No-Knead Bread (Overnight)
This is the bread that convinced an entire generation of people that they could bake bread. The recipe requires almost no skill — you stir four ingredients together, wait overnight, and bake it in a Dutch oven. The result is a loaf with a crackling crust and an open crumb that looks like it came from a bakery. Time does all the work.
What You Need
- 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for shaping
- 1/4 teaspoon instant yeast
- 1.5 teaspoons salt
- 1.5 cups warm water
How to Make It
- 1
The night before: combine flour, yeast, and salt in a large bowl. Add water and stir until a shaggy dough forms — it will look rough and sticky. Cover with plastic wrap and leave at room temperature for 12–18 hours.
- 2
The next day: the dough will be bubbly and doubled. Turn it onto a floured surface, fold it over itself a few times, and shape into a rough ball. Place on a floured piece of parchment, cover, and rest 1 hour.
- 3
30 minutes before baking, place a Dutch oven in the oven and preheat to 450°F. Carefully lower the dough on the parchment into the screaming hot Dutch oven, cover with the lid, and bake 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake another 15 minutes until deeply golden. Cool on a rack for at least 30 minutes before cutting.
