Best Crusty Homemade 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.

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.

BREAD MACHINE CRUSTY HOMEMADE BREAD BOWLS

Steps:

• Measure carefully, placing all ingredients except egg yolk and 1 tablespoon water in bread machine pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer.
• Select Dough/Manual cycle. Do not use delay cycle.
• Remove dough from pan, using lightly floured hands. Cover and let rest 10 minutes on lightly floured surface.
• Grease outsides of six 10-ounce custard cups. Place cups upside down on ungreased cookie sheet. Divide dough into 6 equal pieces. Roll or pat each piece into 7-inch circle on lightly floured surface. Shape dough circles over outsides of cups. Cover and let rise in warm place 15 to 20 minutes or until slightly puffy.
• Heat oven to 375°F. Mix egg yolk and 1 tablespoon water; brush gently over bread bowls. Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown. Carefully lift bread bowls from custard cups--bread and cups will be hot. Cool bread bowls upright on wire rack.

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 HOMEMADE BREAD (ARTISAN TYPE)

Steps:

• 1. In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in water. In a large bowl, mix 3 1/2 cups flour and salt. Using a rubber spatula, add yeast mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until smooth (dough will be sticky). (At times I have had to add up to 1/2 cup more, until it is the right consistency.) Do not knead. Cover with plastic wrap; let rise at room temperature 1 hour.
• 2. Punch down dough. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Pat into a 9-inch square. Fold dough into thirds, forming a 9x3-inch rectangle. Fold rectangle into thirds, forming a 3-inch square. Turn dough over and place in a greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap; let rise at room temperature until almost doubled, about 1 hour.
• 3. Punch down dough and repeat folding process. Return dough to bowl; refrigerate, covered, overnight or for at least 4 hours.
• 4. Line bottom of a disposable foil roasting pan with parchment paper. Dust with cornmeal. Turn dough onto a floured surface. Knead gently 8 times; shape into a 6-inch round loaf.
• 5. Place in prepared pan; dust top with 1 tablespoon of flour. Cover pan with plastic wrap; let rise at room temperature until dough expands in size to a 7 1/2 inch loaf, about 1 1/4 hours.
• 6. Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Using a sharp knife, make a slash (1/4 inch deep) across top of loaf. Cover pan tightly with foil. Bake on lowest oven rack for 25 minutes.
• 7. Reduce oven setting to 450 degrees. Remove foil; bake 25-30 minutes longer or until deep golden brown. Remove loaf to a wire rack to cool.
• 8. Note: At step 4, you can make this a Cheddar Cheese Bread by adding 4 oz. diced cheddar cheese. You could also make this a Rustic Cranberry & Orange Bread by adding 1 cup dried cranberries and 4 tsp. grated orange peel. I have made this with cheddar, mozzarella, and the cranberries and orange. We have loved all variations.

CRUSTY HOMEMADE BREAD BOWLS

Steps:

• Measure carefully, placing all ingredients except egg yolk and 1 tablespoon water in bread machine pan in the order recommended by the manufacturer.Select Dough/Manual cycle. Do not use delay cycles.Remove dough from pan, using lightly floured hands. Cover and let rest 10 minutes on lightly floured surface.Grease outsides of six 10-ounce custard buns. Place cups upside down on ungreased cookie sheet. Divide dough into 6 equal pieces. Roll or pat each piece into 7-inch circle on lightly floured surface. Shape dough circles over outsides of cups. Cover and let rise in warm place 15 to 20 minutes or until slightly puffy.Heat oven to 375°. Mix egg yolk and 1 tablespoon water brush gently over bread bowls. Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown. Carefully lift bread bowls from custard cups - bread and cups will be hot. Cool bread bowls upright on wire rack.1 bread bowl: 204 calories (20 calories from fat) 2g fat (0g saturated) 35mg cholesterol 360mg sodium 50g carbohydrate (2g dietary fiber) 7g protein.Success TipWhen placing the dough circle over the cup, don't let the dough curl under the edge of the cup. It will bake onto the edge of the cup and be difficult to remove. If some of the dough should bake onto the edge, use the point of a paring knife to carefully separate it from the cup.Try ThisThese bread bowls are not only fun to use, but are also great to eat. Fill the bowl with a crisp green salad and serve as a side dish. Or fill it with a thick, chunky stew or your favorite main-dish salad.From "Betty Crocker's Best Bread Machine Cookbook, The Goodness of Homemade Bread the Easy Way." Text Copyright 1999 General Mills, Inc. Used with permission of the publisher, Wiley Publishing, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

