Homemade Artisan Bread- The Easiest recipe Six different ways - Nesting With Grace (2024)

I have shared my moms favorite Homemade Artisan Bread recipe on my blog before. I had a special sign made for her for mothers day last year with a scripture about bread. My mom made this homemade bread everyday for a year and took it to someone new. She figured it only cost her 24 cents to make and not anytime at all, but I am sure it brightened someones day to know they were thought about.

My mom and I came up with 6 different ways to make this bread. It is the easiest bread recipe ever! Seriously you don’t have to knead this bread or any fancy equipment.

I personally don’t eat a lot to bread but I love to make this recipe to give to others or to bake when we have company over for dinner. And seeing my girls light up when they can smell it baking when they get home from school is priceless.

Let’s get after it! First I will share the Basic Artisan Bread Recipe, that you can adapt from there and add in any of the mix-in’s that I share below.

Homemade Artisan Bread- The Easiest recipe Six different ways - Nesting With Grace (4)

Easiest Artisan Bread Recipe

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

  • 3 cups All Purpose Flour
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Active Dry Yeast
  • 2 cups Water- room temperature water start with 1 1/2 cups then add more

Instructions

  • Mix the flour, salt and yeast until combined in a large bowl (the bread doubles)

  • Add in the water (start with 1 1/2 cups then add more until it isn’t dry, but you don’t want it too wet)

  • Cover with a plate or silicon wrap or plastic wrapand let sit for 6 to 24 hours (on the kitchen counter)

  • Then degas, by stirring it once to get the air out

  • Greaseyour bread pan with oil or butter (coating with flour helps it to not stick)

  • Place bread dough in your baking pan and let it rise for an hour covered (I use a dish towel or a silicon cover, make sure to grease silicon cover)

  • Bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes covered (I use another bread pan on top, or you could use tin foil), then 10 minutes uncovered until golden on top

Notes

I have sped up the process to 4 hours on the counter with warmer water, didn't rise as high, but tasted the same!

Options-

  • Wheat Bread- 2 cups all purpose flour and 1 cup wheat flour (I have made this before with all wheat, I liked it, my kids didn’t as much….it is heavier)
  • Gluten Free- Use Cup for Cup Flour
  • Cranberry Bread- Before you add the water mix in-1/2 cup dried cranberries and1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts
  • Jalapeño Cheddar Bread- Before you add the water mix in-1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese and1 diced jalapeño *we left just a few seeds attached so it wasn’t too spicy- add more of the seeds if you like it spicy (or I chop up about 1/4 cup of the “Hot & Sweet Jalapeños” from Trader Joe’s that are in a jar)
  • Nut Bread- Before you add the water mix in-1/4 cup chopped almonds,1/4 cup sunflower seeds and1/4 cup flax seeds
  • Cinnamon Raisin Bread- Before you add the water mix in-1/2 cup raisins and2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • Everything But The Bagel- Before baking sprinkle evenly over the top of the bread with Everything But The Bagel Seasoning

Favorite Bread Pan– you can find it HEREand also a fun one I use that comes out perfect is HERE

Homemade Artisan Bread- The Easiest recipe Six different ways - Nesting With Grace (5)

PS- there is a printable at the end of this post! And why you need a French Butter CrockHERE.

Wheat Homemade Artisan Bread Recipe

  • 2 cups all purpose flour (I have made this before with all wheat, I liked it, my kids didn’t as much….it is heavier)
  • 1 cup wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon yeast
  • Follow instruction for Basic Homemade Artisan Bread

Cranberry Hazelnut HomemadeArtisan Bread Recipe

  • Recipe for Basic Homemade Artisan Bread
  • Before you add the water mix in-
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts
  • Follow instruction for Basic Homemade Artisan Bread

After everything is mixed in.

After 8 hours of rising on counter covered with a plate.

After “de-gased” and ready to put in baking pan to rise for one more hour.

Jalapeno Chedder HomemadeArtisan Bread Recipe

  • Recipe for Basic Homemade Artisan Bread
  • Before you add the water mix in-
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 diced jalapeño *we left just a few seeds attached so it wasn’t too spicy- add more of the seeds if you like it spicy (or I chop up about 1/4 cup of the “Hot & Sweet Jalapeños” from Trader Joe’s that are in a jar)
  • Follow instruction for Basic Homemade Artisan Bread

Flax SeedHomemadeArtisan Bread Recipe

  • Recipe for Basic Homemade Artisan Bread
  • Before you add the water mix in-
  • 1/4 cup chopped almonds
  • 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1/4 cup flax seeds
  • Follow instruction for Basic Homemade Artisan Bread

Cinnamon RaisinHomemadeArtisan Bread Recipe

  • Recipe for Basic Homemade Artisan Bread
  • Before you add the water mix in-
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • Follow instruction for Basic Homemade Artisan Bread

My Mom working her magic!

