# Crusty Bread

A really easy recipe for a gorgeous loaf of crusty bread without using a Dutch oven or a sourdough starter.

- Total time: 105 min
- Cuisine: American
- Category: Baked Goods
- Language: en

## Ingredients

- 3.5 cups all purpose flour
- 2 tsp sugar
- 2 tsp instant yeast
- 2 tsp salt
- 1.5 cups warm water
- 3 cups water for water bath

## Instructions

1. Combine flour, water, sugar, yeast, and salt in a bowl and mix with a wooden spoon.
2. Switch to kneading with hands until the water is fully absorbed and the dough comes together.
3. Cover the dough and let it rest for 30 minutes.
4. With damp fingertips, perform a set of stretch and folds all around the dough.
5. Cover the dough and let it rest for another 30 minutes.
6. Perform a second set of stretch and folds.
7. Cover the dough and let it sit for another 30 to 45 minutes.
8. Form the dough into a loaf, approximately 9x5 inches.
9. Place the loaf on a lightly floured parchment paper on a baking sheet.
10. Flour the top of the loaf, cover it with a towel, and let it rise for one to two hours.
11. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit with a 9x13 inch pan filled with 3 cups of water on the bottom rack.
12. Score the bread with a knife.
13. Place the bread on the middle rack of your oven and bake with the water bath for 20 minutes.
14. Remove the water bath pan and bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until deeply golden.
15. Allow to cool a bit before slicing into it.

## Equipment

- bowl
- wooden spoon
- baking sheet
- towel
- oven
- 9x13 inch baking pan
- knife

## Source

- Original video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSYn7k5fIvM&t=4s
- Recipe page: https://www.cliprecipe.com/recipe/611be1f3-a271-442e-976e-86746dd0cdf7
- Extracted: 2025-10-27

Extracted from the video by Clip Recipe (https://www.cliprecipe.com). Quantities and steps are as stated or shown in the video. Site guide for agents: https://www.cliprecipe.com/llms.txt