CRUSTY HOMEMADE BREAD (TASTE OF HOME RECIPE)

Steps:

• 1. In small bowl dissolve yeast and water.
• 2. In large bowl mix 3 1/2 cups of flour and salt. Using a rubber spatula stir in yeast mixture to form a soft, sticky dough. Do not knead. Cover with plastic wrap, let rise at room temperature 1 hour.
• 3. Punch down dough. Turn onto lightly floured surface, pat into 9 inch square. Fold square into thirds, forming a 9x3 inch rectangle. Fold rectangle into thirds, forming a 3 inch square. Turn dough over, place in a greased bowl. Cover ith plastic wrap, let rise room temperature until almost doubled, about 1 hour.
• 4. Punch down dough and repeat folding process. Return dough to bol, refrigerate over night covered.
• 5. Dust bottom of disposable foil roasting pan with corn meal. Turn dough onto floured surface. Knead gently 6-8 times. Shape into 6 inch round loaf. Place in prepared pan, dust top with remaining 1 Tbs of flour. Cover pan with plastic wrap, let rise at room temp until dough expands to a 7 1/2 inch loaf, about 1 1/4 hours.
• 6. Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Using a sharp knife make a slash 1/4 inch deep across top of loaf. Cover pan tightly with foil,bake on lowest oven rack 25 minutes.
• 7. Reduce oven setting to 450. Remove foil, bake bread 25-30 minutes longer or until deep golden brown. Remove loaf to wire rack to cool. Yield 1 loaf - 16 slices

CRUSTY HOMEMADE BREAD - WITH VARIATIONS

Steps:

• BASIC:.
• In small bowl, dissolve yeast in wter.
• In large bowl, mix 3 1/2 cups flour and salt.
• Using rubber spatula add yeast mixture, stirring just until smooth (dough will be sticky). DO NOT knead.
• Cover with plastic wrap; let rise at room temperature 1 hour.
• Punch down dough.
• Turn onto a lightly floured surface.
• Pat into a 9" square.
• Fold dough into thirds, forming a 3" square.
• Turn dough over; place in a greased bowl.
• Cover with plastic wrap; 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.
• Line Bottom of a disposable foil rosting pan with parchment paper.
• Dust with cornmeal.
• Turn dough onta floured surface.
• Knead gently 8 times; shape into a 6" round lof.
• Place in prepared pan; dust top with remaining 1 Tablespoon of flour.
• Cover pan with plastic wrap; let rise at room temperature until dough expands in size to a 7 1/2: loaf, bout 1 1/4 hours.
• Preheat oven to 500. Using a sharp knife, make a slash (1/4" deep) across top of loaf.
• Cover pan tightly with foil.
• Bake on lowest oven rack for 25 minutes.
• Reduce oven setting to 450.
• Remove foil; bake 25-30 minutes longer or until deep golden brown.
• Remove loaf to a wire rack to cool.
• CHEDDAR CHEESE Variation:.
• Prepare bread dough as directed.
• Before kneading dough in Step 4, sprinkle with 4 ounces diced sharp cheedar cheese.
• CRANBERRY n ORANGE Variation:.
• Prepare bread dough as directed.
• Before Kneading dough in Step 4 sprinkle with 1 cup dried cranberries and 4 teaspoons grated orange peel.