Artificial Food Coloring Free Dutch Oven No-Knead Bread
There is something deeply satisfying about pulling a crackling, golden loaf out of a screaming-hot Dutch oven, and this no-knead method makes that moment accessible to just about anyone. With only four ingredients — flour, instant yeast, kosher salt, and warm water — there is nothing hiding in this dough, which is exactly the point. Store-bought breads are notorious for sneaking in dyes, caramel color, and other additives that have no business being in a simple loaf, so baking your own is the cleanest solution around. The long, slow rise does all the heavy lifting, developing a complex, tangy flavor and an open, chewy crumb without a single artificial shortcut. Baking it covered traps steam and gives you that bakery-style crust that shatters when you slice into it, then turns beautifully golden once the lid comes off. Let it cool fully on the rack before cutting — the crumb is still setting, and the wait is absolutely worth it.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
- ¼ tsp instant yeast
- 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
- 1 ½ cups warm water (about 110°f / 43°c)
Instructions
- 1
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, instant yeast, and kosher salt. Pour in the warm water and stir with a wooden spoon or spatula until no dry flour remains and a shaggy, sticky dough forms — about 1 minute. The dough will look rough and uneven; that is correct.
- 2
Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a plate and let the dough rest at room temperature for 8–18 hours, until the surface is dotted with bubbles and the dough has roughly doubled in size.
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