Description
Golden, crusty on the outside and soft, airy on the inside—this Crusty Italian Bread is everything you want in a homemade loaf. It’s perfect for everything from quick breakfast toast to hearty sandwiches or dipping into olive oil and balsamic vinegar. This easy recipe uses simple pantry ingredients and brings bakery-level results straight to your kitchen. If you’re looking for easy dinner ideas, breakfast ideas, or just a satisfying healthy snack, this loaf ticks every box.
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups warm water
2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
1/2 teaspoon sugar
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs (optional)
1 tablespoon cornmeal or flour (for dusting)
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, mix 3 3/4 cups flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt, and 1/2 teaspoon sugar. Add 2 1/4 teaspoons yeast and 1 1/2 cups warm water. Mix until a sticky dough forms.
2. Cover the bowl and let rise at room temperature for 2 hours until doubled in size and bubbly.
3. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and gently shape into a ball. Do not knead.
4. Place seam-side down on parchment paper or a proofing basket. Cover and let rise again for 30–45 minutes.
5. Preheat oven to 450°F with a Dutch oven inside for at least 30 minutes.
6. Score the dough with a sharp knife.
7. Transfer dough (with parchment) into the hot Dutch oven. Cover and bake for 30 minutes.
8. Remove the lid and bake another 10–15 minutes until golden and crusty.
9. Let cool on a wire rack for at least 1 hour before slicing.
Notes
Don’t cut the bread while it’s hot—it needs to cool fully to set the crumb.
For a crispier crust, spritz the dough lightly with water before baking.
You can freeze the loaf for up to 3 months and reheat to restore its crust.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 1g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg