This No-Fail Recipe Makes Homemade Bread Blissfully Simple (2024)

Bread has never really been my forte, so if I can manage to bake delicious homemade bread with this recipe, anyone can!

Jill Nystul·October 6, 2023


This No-Fail Recipe Makes Homemade Bread Blissfully Simple (2)

This No-Fail Recipe Makes Homemade Bread Blissfully Simple (3)

I haven’t always been the most confident baker when it comes to recipes that call for yeast, but that was before I was introduced to this easy overnight bread! The thought of baking a loaf of bread from scratch can be intimidating, but this recipe is so simple that even the most novice baker could pull it off.

Plus, we all know that the aroma and flavor of freshly baked bread are their own rewards! A slice of warm bread with butter is one of life’s simple pleasures, one that’s easier to enjoy than ever with this simple overnight method.

Give it a try, and experience the rewards of making your own bread for yourself!

Looking for bread sans gluten? Don’t miss my favorite gluten-free bread recipe!

How To Make Easy Overnight Bread (No Kneading Required!)

This No-Fail Recipe Makes Homemade Bread Blissfully Simple (4)

Ingredients:

  • All-purpose flour
  • Kosher salt
  • Active dry yeast
  • Warm water

Directions:

This No-Fail Recipe Makes Homemade Bread Blissfully Simple (5)

Step 1 – Mix The Dough

Start by whisking the flour, salt, and yeast together in a medium-sized bowl. Gradually add the water and stir with a wooden spoon. Mix the dough gently and form it into a ball.

This No-Fail Recipe Makes Homemade Bread Blissfully Simple (6)

Step 2 – Rest

Transfer the dough to a large ungreased bowl, then cover the bowl with plastic wrap and set it aside in a room-temperature area. Let the dough rise for 12-18 hours, or until the surface is covered in bubbles and the dough has at least doubled in size.

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Step 3 – Prep The Dough

When the dough is ready, place cast iron pot with a lid (like a Dutch oven) inside your oven, turn it on, and set it to 450°F. Let the Dutch oven warm up in your oven for about 30 minutes or so.

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Transfer the dough to a floured surface. Fold the corners of the dough under to create a smooth, rounded ball, then place the dough on a large square of parchment paper and dust the surface with flour. Let the dough rest for about 15 minutes.

This No-Fail Recipe Makes Homemade Bread Blissfully Simple (9)

Next, use a sharp knife to score an X-shape into the top of the dough. (The cuts should be shallow and just a few inches long.) Then use a spray bottle on the mist setting to spray the top of the dough lightly with water.

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Step 4 – Bake

Remove your preheated Dutch oven and use the parchment paper to lower the dough into the pot. Place the lid back on the Dutch oven and bake for 30 minutes.

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At this point, remove the lid and bake your bread for an additional 8-15 minutes to get a deeper color on the crust. You want the top to be dark, but not burnt.

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Remove the finished bread from the oven and cool on a rack for 30 minutes before slicing.

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This No-Fail Recipe Makes Homemade Bread Blissfully Simple (14)

Step 5 – Eat!

Now comes the best part: eating! I love a slice of this bread toasted, buttered, and sprinkled with the perfect cinnamon sugar mix. Or slather a piece of your fresh homemade bread in nut butter or jam, and dig in!

More Bread Baking Tips & Tricks

  • If you don’t own a Dutch oven, or a cast iron pot, you can use the insert of your crock-pot or a deep stoneware baking dish. And if those don’t have an oven-safe lid, you can always cover it with foil instead!
  • Customize your loaf by mixing in your favorite ingredients. Add garlic and herbs for a savory loaf, dried fruit and nuts for a sweeter loaf, or a handful of your favorite shredded cheese. Yum!
  • For an even quicker bread, try my mom’s English Muffin Bread!

This No-Fail Recipe Makes Homemade Bread Blissfully Simple (15)

No-Knead Overnight Bread Recipe

Jill Nystul

This recipe makes the process of baking homemade bread unbelievably easy, not to mention unbeatably delicious!

4.06 from 518 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 12 hours hrs

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 12 hours hrs 30 minutes mins

Course Bread

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Calories 371 kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 – 2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
  • 1 1/2 cups warm water

Instructions

  • Whisk the flour, salt, and yeast together in a medium-sized bowl.

  • Gradually add the water while stirring with a wooden spoon until the dough comes together into a ball.

  • Transfer the dough to a large ungreased bowl, then cover with plastic wrap. Leave the bowl out at room temperature for 12-18 hours, or until the surface is covered in bubbles and the dough has doubled in size.

  • Place a Dutch or French oven in your oven, then set it to 450°F. Let the Dutch oven warm up for about 30 minutes.

  • Transfer the dough to a floured surface, then fold the corners of the dough under to form a smooth, rounded surface. Place the dough on a large square of parchment paper, then dust with flour and let it rest for 15 minutes.

  • Use a sharp knife to score an X-shape into the top of the dough. (The cuts should be shallow and just a few inches long.) Mist the top of the dough lightly with water.

  • Remove the preheated Dutch oven, then use the parchment paper to place the dough inside. Cover the Dutch oven and bake for 30 minutes.

  • After 30 minutes, remove the lid and continue baking for an additional 8-15 minutes.

  • Transfer the loaf to a cooling rack and allow it cool for 30 minutes before slicing.

Notes

Don’t own a Dutch or French oven? Use the insert of your crockpot or a deep enameled baking dish. If your chosen vessel doesn’t have an oven-safe lid, just cover the dish with aluminum foil where indicated.

Customize your loaf with flavorful add-ins! Try garlic and herbs for a savory loaf, dried fruit and nuts for a sweeter loaf, or a handful of your favorite cheese.

Nutrition

Calories: 371kcalCarbohydrates: 77gProtein: 10gFat: 1gSodium: 6mgPotassium: 108mgFiber: 2gCalcium: 18mgIron: 4.7mg

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This No-Fail Recipe Makes Homemade Bread Blissfully Simple (2024)

FAQs

How to make homemade bread taste less yeasty? ›

Allow the bread to rise in a draft-free 80°F to 90°F area away from a heat source. If the area is too warm, bread will rise too fast and begin cooking before the yeast has finished acting. This will impart a "yeasty" taste to the dough that will be transferred to the finished baked loaf.

How can I make my bread fluffier instead of dense? ›

Potato Flakes or Potato Water

Starch helps the dough by trapping the gas from the yeast in the dough and makes the bubbles stronger. This helps the bread to rise and be lighter and fluffier. If you are boiling potatoes, you can use the unsalted water in place of the water in your bread recipe to help out the yeast.

Why is my homemade bread always too dense? ›

There may be several reasons for a dense, cake like texture in bread. It may indicate the kneading wasn't enough for the gluten to develop properly, or the dough was proved for too short a time or the dough may have been too dry. It is also worth checking the flour you used.

What ingredient makes our bread soft and keeps it from drying out too fast? ›

Hydrocolloids can retain moisture in the bread. This is important because moisture plays a crucial role in the freshness and softness of bread. By holding onto water, hydrocolloids help prevent the bread from drying out too quickly, thus maintaining its moistness for longer.

What kills yeast when baking bread? ›

If a large amount of salt (or sugar, which is also hygroscopic) were to be combined with a small amount of yeast and left for a long time it could, in theory, eventually rob the yeast of water to the degree that the yeast cells would begin to die off.

What can I add to homemade bread to make it taste better? ›

Granulated sugar or honey: the sugar is used to “feed” the yeast and tenderize the bread. Salt: to enhance flavor. Oil: Vegetable or canola oil, or melted butter could be substituted.

What is the secret to a soft and fluffy bread? ›

Add Milk

To make your bread soft and fluffy, another trick used by commercial bakers is replacing water with milk. Milk has fats which make bread softer.

Does letting bread rise longer make it fluffier? ›

Does Rising Bread Affect Its Texture? For a fluffy bread texture, the key is to let the bread rise long enough.

How do bakeries make their bread so soft? ›

There's something magical about the bread you get at your local bakeries - they're always sooo soft and fluffy. Many of these breads, especially packaged ones, are made with a ton of chemical additives such as calcium propionate, amylase, and chlorine dioxide which help keep them soft, light, and fluffy for days.

Does adding more yeast make bread fluffier? ›

Because gas is created as a result of yeast growth, the more the yeast grows, the more gas in the dough and the more light and airy your bread loaf will be.

Why does my homemade bread fall apart when I slice it? ›

Too much flour and not enough water can cause crumbly bread – people often do this if the dough is too sticky and they add more flour rather than kneading through it. Other culprits can be overproving or not kneading enough – the things you need to do to get a good structure.

What is the best flour for bread? ›

While bread flour is the best option, it can sometimes be used if you don't have bread flour. “Check the protein content,” advises Chef Jürgen, since it can vary from brand to brand, and an all-purpose flour that contains protein on the higher end of the range, 12 to 13 percent, will produce a better outcome.

Why is my homemade bread hard the next day? ›

If you have the problem of your bread drying out too quickly, it could be because you keep it in the fridge. The fridge is designed to be low in humidity and a cool environment. While lower temperatures are great for homemade bread, the low humidity sucks out all the moisture from your homemade bread.

What do bakers put in bread to make it last longer? ›

Sorbic acid: This preservative is added to bread to inhibit the growth of molds, yeasts, and bacteria. Sodium benzoate: This preservative is added to bread to prevent the growth of yeasts and bacteria. Potassium sorbate: This preservative is added to bread to prevent the growth of molds, yeasts, and bacteria.

How to stop homemade bread from drying out? ›

Store airtight with the two cut halves facing each other and pressed together. Wrapping bread to retain moisture keeps it soft, though it robs crusty artisan bread of its crispy crust. Wrapping in plastic (or foil) rather than cloth keeps bread soft longer.

How do you fix too much yeast in bread? ›

Increase salt: Increase the amount of salt in the dough to 2.2% of the flour used in the recipe. Salt helps to control the yeast and can help mitigate the effects of too much yeast.

What does too much yeast in bread taste like? ›

Strange, sour taste or smell

Problem: Your bread has a fermented, alcoholic smell or taste to it. Causes: Too much yeast.

Why does my homemade bread smell yeasty? ›

My bread tastes sour and yeasty

If your bread has a sour, yeasty flavour and smells of alcohol then you have either used too much yeast.or you may have use stale yeast or creamed fresh yeast with sugar.

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