There is something deeply satisfying about baking bread from scratch — especially when it turns out beautiful, crusty, and bakery-worthy with very little effort.
This is one of those recipes that reminds you that simple really can be spectacular. No kneading. No fancy steps. Just honest, cozy bread that fills your kitchen with that unmistakable something good is happening smell.
And yes… I learned a little something about Dutch oven sizing along the way (more on that below).
Ingredients
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3 cups all-purpose flour
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2 teaspoons salt
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2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (or 1 packet)
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1½ cups warm water
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4 ice cubes
Instructions
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In a bowl, add the flour, salt, and active dry yeast. Pour in the warm water and mix until combined.
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Cover the bowl and let the dough proof on the counter for 2 hours.
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After 2 hours, place parchment paper on your work surface and lightly flour it. Gently transfer the dough onto the parchment and shape it into a ball — no kneading required. Lightly flour the top.
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Using a sharp knife, cut a square into the top of the dough to help it rise.
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Preheat the oven to 450°F and place your Dutch oven inside to preheat as well.
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Once preheated, carefully add the parchment-wrapped dough to the Dutch oven. Drop the 4 ice cubes into the Dutch oven behind the parchment paper to create steam.
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Bake covered for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes, for a total of 45 minutes.
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Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before slicing (if you can wait).
A Quick Dutch Oven Note (From Experience)
I originally made this bread using my Staub Pink Peony 7-Quart Dutch Oven, and while she’s gorgeous… she was honestly too big for the job. The loaf spread more than I wanted.
I ended up purchasing the Staub Pink Peony 5.5-Quart Dutch oven, and it made all the difference — better rise, better shape, and just an overall better loaf. Lesson learned: sometimes the right size really does matter.
Beauty Cafe Thoughts
This is the kind of bread you make on a quiet afternoon, slice while it’s still warm, and enjoy with butter (or honey… or jam… or all three).
It’s unfussy. It’s comforting. And it proves that you don’t need complicated steps or fancy techniques to make something truly lovely.
And honestly? That’s a philosophy we’ve always lived by around here.
