Best 20 Crusty Bread Recipes

CRUSTY HOMEMADE BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Using a rubber spatula, stir in 3-1/2 cups flour and salt to form a soft, sticky dough. Do not knead. Cover and let rise at room temperature 1 hour., Stir down dough (dough will be sticky). Turn onto a floured surface; with floured hands pat into a 9-in. square. Fold square into thirds, forming a 9x3-in. rectangle. Fold rectangle into thirds, forming a 3-in. square. Place in a large greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise at room temperature until almost doubled, about 1 hour., Punch down dough and repeat folding process. Return dough to bowl; refrigerate, covered, overnight., Grease the bottom of a disposable foil roasting pan with sides at least 4 in. high; dust pan with cornmeal. Turn dough onto a floured surface. Knead gently 6-8 times; shape into a 6-in. round loaf. Place into prepared pan; dust top with remaining 1 tablespoon flour. Cover pan and let rise at room temperature until dough expands to a 7-1/2-in. loaf, about 1-1/4 hours. , Preheat oven to 500°. Using a sharp knife, make a slash (1/4 in. deep) across top of loaf. Cover pan tightly with foil. Bake on lowest oven rack 25 minutes., Reduce oven setting to 450°. Remove foil; bake bread until deep golden brown, 25-30 minutes. Remove loaf to a wire rack to cool.

CRUSTY DUTCH OVEN BREAD

Steps:

• Pour bread flour into the bowl of an electric stand mixer and add water, followed by salt. Sprinkle yeast over the surface and allow to dissolve, about 5 minutes.
• Mix on medium speed using the paddle attachment until the dough comes together. Replace the paddle with a dough hook. Continue mixing until dough is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow to the dough to rise to about twice its size, 30 to 45 minutes. Push a finger into the dough. The dough should give some resistance, but not spring back. If it springs back, let it rise longer.
• Turn dough out onto a floured surface and punch down to expel excess gas and redistribute the yeast. Cover with a clean dish towel and let rest for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Shape the dough into a boule by pushing back and forth on the counter in a circular motion until you have a round, smooth ball. Cover dough with a clean dish towel and allow to rise, about 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Grease a Dutch oven.
• Slice a very shallow "X" into the top of the bread with a sharp knife to help it expand while baking. Place loaf into the prepared Dutch oven and cover with the lid.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Reduce temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and continue to bake, covered, for 20 minutes. Remove the lid and continue baking until deep golden, 25 to 30 minutes.

CRUSTY ITALIAN BREAD

Steps:

• 1. Dissolve the yeast in a quarter-cup of warm water. You should actually check the temperature of the water. Too cold and it won't activate, too hot and you can kill the yeast.
• 2. Give the yeast a few minutes, until it starts bubbling, then mix it in with the rest of the warm water.
• 3. Add the flour, sugar and salt and stir.
• 4. Don't add the oil until after you've worked the water and flour together. Otherwise the oil will coat the proteins and prevent gluten formation. Gluten lets the dough stretch when it rises, making it light and chewy instead of crumbling like cake.
• 5. After mixing the oil in, turn the dough out onto a clean, floured surface to knead.
• 6. Stretch the dough away from you, fold it back, turn a quarter turn and repeat. Once the dough is well incorporated, slap it on the surface a few times. This will encourage more gluten production leading to a lighter, airier bread.
• 7. When the dough is smooth and silky, continue kneading for another several minutes. You can work it with both hands and keep turning the dough, or just hit it from opposite angles with each hand.
• 8. Once the dough is thoroughly kneaded, place it in an oiled bowl. Toss the dough around so it is coated with oil all the way around.
• 9. Cover the dough with plastic wrap, pressed right up against the dough. This will prevent a skin from forming on the dough, allowing it to rise more.
• 10. Put the bowl someplace warm until the dough has doubled in size, about 1-1/2 to 2 hours.
• 11. Pre-heat the oven to 425°. If you have a pizza stone, put it on the bottom rack. Otherwise, place a baking sheet upside-down on the bottom rack. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and punch down to knock out most of the air out. Don't go crazy and try to turn it into a pancake. Just give it a quick couple of hits.
• 12. Roll the dough out into a loaf shape and cut it in half. You can form the halves into loaves or, like I did here, divide each half into three smaller pieces.
• 13. Roll out the pieces of dough until they are about 6-9 inches long.
• 14. If you have a peel (the large wooden spatula you see in pizza shops) use that. If not, a wooden cutting board will work. Dust it with cornmeal so the dough doesn't stick.
• 15. Cover the loaves with plastic and allow to rise for another 40 minutes. They should roughly double in width.
• 16. Cut each loaf down the middle with the sharpest blade you have. If you don't have anything that is absolutely razor sharp, use a razor blade. You want to cut about a quarter-inch deep in a single quick stroke without sawing back-and-forth. This will prevent the bread from bursting open when it rises in the oven.
• 17. Transfer the loaves onto the baking stone. Leave room between loaves for them to rise some more. If they don't all fit on your stone, put the rest on an upside-down baking sheet.
• 18. Bake at 425° for 10 minutes, then turn the oven down to 400° and bake another 25-30 minutes. To check if they're done, pick one loaf up and thump on the bottom with your thumb. If it has a hollow sound, it's done. If you want really crusty bread, great for dipping in olive oil or marinara sauce, place a pan of water in the bottom of the oven. The steam will keep a skin from forming too fast, giving the bread more time to rise. It will also make the crust crisper. Don't put the loaves near the top. The radiant heat from the top of the stove will brown the crust too much, too fast. Serve immediately with butter, or with olive oil and balsamic vinegar for dipping.

