The Perfect Homemade Crusty Bread Recipe Anyone Can Master

Warm, golden-brown crusty bread recipe wafts through the kitchen like a comforting embrace from an Italian bakery.

Bakery-style perfection starts with just a few simple ingredients and some patience.

The aroma of freshly baked bread promises pure culinary joy.

Crisp exterior and soft, pillowy insides await your eager hands.

Every slice promises a delightful journey of texture and flavor.

You’ll fall in love with this straightforward yet magical method of creating bread that rivals professional bakeries.

Let’s turn your kitchen into a delicious artisan bread haven.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Calories: 190 kcal

Servings: 9

Crusty Bread Ingredients You’ll Rely On

• Warm Water: Activates yeast and helps create the perfect dough consistency, choose filtered water at body temperature for optimal yeast performance.
• Olive Oil: Adds subtle richness and helps create a softer bread texture, select extra virgin olive oil for best flavor.

• Yeast: Magical ingredient that makes bread rise and develop complex flavors, ensure it's fresh and not expired for reliable rising.
• Brown Sugar: Provides food for yeast and adds delicate caramel undertones, look for pure, minimally processed brown sugar.

• Flour: Builds the bread's backbone and creates chewy, tender crumb, choose high-quality bread flour with higher protein content for better gluten development.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and controls yeast fermentation, use fine sea salt for even distribution and clean taste.

Bread-Baking Tools That Help You Rise

• Large mixing bowl: Perfect for combining ingredients and kneading dough smoothly.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Essential for accurate ingredient quantities.
• Dough hook or wooden spoon: Great for mixing and developing dough consistency.
• Baking sheet: Provides surface for shaping and baking bread loaves.
• Sharp knife: Used for scoring bread before baking to create beautiful crust design.
• Clean kitchen towel: Helps cover dough during rising process.
• Wire cooling rack: Allows bread to cool evenly and prevent soggy bottoms.
• Shallow pan: Creates steam in oven for creating crusty exterior.
• Pastry brush: Helps apply egg wash for golden, shiny bread surface.
• Kitchen scale (optional): Ensures precise ingredient measurements.

Instructions for That Crunchy, Golden Crust

• Yeast Awakening

Grab a mixing bowl and combine warm water, yeast, and brown sugar. Let the mixture sit quietly until bubbles start dancing across the surface, signaling the yeast has come to life.

• Dough Creation

Pour in olive oil and salt, stirring everything together. Gradually fold in flour, working the mixture until it transforms into a smooth, cohesive dough that pulls away from the bowl’s edges.

• First Resting Period

Gently knead the dough until it feels soft and silky. Drape a clean cloth over the bowl and let the dough rest in a cozy spot, growing and expanding until it has doubled in size.

• Loaf Shaping

Softly deflate the puffy dough and divide it into two equal portions. Tenderly shape each piece into a beautiful loaf, placing them on a baking sheet.

• Second Rise

Cover the loaves with a damp cloth, allowing them to rise again and become wonderfully plump.

• Oven Preparation

Heat the oven to 375°F. Whisk an egg with a splash of water and brush this golden mixture over the loaves. Slice a graceful line down the center of each loaf.

• Steamy Baking

Place a shallow pan filled with hot water on the oven’s lower rack. Slide the loaves into the oven, letting steam work its magic on the crust. Bake until the bread turns a rich, warm golden color and sounds hollow when tapped.

• Cooling Moment

Carefully transfer the freshly baked loaves to wire racks, allowing them to cool and develop their perfect texture.

Crust Tips for Artisan Bread Bakers

• Bread Baking Magic: Insider tips to elevate your homemade loaf experience.
• Yeast Whisperer: Always check expiration dates and store yeast in a cool, dry place to ensure maximum rising power. Warm water around 110°F activates yeast perfectly without killing its delicate microorganisms.
• Flour Power: Experiment with different flour blends like whole wheat, rye, or bread flour to create unique texture and flavor profiles. Sifting flour prevents clumping and helps achieve a lighter, airier crumb.
• Moisture Master: A shallow pan of water during baking creates steam, which develops that coveted golden, crispy crust. Use a spray bottle to mist the oven walls for extra crispiness if you don't have a water pan.
• Storing Secrets: Wrap cooled bread in a clean kitchen towel or store in a paper bag to maintain crustiness. Freeze loaves for up to three months by wrapping tightly in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil to preserve freshness.

