A simple and delicious recipe for French bread made in the Dutch Oven- crisp crust, soft crumb, and perfect to serve with dinner.
If you have never made a yeast bread before, please check out my beginners guide to yeast bread baking, which will go over the basic steps and different methods you can try.
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PrintEasy French Bread in a Dutch Oven
The easiest bread recipe you will ever make, but still an excellent loaf.
- Yield: 1 large loaf
Ingredients
- -4 cups of bread flour (King Arthur is best)
- -2 t. salt
- -2 1/2 t. instant yeast (I like this kind, which I store in a quart jar in the freezer)
- -1 1/2 cups water
- -Cornmeal for sprinkling
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients to form a smooth, soft dough, and knead. If you do this in a bread machine on the dough cycle, life will be good. Otherwise, a stand mixer with a dough hook will work, and will take about 7-9 minutes on a low setting.
- Allow dough to rise, covered, in a warm place. It will take about 60 minutes in a setting that is about 90 degrees. You can use an oven that has been slightly warmed and then turned off or sunny windowsill. (The bread machine takes care of this for you too.)
- After the dough has risen, remove from bowl and place on floured surface. Shape the loaf by pinching the bottom until the top is smooth.
- Prepare your baking sheet or clay baker by laying down a piece of parchment and sprinkling cornmeal on the parchment sheet. Place the round loaf on top of the parchment and rub flour on top. Slash with a very sharp knife.
- Cover the dough, either with heavily greased plastic wrap or the lid of your baker. Allow the dough to rise again. This will take another 45-60 minutes, in a warm place. Towards the end of the second rise, preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
- When sufficiently risen, bake. If using a baking sheet, it will take about 30 minutes. The clay baker will take a bit longer. I bake for 20 minutes with the lid on, then another 20. with the lid off. The internal temp should be 200.
- Cool on wire rack and serve while still warm.
Notes
This recipe does not keep well at room temperature (will go stale the next day), but freezes very well. Just wrap well to freeze, then defrost at room temperature a few hours and reheat briefly in a warm oven. Or just use it for toast or croutons on day 2.
This is the easiest bread recipe ever, and is great for beginners. I still make it all the time because it’s good, not just easy. My seven year old did almost every step of this loaf except put it in the oven and take it out.
I baked this in an Emile Henry clay cocotte pot that my mom gave me after she bought it for baking bread and then went on a low carb diet. You don’t need the clay baker, although I love it dearly and use it for more than just bread. This recipe will be just fine baked freeform on a baking sheet, but it will not rise quite as high in the oven.
This is the same dough recipe I use for french sandwich rolls, just a different method.
It’s good sliced with butter or dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar. It also slices nicely for sandwiches or toast if you allow it to cool completely.
If you are brand new to bread making, this is a great place to start.
Want more bread recipes?
- I’ve rounded up my favorite Dutch Oven bread recipes for beginner friendly baking.
- Check out my archive of bread recipes for some of our family favorites, from rolls to sandwich loaves to artisan breads.
Malinda says
Is a clay baker the same as the Dutch oven ?
Katie Shaw says
yes it works the same for baking bread. its lighter (most dutch ovens are cast iron), and you aren’t supposed to use it on high on the stove. but f or baking, it works exactly the same 🙂
Scott says
Great recipe! Things I have discovered that have improved my process and end product: using a stand mixer with dough hook, add dry ingredients to wet (seems to eliminate having to stop and scrape down sides of bowl). I do the second rise and bake in my smaller (4 qt) Dutch oven and don’t slash loaf until just before baking. When I slashed first and did the second rise in my larger one (7 qt) it didn’t hold its shape, just expanded horizontally – still delicious but a very flat loaf.
Katie Shaw, Heart’s Content says
Oh interesting! Sometimes when I slash right before baking the whole thing instantly deflates for some reason. I do have a smaller dutch oven so I’m going to try that. Thanks!
Kathleen says
Katie Ioved your honesty and simple methods.
Katie Shaw, Heart’s Content says
Thank you Kathleen, that means a lot to me 😊
Anonymous says
More like an autobiography, sorry I didn’t watch all, boring.
Katie Shaw, Heart’s Content says
Thanks for letting me know….it’s my first video and need the feedback 🙂
Elise says
Could not disagree more! This is so informative!! So glad you are taking the time to explain all of this! I am going to bake bread this week and I’m so thankful for all the info!
Katie Shaw, Heart’s Content says
I am SOOOO excited! Soon we will both be baking and crocheting.
Robin at Haphazard Homemaker says
Definitely Yum! And so simple! Just the way I like it.
Kathy says
Yummy!
K. Alice Compeau says
Yum! 🤤🤤