AWESOME HOMEMADE CRUSTY BREAD (BREAD MACHINE)

Steps:

• Place ingredients in bread machine in the order according to the manufacturer's directions.
• Use the regular bread cycle.

CRUSTY WHITE BREAD

Steps:

• In a small mixing bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in the warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine the yeast mixture with the milk, the butter or margarine, 4 cups of the flour and the salt; stir until well combined. Add the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, stirring well after each addition. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and supple, about 8 minutes.
• Lightly oil a large mixing bowl, place the dough in the bowl and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and put in a warm place to rise until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Deflate the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide the dough into two equal pieces and form into loaves. Place the loaves into two lightly greased 9x5 inch loaf pans. Cover the loaves with a damp cloth and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes.
• Mist loaves with water and bake at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) oven for 20 to 30 minutes or until the loaves are golden brown and the bottom of a loaf sounds hollow when tapped.

CRUSTY FRENCH BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/2 cup water. Add the sugar, salt, shortening, remaining water and 3-1/2 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Do not knead. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour. , Turn onto a floured surface. Divide in half; let rest for 10 minutes. Roll each half into a 10x8-in. rectangle. Roll up from a long side; pinch to seal. Place seam side down on 2 greased baking sheets sprinkled with cornmeal. Sprinkle the tops with cornmeal. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes. , With a very sharp knife, make 5 diagonal cuts across the top of each loaf. Bake at 400° until lightly browned, 20-30 minutes. Remove from pans to wire rack to cool.

EASY NO KNEAD DUTCH OVEN CRUSTY BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water. Add the flour and salt, stirring until blended.
• The dough will be shaggy and sticky.
• Cover bowl with plastic wrap.
• Let the dough rest at least 8 hours, preferably 12 to 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.
• The dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles.
• Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it.
• Sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice.
• Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let it rest for about 15 minutes.
• Using just enough flour to keep the dough from sticking to the work surface or to your fingers, gently shape it into a ball. Generously coat a clean dish towel with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal.
• Put the seam side of the dough down on the towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal.
• Cover with another towel and let rise for about 1 to 2 hours.
• When it's ready, the dough will have doubled in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.
• At least 20 minutes before the dough is ready, heat oven to 475 degrees.
• Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in the oven as it heats.
• When the dough is ready, carefully remove the pot from the oven and lift off the lid. Slide your hand under the towel and turn the dough over into the pot, seam side up.
• The dough will lose its shape a bit in the process, but that's OK. Give the pan a firm shake or two to help distribute the dough evenly, but don't worry if it's not perfect; it will straighten out as it bakes.
• Cover and bake for 30 minutes.
• Remove the lid and bake another 15 to 20 minutes, until the loaf is beautifully browned.
• Remove the bread from the Dutch oven and let it cool on a rack for at least 1 hour before slicing.

CRUSTY SOURDOUGH RYE BREAD

Steps:

• Combine starter, rye flour, and one cup of the water in a large bowl; stir to blend; if you'd like an extra-sour flavor, cover mixture with plastic wrap and let stand in a warm place 6-24 hours (I let mine go six hours) until bubbly and sour, even boozy, smelling.
• Combine yeast and remaining water in small bowl; let stand about 5 minutes until foamy; stir into sourdough mixture; add whole-wheat flour, 1 3/4 cups of the all-purpose flour, salt, sugar, and caraway seeds; stir (in KitchenAid stand mixer on low speed) until dough comes together.
• Knead 9-10 minutes (in KitchenAid stand mixer on speed #2) until dough is smooth and springy; add more all-purpose flour, a tablespoon or two at a time during the kneading process as necessary to reduce excess stickiness (this particular dough will remain somewhat sticky); cover and let rise about 1 - 1 1/2 hours in a warm place until doubled.
• Punch down dough and knead a few strokes to release air; shape into a round loaf and place on a baking stone or a greasing baking sheet; cover loaf lightly and allow to rise about 30 minutes until almost doubled.
• Cut a couple small slashes about 3/4" deep on top of loaf; spray loaf with water and bake at 425° for 9 minutes, spraying loaf after 3, 6, and 9 minutes; reduce oven temperature to 400° and bake another 20-25 minutes until loaf is browned and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom; transfer finished loaf to cooling rack.
• NOTE: If you opt to let your starter and rye combination stand for several hours, you can get by without the additional yeast ~ Just plan on increased rising times.

BAKED TOMATOES WITH CRUSTY BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F with rack in middle. Butter a 3-quart baking dish (about 13 by 9 by 2 inches).
• Drain tomatoes, reserving 1 cup juice, then chop.
• Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over medium-high heat until foam subsides, then cook onions with 1/2 teaspoon salt, stirring occasionally, until golden-brown, about 10 minutes. Add garlic, allspice, and cloves and cook, stirring, 1 minute.
• Stir in tomatoes with reserved juice, thyme, brown sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and briskly simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt remaining 1/2 stick butter and brush onto both sides of bread. Halve each slice.
• Transfer tomato mixture to baking dish and top with bread, overlapping slightly. Bake until bubbling and bread is crisp and golden-brown, about 20 minutes.

CRUSTY COUNTRY STYLE FRENCH BREAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the warm water and sugar, stirring until the sugar dissolves.
• Add the yeast and stir gently to mix.
• Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine 4 cups of the flour and the salt. Beat on low speed just until combined.
• Slowly add the yeast mixture and beat just until incorporated about 1 minute.
• Increase the speed to medium low to medium and beat for 10 minutes adding more flour, about 1/4 cup at a time, until the dough is elastic and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. (I used speed 4 on my Artisan when I still had it and now use speed 2 with my P600).
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 1 minute.
• Form into a ball and dust lightly with flour.
• Sprinkle a little flour into a bowl and transfer the dough to the bowl.
• Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk. 45-60 minutes.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface.
• Punch down the dough and knead for a few seconds.
• Form the dough into a ball and return to the bowl again.
• Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk. 20- 30 minutes.
• Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and punch down.
• Cut the dough into 2 equal pieces and shape each into a ball.
• Let rest 5 minutes.
• Line a french bread pan with a clean kitchen towel (a large flour sack towel works well) and sprinkle with a little flour.
• Roll each ball into a log with tapered ends, about the length of the pan, and place on the towel in the pan. Cover with the overhanging edges of the towel and let rise in a warm place for 20 minutes.
• Position an oven rack in the lowest position of the oven, and place a baking pan 1/3 full of boiling water on the rack.
• Preheat oven to 425 F (220C).
• Gently lift the towel holding the loaves off of the pan, taking care not to let the loaves touch each other and set on a work surface.
• Spray the pan with non-stick cooking spray and using the towel as a guide gently flip each loaf into a well in the pan.
• Brush off excess flour.
• Using a sharp knife, make 3-5 diagonal slashes in the loaves about 1/4 inch deep (6mm).
• Brush with the beaten egg white mixture.
• Bake on center rack until the bread sounds hollow when tapped, about 30-35 minutes.
• Transfer the pan to a wire rack and cool the loaves in the pan until room temperature.

CRUSTY BREAD IN A CAST IRON POT

Steps:

• 1. In large mixing bowl whisk together flour, salt, and yeast. Add room temperature or lukewarm water and mix until a shaggy mixture forms. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and set aside for 12 to 18 hours. Overnight works good.
• 2. Heat oven to 450 degrees. When oven reaches 450 place a cast iron pot with lid in the oven and heat pot for 30 minutes.
• 3. Meanwhile pour dough onto heavily floured surface and shape into ball. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit while pot is heating.
• 4. Remove pot from oven and place dough inside pot. Cover and return to oven and bake for 30 minutes. Remove lid and bake additional 15 minutes. Remove bread from oven and place bread on cooling rack.

PRIZE-WINNING CRUSTY ROLLS (BREAD MACHINE DOUGH CYCLE)

Steps:

• Place ingredients in bread machine pan as suggested by manufacturer.
• Choose dough cycle and start machine.
• Upon completion of the dough cycle, remove dough.
• Form rolls, place on a greased baking sheet.
• Cover with a towel and let rise in a warm, draft-free location for 30 to 40 minutes.
• Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for 12-15 minutes.

INSTANT POT® CRUSTY NO-KNEAD BREAD

Steps:

• Whisk flour and salt together in a large bowl; set aside.
• Combine yeast and sugar in a medium bowl; add water and stir once. Let stand until yeast has bloomed and bubbled up slightly, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, line the bottom and sides of a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) with parchment paper that has been lightly coated with cooking spray.
• Add the yeast mixture and oil to the flour mixture, and stir until incorporated and a shaggy, slightly sticky dough is formed. Add dough to the pot. Close and lock the lid; seal vent. Select Yogurt function; set timer for 4 hours.
• Remove lid. Dough should be doubled in size, and will have tiny bubbles on the surface. Lift out dough using parchment paper. Turn dough onto a lightly floured sheet of parchment, and form into a ball. Sprinkle top dough ball lightly with flour, and cover with a kitchen towel. Allow to rest until slightly risen, 30 to 40 minutes.
• While dough is resting, place a Dutch oven with a lid in the oven, and preheat to 450 degrees F (225 degrees C) for 30 minutes.
• Carefully remove Dutch oven from the oven. Transfer in dough using parchment. Cut slits in the top. Cover and return to the oven. Bake for 30 minutes. Uncover, and bake until golden brown and crusty, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer loaf to a cooling rack; let cool slightly before slicing.

CRUSTY WHOLE WHEAT ITALIAN BREAD

Steps:

• ----ForBread Machine----.
• Add all ingredients except cornmeal to bread machine pan in the order recommended by your machine's manufacturer.
• Select dough cycle and start machine.
• ----ConventionalMethod----.
• In large bowl, dissolve yeast, brown sugar, and ginger in warm water.
• Let stand 5 minutes until yeast foams.
• Add salt and bread flour; beat well.
• Stir in whole wheat flour to make a stiff dough.
• Turn out onto lightly floured board and knead 10 minutes or until dough is springy, smooth and satiny.
• Wash bowl, grease it, and add dough to bowl; turn over to grease top.
• Let rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
• ----Shapingand Baking----.
• Lightly oil or grease a 14x17" baking sheet and sprinkle with cornmeal; set aside.
• Punch down the dough.
• Divide in half and, on a lightly floured surface, shape into long loaves, rolling each piece first into a 5x12" rectangle, then rolling each up along the long side to make a long, narrow loaf.
• Pinch edges to seal, and taper ends.
• Place loaves, seam side down, on prepared baking sheet.
• Let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.
• Make 4-5 slashes across each loaf with sharp knife or razor blade.
• Brush each loaf with water and sprinkle with whole wheat flour.
• Bake in a preheated 400 degree F oven for 15-20 minutes, until loaves are browned and crisp.
• Remove to a wire rack to cool completely.
• NOTE: I also use a spray bottle filled with water and spray the loaves and oven walls once or twice at 5-minute intervals at the beginning of baking.
• You could also make this into one large oblong loaf or a round loaf, but baking time would need to be increased.

CRUSTY GARLIC BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Beat butter, garlic, basil, and salt together in a bowl until smooth. Spread butter mixture onto each half of bread. Wrap each half of bread in aluminum foil and place on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden and crusty, about 20 minutes.

SUNNY'S BEEF AND BARLEY STEW WITH CRUSTY PEPPER BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F.
• Trace and cut a piece of parchment paper to fit the size of the top of the Dutch oven to use as a lid. Set aside.
• In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add the butter and olive oil. Season the beef cubes with salt and pepper and, when the pan is hot enough, add the beef. Be careful to cook the beef in batches if there isn't enough space. (Overcrowding will cause steaming, not searing.) Sear the cubes on each, and side then remove to a plate with a slotted spoon. In the fat left from the searing, add the carrots, parsnip, celery, onions, thyme, paprika, a pinch of salt and a grind or 2 of pepper. Saute until tender, about 8 minutes. Raise the heat and pour in the wine. Using a wooden spoon, scrape up any bits on the bottom of the pan. Raise the heat to a simmer, and then add the beef cubes back to the pot along with the bay leaves and beef broth. Cover with the prepared parchment paper and cook in the oven for 2 hours.
• At the 2 hour mark, remove the parchment, taste, and season with salt, if needed. Add the barley, and stir in 1 cup of water if the stew looks too dry. Cook, covered with the actual lid for this step, until the barley is cooked through and tender, 40 to 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and garnish with chopped parsley. Serve with Crusty Pepper Bread.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Brush both sides of the bread slices with olive oil and season with a pinch of salt and pepper on both sides. Place on a baking sheet and bake until the edges of the bread just begin to turn golden, about 10 minutes.

AWESOME HOMEMADE CRUSTY BREAD (ABM)

Steps:

• 1. Place ingredients in your bread machine according to directions.
• 2. You can either bake it in your bread machine or set it on your dough cycle.
• 3. If you use your dough cycle (which I prefer), remove your dough from the ABM and place on a lightly floured board.
• 4. Knead the bread a few times to remove the air bubbles and then form the dough into a loaf. Place the loaf in a 9x5-inch bread pan that has been sprayed with Wilton Bake Easy (or use a similar baking spray). Let rise till doubled in size (this won't take very long so watch closely).
• 5. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for approximately 35 minutes (you should have a hollow sound when you tap your bread).
• 6. Remove from the oven and let cool in pan for 10 minutes. Then remove from the pan and finish cooling on a wire rack. Slice and enjoy.

CRUSTY CHEESE AND HERB PULL-APART BREAD

Steps:

• Combine the yeast, sugar and 1/2 cup of warm water in a small jug or bowl.
• Leave in a warm place until frothy (about ten minutes).
• Put the flour, salt, milk powder and oil in a large bowl or bench mixer.
• Stir to combine and then add the yeast mixture and 1 cup of warm water.
• Mix to a soft dough and then knead for about ten minutes or until the dough is smooth and elastic.
• Put the dough in an oiled bowl and cover loosely with oiled plastic wrap.
• Leave the dough in a warm place for an hour or until doubled in size.
• Punch the dough down and knead for 1 minute.
• Divide in half and out of each half make 10 six cm (2 1/2 inch) flat discs.
• Mix the herbs with the cheese and place approximately 3 teaspoons of the mixture onto ten of the discs.
• Press the remaining 10 discs on top of the cheesey ones.
• Grease a loaf tin (21 x 10. 5 x 6. 5 cm) and stand the discs upright in the prepared tin.
• You will have to squeeze them together to fit them all inches.
• Cover with a clean cloth and leave in a warm place for 40 minutes or until doubled in size.
• Preheat the oven to 200°C - 400°F.
• Glaze the loaf with a little milk and bake for 30-40 minutes or until brown and crusty and cooked through.

CRUSTY PARMESAN BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the broiler to low. In a small bowl, mix the butter, mayonnaise and cheese, then season with salt and pepper.
• Cut the baguette in half both crossways and horizontally. Evenly spread cheese mixture on the bread. Place on a baking sheet and broil until golden, about 3 minutes.

CRUSTY CHEESE BREAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the butter, garlic powder and cayenne. Spread over cut sides of bread; sprinkle with cheese. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. , Bake at 350° for 9-11 minutes or until cheese is melted. Cut into slices.