Kylee's Easy 3 hour Dutch Oven Bread

4 ingredients- 3 hours... DELICIOUS BREAD!

Good

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

Stir together water and yeast into mixing bowl.

Step 2

Add in flour and salt with any additional seasonings you want to add for flavor. (Caution... try and avoid pre-mixed seasonings that contain salt as this can cause very salty bread.)

Step 3

Stir with a rubber spatula until no flour streaks remain. Optional: Mix in ⅓ to ½ cup shredded cheese of choice

Step 4

Once combined, using the spatula fold the dough from the outside toward the center, turning the bowl little by little, until you’ve folded it in on itself ~8-10 times.

Step 5

Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour.

Step 6

After the first hour, fold the dough again (~8-10 times) in the same manner. Cover and let rise for another 1 hour.

Step 7

Halfway through the second rise, preheat your oven to 450 °F and place your Dutch oven (with lid) inside to heat for the full 30 minutes. Also prepare a piece of parchment large enough for the dough.

Step 8

Lightly flour a surface and your hands, turn the dough out, flip it over, and fold the corners toward the center about 6-8 times until a rough ball forms. Flip it over onto the parchment paper.

Step 9

Use a sharp knife to score the dough (for example, an “X”). Spray with cooking spray (or brush with oil). (Optional: sprinkle with the topping cheese or additional toppings on top.)

Step 10

Remove the heated Dutch oven from the oven (using oven mitts!). Remove the lid, use the parchment to transfer the dough into the Dutch oven, replace the lid, and return to the oven. Bake for 30 minutes with the lid on.

Step 11

After 30 minutes, remove the lid and bake an additional 20 minutes (lid off) so the bread browns and the crust crisps.

Step 12

Remove the Dutch oven from the oven, carefully use the parchment to lift the loaf out, remove the parchment, and let the bread cool on a wire rack.