Simple Homemade Bread
The easiest bread you'll ever make.
Ingredients
- 6 1/2 cup all-purpose or bread flour
- 3 cups warm water plus 3 tbsp if using bread flour
- 1 cup hot water for use during cooking
- 1 1/2 tbsp yeast
- 1 1/2 tbsp salt
- Semolina flour for dusting the resting and baking surfaces
Instructions
- Mix water, flour, yeast, and salt until fully incorporated (it will be wet and sticky).
- Place the dough in a warm spot until it doubles in size.
- Refrigerate the dough a minimum of 4 hours and up to 1 week (I refrigerate for 12 hours).
- Cut off half the dough and shape and cloak into a ball (see video above).
- Place the dough ball on a surface dusted with cornmeal or semolina flour.
- Let the dough rise for 40 minutes in a warm spot.
- 20 minutes into the rise, set your oven to 450°F.
- Warm the pizza stone or cast iron pan in the oven along with the broiler pan.
- When the rise is done, make 3-4 slashes across the top of the dough.
- Transfer to the pizza stone/cast iron pan.
- Pour 1 cup of hot water into the broiler pan to create the steam bath.
- Let cook for 40-45 minutes until golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and allow to completely cool.
- Slice, slather, enjoy. Note: It’s ok to slice it while warm.
- If you're making rolls, divide your dough into 6 equal pieces. Shape each portion into a small roll. Continue with steps 6-12, however cook for only 20-25 minutes