Slicing and Serving Your Crusty Bread

• Rustic Breakfast Companion: Slice the warm crusty bread and serve alongside scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and fresh fruit for a hearty morning meal that will kickstart your day with delightful flavors.
• Gourmet Sandwich Canvas: Transform these homemade loaves into incredible sandwiches by layering sliced meats, cheese, crisp lettuce, and tangy spreads for a lunch that beats any store-bought bread creation.
• Soup's Perfect Partner: Tear chunks of this crusty bread and use them for dipping into creamy tomato soup, hearty beef stew, or rich potato chowder to soak up every delicious drop of broth and enhance your comfort food experience.
• Crowd-Pleasing Appetizer Plate: Cut the bread into bite-sized pieces, toast lightly, and serve with various dips like herbed olive oil, hummus, or garlic butter for an impressive party starter that will have guests asking for your recipe.

Keep Your Bread Tasting Bakery-Fresh

• Shelf Life Strategy: Fresh homemade bread stays delicious for 2-3 days at room temperature when wrapped in clean kitchen towels or stored in bread boxes with good air circulation.
• Refrigeration Caution: Avoid storing crusty bread in refrigerators, as cold temperatures cause faster staling and destroy the crispy texture, making bread tough and less appealing.
• Freezing Technique: Slice bread before freezing, then wrap tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Frozen bread remains tasty for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature or warm gently in oven for best results.
• Smart Repurposing: Transform slightly stale bread into croutons, breadcrumbs, or delightful bread pudding. Slice, cube, or process leftover bread to create versatile kitchen ingredients that reduce food waste and add flavor to multiple dishes.

Heavenly Crusty Bread Recipe

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• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 9 1x

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Description

Homemade crusty bread emerges as a rustic masterpiece of simple ingredients and expert technique. Crisp exterior and tender crumb invite bakers to savor each delightful slice.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 4 cups (946 mL) flour
• 1 ⅓ cups (316 mL) warm water
• 2 ¼ teaspoons (11 g) yeast
• 1 tablespoon (15 g) brown sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons (7 g) salt
• 1 ½ teaspoons (7 mL) olive oil

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Instructions

1. Yeast Activation: Merge tepid water and brown sugar, allowing the mixture to bloom into a frothy, bubbling state that indicates fermentation has commenced.
2. Liquid Base Preparation: Integrate olive oil and salt into the activated yeast solution, whisking thoroughly to create a uniform flavor profile.
3. Dough Formation: Systematically fold flour into the liquid mixture, using a dough hook or hands to develop a cohesive, smooth mass that cleanly separates from bowl edges.
4. Kneading and Initial Rise: Transfer dough to a floured surface, knead vigorously to develop gluten, then place in a lightly oiled bowl covered with a damp towel. Allow to rest in a draft-free zone until volume doubles, approximately 45-60 minutes.
5. Shaping and Secondary Proofing: Gently deflate dough, divide into two uniform loaves with smooth surfaces. Arrange on a parchment-lined baking sheet, loosely cover, and permit second rising until substantially increased in size.
6. Oven Preparation and Finishing: Preheat oven to 375°F, positioning a shallow metal pan on the bottom rack for water steaming. Whisk egg with water to create a glossy wash, delicately brush over loaf surfaces. Score each loaf with a longitudinal cut using a razor-sharp knife.
7. Baking Process: Pour hot water into the bottom pan to create a humid environment, then slide loaves into the oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes, rotating midway to ensure uniform browning, until loaves develop a rich amber crust and sound hollow when tapped.
8. Cooling and Serving: Transfer bread to wire cooling racks, allowing complete temperature reduction before slicing to preserve internal moisture and texture.

Notes

• Activate Yeast Properly: Ensure water temperature is between 100-110°F for optimal yeast activation, preventing potential killing or underwhelming fermentation.
• Develop Gluten Technique: Knead dough thoroughly to create strong gluten networks, resulting in better bread structure and more appealing texture.
• Control Rising Conditions: Maintain warm, draft-free environment during proofing stages to support consistent and reliable dough expansion.
• Enhance Bread Crust: Use steam method by adding water to bottom oven rack, creating professional-quality golden-brown crust with crisp exterior.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Snacks, Breakfast, Lunch
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 9
• Calories: 190
• Sugar: 0.5 g
• Sodium: 180 mg
• Fat: 2.5 g
• Saturated Fat: 0.3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2.2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 36 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg