This crusty, rustic bread is made in a cloche which gives it a European style texture and crust. It's incredibly easy to do, even for a beginning bread baker, and will take you just under two hours start to finish. If you've never used a ceramic cloche for bread making you are in for a real treat!
Give this cheese filled khachapuri bread next. It's so easy but SO delicious!
Shopping list
There are really only five ingredients plus water needed for this recipe. The really important ingredient is the cloche itself!
- Yeast is imperative if you want the bread to rise! I use active dry yeast but you could also use rapid rise.
- Sugar is what the yeast eats to help it grow. Without sugar the dough will take much, much longer to rise.
- Bread flour has more protein than all-purpose flour so it rises really well. You can use all-purpose flour if you like but the rising time and texture of the finished bread may be a little different.
- Vital wheat gluten is the protein in flour. Adding the pure gluten gives the bread a better texture and helps it rise more.
- Kosher salt is my salt of choice. If you are using regular table salt reduce the amount by ¼.
FAQs
There are some misconceptions about artisan bread but I've got you. Here are the answers to some common questions and you may want to read my series on yeast bread baking tips before you get started.
What is meant by "rustic bread"?
When people say rustic bread they most often mean a round loaf with a crispy crust. It often has an open texture and, some people believe, it must be made with just a few ingredients and a starter such as sourdough or a biga.
For our purposes we're calling it rustic because it's got the round shape and crispy crust - but it's so much quicker and easier!
How do I make it crusty?
Steam in the oven is what gives artisan, European, and other rustic bread recipes their signature crispy crust. You can throw some ice cubes on the preheated oven floor, add a pan of water, or use a cloche like this recipe.
The beauty of using the cloche is that the bread creates its own steam as it bakes and the steam is trapped in the cloche with the bread.
What is a cloche?
A bread cloche is a bell shaped container that's generally made from ceramic. It holds a loaf of bread as it rises and then you bake the dough right in the covered cloche.
The steam generated by the baking bread is trapped in the cloche and emulates the fancy steam injected ovens the professionals use to create artisan loaves with crispy crusts.
Can you make this without a cloche?
You can substitute a dutch oven for a bread cloche but it isn't ideal.
Make sure you spray the inside of the dutch oven with non stick spray and dust with cornmeal. That will make the bread come out much more easily.
Dutch oven baking
Baking this crusty loaf in a dutch oven is a little different process but the results are similar.
- Follow instructions but let the dough rise the 2nd time on a piece of parchment paper.
- Preheat the dutch oven about 15 minutes before using.
- Spray with no-stick spray.
- Sprinkle in a coating of cornmeal.
- Gently flip the dough off the parchment and into the dutch oven.
- Cover and bake for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Remove cover and bake 5 more minutes to crisp the crust.
Variations
I always suggest making any recipe strictly by the instructions until you are satisfied with the results and then start experimenting.
Some of the variations on this recipe that I love are -
- Use part whole wheat flour
- Use 1 cup of rye flour for 1 cup of the bread flour
- Substitute 1 cup of old fashioned oats for 1 cup of the bread flour
- Add dried fruit and pecans
- Add dried apricots and white chocolate chips
- Knead in sun dried tomatoes
- Use some Kalamata olives in the recipe
- Caramelized onions are a delicious addition
- Chopped sauteed jalapeno gives a little zip
- Knead in some grated cheese
There are so many possibilities -- you're sure to come up with your own favorites!
Tips
I had no trouble baking with my cloche the very first time. Here are some tips to get you started.
- Before using it the first time rinse with plain water and dry.
- Never use soap on your cloche - let cool, rinse with plain water, and let air dry.
- Dust the bottom of the cloche well with flour to help keep the bread from sticking.
- Put the rack in the bottom third of the oven before you preheat it.
- For a thick, crunchy crust take the top off the cloche for the last 10 minutes of baking.
Related recipes
I have a ton of bread recipes of all types here on Restless Chipotle. Here are a few of my favorites.
- Multi Grain Flaxseed Bread is a healthy whole grain bread with plenty of Omega-3s and a slightly sweet, nutty flavor. Makes incredible toast!
- 30 Minute Baguette is really done in 30 minutes, start to finish!
- Honey Whole Wheat Bread recipe gives you high, light, slightly sweet loaves of cracked wheat bread. So good for sandwiches and toast!
Equipment
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This is the exact bread cloche that I have and I absolutely love it! It's so beautiful - perfect for hiding treats in when I don't feel like sharing.
Best of all - it's red.
How to get the dough to rise
Some people have problems getting dough to rise properly. Usually it's because of a chilly room or they've killed the yeast off with water that's too hot.
Here are my best tips -
- Always use a insta-read thermometer to check the temperature of the liquids before adding them. 110F is just about right.
- Let the dough rise in a warm spot away from drafts. 75F is good.
- Use one of my secret ingredients that really makes the dough puff up.
Kaffeeklatch
I've said it so many times here on Restless Chipotle - I love making bread. I think it's one of the most relaxing things I do and it leaves the house smelling even better than those expensive candles I have sitting around. Besides, who doesn't like a warm slice of homemade bread?
The thing is that sometimes, when you've got a recipe you like :::cough honey buttermilk bread cough cough::: you get in a rut and constantly make what you know rather than trying something new.
Please tell me it's not just me? Surely some of y'all like strolling along in your ruts as much as I do?
I thought so.
This rustic bread recipe gives you a crusty, European style artisan loaf that is ridiculously easy to make. AND it's easy to create a variety of flavors of bread once you have the technique down.
If you've never worked with yeast dough before I suggest reading my complete guide to working with yeast doughs before you start this recipe. It has a ton of information that will make you an experienced baker in no time!
Need to adjust for high altitude? Check out the instructions from Utah State University.
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Rustic Bread in a Cloche
Print Add to CollectionEquipment Needed
Ingredients
- 1 cup water, , 110F
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 1 ½ teaspoons sugar
- 3 cups bread flour
- 1 tablespoon vital wheat gluten
- 2 teaspoons salt
Instructions
- Add the yeast and the sugar to ¼ cup of the water and stir until blended.
- Set aside until foamy - about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Add the remaining water to the yeast mixture.
- Stir in 1 cup of the bread flour and the gluten.
- Stir in the salt.
- Add the remaining flour, a little at a time, until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl - you may need a little more flour or you may not need all of the flour.
Knead with Mixer
- Knead in your mixer according to manufacturer's instructions.
Knead by Hand
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes, or until the dough is firm and elastic. It should feel like your earlobe when you pinch it.
- Form into a ball, place in an oiled bowl, cover with a clean, damp cloth, and let rise in a warm place for 45 minutes, or until it's doubled.
In a Cloche
- Gently deflate the dough and knead lightly.
- Sprinkle flour on the bottom of the cloche.
- Form the dough into a ball and place on the floured bottom of the cloche.
- Cover with the cloche top and let rise 45 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 450F.
- Dust with flour and score with a sharp knife or baker's blade.
- Cover with the cloche top and bake for 35 minutes.
- Cool the bread, uncovered.
In a Dutch Oven
- Follow instructions but let the dough rise the 2nd time on a piece of parchment paper.
- Preheat the dutch oven about 15 minutes before using.
- Spray with no-stick spray.
- Sprinkle in a coating of cornmeal.
- Gently flip the dough off the parchment and into the dutch oven.
- Cover and bake for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Remove cover and bake 5 more minutes to crisp the crust.
- Remove from dutch oven and let cool.
Notes
- Before using it the first time rinse with plain water and dry.
- Never use soap on your cloche - let cool, rinse with plain water, and let air dry.
- Dust the bottom of the cloche well with flour to help keep the bread from sticking.
- Put the rack in the bottom third of the oven before you preheat it.
- For a thick, crunchy crust take the top off the cloche for the last 10 minutes of baking.
- Use part whole wheat flour
- Use 1 cup of rye flour for 1 cup of the bread flour
- Substitute 1 cup of old fashioned oats for 1 cup of the bread flour
- Add dried fruit and pecans
- Add dried apricots and white chocolate chips
- Knead in sun dried tomatoes
- Use some Kalamata olives in the recipe
- Caramelized onions are a delicious addition
- Chopped sauteed jalapeno gives a little zip
- Knead in some grated cheese
Nutrition
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Free Bread Baking Mini Series
Get my bread making tips and tricks in this 2 week bread baking email mini series:
- Equipment
- Ingredients
- Rising
- Kneading
- Shaping
- Plus I'll walk you step by step through making 2 different loaves of homemade bread. Recipes included!
Dan McNally
I f you have a pizza stone, use it as the base and you can invert a dutch oven bottom over the top to approximate a ceramic cloche. Works well.
Marianne Kenney
I have a 9 x 13 stone with a large lid from Pampered Chef that I think I'll try using when I made this!
Marye
That should work fine
Jack
Im searching the net and books for ideas on baking my best bread possible. How did you keep the flour on top of the bread from browning in the oven? I’ve used the same temp and hearth style baking method. I’m at a loss and any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
Marye Audet
Using the cloche helps a lot since it's covered. 🙂 You might try tenting the loaf with aluminum foil.