Description
A golden, crusty Italian bread recipe with a crisp crackly crust and soft fluffy center. Beginner-friendly yet bakery-worthy, this loaf transforms everyday meals into something unforgettable.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 ½ cups warm water (about 110°F)
- Cornmeal for dusting
Instructions
- Combine warm water, sugar, and yeast in a bowl. Let sit 5–10 minutes until frothy.
- Add flour and salt. Stir until a rough dough forms.
- Knead on a floured surface for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise 1–2 hours until doubled.
- Punch down, shape into a round or oval loaf, and place on a cornmeal-dusted sheet. Cover and let rise 30–45 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 450°F with a shallow pan of water on the bottom rack for steam. Score the loaf and bake 25–30 minutes until golden and hollow sounding when tapped.
- Cool on a wire rack before slicing.
Notes
For best results, weigh your flour and don’t skip the steam—it’s the secret to the crisp crust. Brush with melted butter after baking for a softer finish. Mix in garlic, herbs, or cheese for tasty variations. Store in a paper bag up to 3 days or freeze slices for easy reheating.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 1g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 0mg