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Crusty on the outside and soft on the inside, this easy dutch oven bread will have you feeling like a bread making pro in no time!

I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned before how much yeast scares me.  But making things with yeast scares me!  Even when I come across recipes that use the word “easy” or “simple” or “effortless” {cough, cough} I never quite believe them.  So, naturally, when I came across this recipe that promised me that amazing looking bread in just 5 minutes I was skeptical.  Delicious homemade bread with minimal effort?  Yeah, right.

Honestly, this recipe is super simple and if I can do it you can, too!  I promise.  No, I swear!  The good kind of swear!  It is so crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. I doubt it’ll last more than a few days in your house.  I think we made it exactly 2 in mine before it was all gone.  We ate it warm with butter and jam, smothered in Nutella {food of the Gods}, used it for sandwiches.  And if you have some that lasts long enough you could let it get just a liiittle bit stale {if you have that kind of restraint} and make some seasoned croutons.  Or bread crumbs!  Oooh, I think I just gave myself an idea!  But back to this recipe…

The smells this little baby elicited were absolutely divine.  There’s really no other way to describe it than divinity.  And it really was the easiest yeast thing I have ever made!  I call it a total success!  The original recipe called for optional herbs and I think those would be good to serve alongside a soup or pasta dish.  Or add in cheese.  Or make a sweeter bread with cinnamon and raisins.  Yum!  The good thing about this recipe being so easy is that you can customize it any way you like!

Do you have a go to bread recipe you like?  Are you just as timid as I am about yeast breads?  

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Effortless Dutch Oven Bread

Yield: 1 loaf

Prep Time: 1 hour 45 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours

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Ingredients

• 1 ⅓ cups warm water, just warm from the tap will do
• 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast
• 1 ½ tsp sea salt
• 1 Tbs sugar
• 2 Tbs extra virgin olive oil
• 2 ⅔ cups all purpose flour

Instructions

1. Add warm water, yeast, and sugar to a bowl and let it sit for 4 to 5 minutes or until yeast looks foamy.
2. Add remaining ingredients and stir with a sturdy wooden spoon until it all comes together.
3. Cover bowl with a towel and allow to rise at room temperature for about 45 minutes to an hour until it doubles in size.
4. Turn the risen dough out onto a floured surface and turn the dough a few times to coat with flour. Stretch the surface of the dough and tuck it under, turning a bit each time until you have a smooth ball.
5. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and transfer dough to your dutch oven lightly sprayed with cooking spray. Cover the pot with the lid and allow dough to rise for another 30 to 45 minutes or until dough has doubled in size.
6. Before baking make several 1½ inch cuts along the top for a more rustic look
7. Recover and bake at 400 degrees for 30 minutes. Then remove cover and bake for an additional 15 to 25 minutes or until bread is golden brown
8. Allow to cool on a cooling rack for 15 minutes and then invert from the pot. Test the doneness by thumping the bottom and listening for a hollow sound