Bread you will need the following ingredients:
In a large bowl, whisk together 3 ¼ cups bread flour, 2 teaspoons instant yeast, and 2 teaspoons coarse salt.
Add in 1 ½ cups water and mix together with a spatula or wooden spoon. At first, the dough will seem dry and shaggy. Keep working the dough until all the flour is well moistened. Use your hands if needed. The dough will be sticky. Shape it into a rough ball in the bowl as best you can.
Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap and set on the counter at room temperature. Let the dough rise for 2-3 hours until the dough is just about doubled in size, sticks to the sides of the bowl, and has a lot of air bubbles. Now, you can proceed with the recipe immediately, but for the best flavor and texture, let the dough rest in the refrigerator, covered, for at least 12 hours and up to 3 days.
Lightly dust a large nonstick baking sheet with flour or cornmeal.
Pour the cold dough out onto a floured work surface. Use a sharp knife or bench scraper to cut the dough in half. Place the dough halves on the prepared baking sheet. Use floured hands to shape the dough into 2 long loaves about 9 by 3 inches each. Arrange them about 3 inches apart.
Loosely cover the loaves and let them rest for 45 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 475 °F.
Use a sharp knife or bread lame to score the bread loaves with 3 slashes, about ½-inch deep. If the shaped loaves flattened out during the second rise, use floured hands to reshape them along the sides again.
A tip for a slightly crispier crust (optional): After the oven is preheated, place a shallow metal or cast iron baking pan on the bottom oven rack. Carefully and quickly pour in 3-4 cups of boiling water. Place the baking pan with the loaves on the center rack and immediately shut the oven. The steam will help to create a crispier crust. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. You can check if the loaf is cooked by tapping the bottom of the loaf – it should sound hollow.
Let the loaves cool for at least 5 minutes before slicing.
Slice and serve. Cool before slicing, serve and enjoy! The leftovers can be stored loosely covered at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Enjoy!
Give this homemade 4-ingredient Artisan Bread recipe a try on a slow day at home! Crusty and chewy, this bread is perfect for sandwiches or dipping in soups. Did you like this recipe? Let us know in the comments below.
WOW!! This bread recipe is absolutly fantastic! My kids loved helping knead the dough and we end up making sandwiches for lunch together. So easy and fun! It was a hit at our family dinner, everyone couldn't stop raving about it!
Dude, this 4-ingredient bread is sick! Made it last night, and it was super easy. I dipped it in some olive oil while chillin' with my buddies. We all loved it, gonna be my go-to for hangouts!
I made this bread for a small get-together and everyone loved it. So easy and the crust was perfectly crispy. A real hit.
Loved this bread! So easy and tasty. I made it for a picnic, and everyone raved about the crust! Definitely a go-to recipe now.
Bread turned out amazing!
Super easy bread!
I tried this bread for a family dinner. Everyone loved the fresh taste and texture.
Absolutely brilliant bread! Such easy ingredients. I made it for our anniversary dinner and it vanished in seconds. The kids loved it too, great for dipping in olive oil! Will definitely bake again soon.
Simply love it!
La masa fue facil de trabajar. Hice este pan justo antes de una cena familiar y todos estaban encantados! Su textura es fantastica y su sabor, increible! Es muy versatil para cualquier platillo.
This 4-ingredient Artisan Bread recipe is just fantastic. I made it for my family last Sunday, and we loved how chewy it turned out. Its so easy too!
Wow! I made this on a whim and it turned out perfect! It reminded me of baking with my grandma. Absolutely delish!
Bread is amazing
OMG, this bread is to die for! Made it for my friends’ game night, and they couldn't get enough! Super easy and smells sooo good while bakin'. Major win!
This Artisan Bread is just superb! I made it for a picnic and everyone loved it. The crust was so crunchy and the inside fluffy, it felt like eating from a bakery.
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