Dutch Oven White Bread

This Dutch Oven White Bread will turn even a novice bread baker into an artisan bread maker. It’s ideal for enjoying warm with butter fresh from the oven, toasted with eggs for breakfast, alongside soup and stews for dipping or as a foundation for sandwiches and more.

Ingredients to Make Dutch Oven White Bread Recipe

There’s nothing like the aroma that fills the house when there’s homemade bread baking in the oven.  This homemade bread recipe is fluffy on the inside with a golden crusty exterior. When it comes to bread making, it can sometimes seem intimidating when there’s yeast involved. Yeast is simply a leavening agent that requires a medium of warm water to jump start the blooming process. To make this sourdough bread, warm water is required to activate the yeast. Think lukewarm, not boiling hot water. I assure you, it is possible to master bread making without a bread machine.

Checkout this quick list of ingredients you’ll need to make Dutch Oven Bread Recipe: (Scroll down for the full printable recipe card.)

• Flour – All purpose flour or bread flour forms the base of the bread dough.
• Yeast – I use rapid rise yeast in this recipe due to its quick activation.
• Water – Lukewarm water for moisture.
• Sugar – Granulated sugar for a slight sweetness and to assist in blooming the yeast.
• Salt – Salt is imperative for flavor.

How to Make the BEST Dutch Oven White Bread Recipe

What makes Dutch oven white bread different from other breads? The process of making sandwich bread in this way results in a thicker, chewy crust.

• Bloom the Yeast – In a measuring cup or bowl, stir together water, sugar and yeast. Set aside until foamy.
• Dry Ingredients – Use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook to sift together flour and salt. Add the yeast mixture. Knead until the breads dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl and elastic.
• First Rise – Cover with a kitchen towel and let the dough rise in a warm, draft free place.
• Second Rise – Fold dough from edges to the center pinch together. Shape into a ball and return to the bowl smooth side up. Cover and let rise 2-3 hours.
• Final Rise – Gently stretch the dough into a round loaf pinching the seams of the dough together underneath. Dust the top with a small amount of flour. Return to bowl, cover and let rise for 1 hour.
• Preheat the Dutch Oven – 30 minutes into the final rise, place dutch oven into the oven with the lid in place while it preheats to 425 degrees f. Leave in oven for 30 minutes. Use oven mitts to remove from oven, it will be hot! Set on a heatproof trivet.
• Transfer Bread Dough – Place bread dough onto a piece of parchment paper. Lift dough using the parchment paper, placing into the Dutch oven. Cut slits on top using a sharp knife sprinkle with a small amount of flour.
• Oven – Bake bread in preheated dutch oven covered per the recipe. Remove lid and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until golden brown.
• Serve – Remove from Dutch oven, rest then slice and enjoy as a sandwich or with a warm bowl of soup and stews.

Kitchen Equipment to Make Dutch Oven White Bread

• Stand mixer fitted with a dough hook for kneading the dough. You can also do this by hand on a floured surface.
• Large bowl for mixing the dough and a small bowl for blooming the yeast mixture.
• Cast Iron Dutch oven or similar cast iron pot with a tight fitting lid for baking the bread.
• Measuring cups and spoons.
• Use a Serrated Bread Knife to cut into slices.

Tips for Making Homemade White Bread Dutch Oven

• Check the Date on the Yeast – Make sure the yeast you use is not out of date. When you add it to the water, if it doesn’t foam, throw it out and start again.
• Use Lukewarm Water – When it comes to the water used to dissolve the yeast, think lukewarm not boiling hot water.
• Measure Accurately – When measuring flour always spoon into the measuring cup and level with a knife. Otherwise, the flour can become compacted and throw the recipe amounts off.
• Kneading the Dough – I use my stand mixer to assist with mixing and kneading the dough. That said, you can always knead the dough by hand for the same amount of time, if you don’t have a mixer with a dough hook.
• Parchment Paper – It’s best to bake this bread on parchment paper to avoid sticking. If you don’t have parchment, you should dust the bottom of the dutch oven with cornmeal.

Recipe Variations and Substitutions

• Fresh Herbs – You may opt to add fresh herbs such as rosemary, thyme or chives.
• Spices – You may like to add seasonings like granulated garlic, onion powder or dry Italian seasoning to the flour mixture to change the flavor profile. 
• Cinnamon Raisin – You could turn this bread into a sweet bread, adding light brown sugar, cinnamon and raisins to the dough.
• Italian Bread – Before breaking you can brush the bread with olive oil, then sprinkle the top with fresh rosemary and sea salt or Parmesan cheese.
• Flour – You can use bread flour or all purpose flour in this recipe. You could also adapt using whole wheat flour.
• Yeast – This recipe uses rapid rise yeast (not instant yeast). You can use active dry yeast in the same amount.
• Scalded Milk – This recipe can also be started with the same amount of scalded milk in place of water. To make scalded milk, pour into a saucepan and heat on the stove top until steamy, not boiling. Remove from the heat just before it comes to a boil. Cool to lukewarm, and proceed with the recipe, adding yeast and sugar. 
• Proofing – You can let this bread sit on the counter overnight to proof before baking. Not kidding. When doing so, the bread will have a lighter more airy texture as more air bubbles will form the longer it sits.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers: Store Dutch Oven Artisan Bread in an airtight container or wrapped in plastic wrap at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for 3 days.
• Freezer: You can freeze this bread for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and enjoy.

Dishes to Serve with Artisan Bread

• Oven Braised Beef Stew is packed with flavor.
• Serve it for breakfast with this Baked Omelet.
• Cheeseburger Soup or Chicken Noodle Soup make a comforting meal after a busy day.
• Saucy Baked Penne or Beef and Noodles for Italian night at home.
• Tender French Onion Pot Roast.
• Butter and fill with this bread with homemade Southern Chicken Salad and Gruyere cheese then toast in a skillet for a chicken salad melt.
• Cheese Tortellini Soup and Crockpot Broccoli Cheddar Soup.
• Italian Wedding Soup from the Pioneer Woman.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Dutch Oven
• Silicone Spatulas
• Measuring Set
• Mixing Bowls