“They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts.” Acts 2:46

After making all this bread, I took it around to neighbors and friends. We used one loaf to make grilled cheese for the girls and my hubby with tomato soup. The Jalapeño Cheddar was my husbands favorite as grilled cheese.

You can see how I used this bread to make it in little flower pots HERE and my Mothers Day Bread post HERE. Let me know if you try the bread!

You can print out the Bread Recipe FREE here-Artisan Bread Recipe PDF Printable and thank you to AP Letters for this gorgeous printable!

Click on image to print your FREE Bread Recipe Printable

I shared a Paleo Bread Recipe HERE that every loved too!

I took a video last time my mom visited- of the bread stages. Hope it helps! (PS- on the video my mom says “1/2 teaspoon salt” but the recipe is 1 teaspoon

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Homemade Artisan Bread- The Easiest recipe Six different ways - Nesting With Grace (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to bread rising? ›

You can also put hot water in a heat-safe dish and place it on the floor of a cold oven (or on a lower shelf). The steam and heat from the water will help the temperature rise just enough that the yeast is active. The steam will also assist in keeping the surface of the dough moist so it will stretch as it rises.

What can I add to homemade bread to make it taste better? ›

Granulated sugar or honey: the sugar is used to “feed” the yeast and tenderize the bread. Salt: to enhance flavor. Oil: Vegetable or canola oil, or melted butter could be substituted.

What makes bread rise and fluffy? ›

Once reactivated, yeast begins feeding on the sugars in flour, and releases the carbon dioxide that makes bread rise (although at a much slower rate than baking powder or soda). Yeast also adds many of the distinctive flavors and aromas we associate with bread.

What is the best yeast for bread making? ›

Active Dry Yeast is an ideal yeast to use for artisan breads or no knead breads that require a slower rise time. It's also the preferred type of yeast for those doughs that proof in the refrigerator for extended periods of time.

How long should you let dough rise? ›

If your kitchen and/or counter where you knead the dough is cool, the dough will cool down also (even if you used warm water to make it). If your dough is kept at around 80°F, it should take between 1 and 1½ hours to rise double in volume.

What are the 6 main ingredients used in almost all yeast breads? ›

7.1. 2 The basic ingredients in a yeast dough are: flour, liquid, salt, sugar, fat, eggs and yeast.

What temperature do you bake bread at? ›

Preheat your home oven to 450°F (230°C) with a Dutch oven inside for 30 to 45 minutes. Line a pizza peel, inverted baking sheet, or cutting board with parchment paper. Turn out your proofed bread dough onto the parchment paper (trim the paper to fit, if necessary) Score your dough.

What is the quick bread method? ›

Quick breads are prepared by the blending-, creaming-, or biscuit-method which determines the final texture and crumb of the finished product. The blending-method, also known as the muffin-method, combines the wet ingredients in one bowl and dry ingredients in a second bowl before mixing together.

What are the 12 principle steps of bread baking? ›

The 12-step process of bread baking involves: 1) scaling ingredients, 2) mixing and kneading dough, 3) fermentation for yeast growth, 4) deflating and punching down dough, 5) scaling dough pieces, 6) rounding dough balls, 7) benching dough for resting, 8) shaping dough pieces, 9) proofing final rise, 10) baking bread ...

How do you keep homemade bread light and fluffy? ›

How can you keep homemade bread soft and moist? Store bread in an airtight container or plastic bag: This will help trap the bread's natural moisture and prevent it from drying out. Keep bread at room temperature: Storing bread in the refrigerator can cause it to dry out, so it's best to keep it at room temperature.

What makes homemade bread light and airy? ›

Carbon dioxide is responsible for all the bubbles that make holes in bread, making it lighter and fluffier. Because gas is created as a result of yeast growth, the more the yeast grows, the more gas in the dough and the more light and airy your bread loaf will be.

What is the most important step in bread making? ›

Kneading. Kneading involves stretching and folding the dough in a rhythmical manner that develops the gluten in the flour and releases excess gas. Any large gas holes that may have formed during rising are released by kneading and so a more even distribution of both gas bubbles and temperature also results.

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