Dutch Oven Garlic Rosemary Bread (Printable)
Aromatic bread with crisp golden crust and soft interior, infused with garlic and rosemary.
# What You'll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 3 1/4 cups bread flour
02 - 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
03 - 1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast
→ Wet Ingredients
04 - 1 1/2 cups lukewarm water
05 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
→ Aromatics
06 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped
→ For Dusting & Baking
08 - Extra flour or cornmeal for dusting
# Directions:
01 - In a large bowl, whisk together bread flour, salt, and yeast until evenly blended.
02 - Stir in the lukewarm water and olive oil until a shaggy dough forms. Add the minced garlic and rosemary, mixing gently to distribute evenly throughout the dough.
03 - Cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let the dough rise at room temperature for 2–3 hours, or until doubled in size.
04 - Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. With floured hands, shape gently into a round ball, creating surface tension.
05 - Place dough seam-side down on a piece of parchment paper. Cover loosely and let rise for another 30–45 minutes until puffy.
06 - While the dough rises, place a Dutch oven with lid in the oven and preheat to 450°F for at least 30 minutes to ensure proper heat retention.
07 - Carefully remove the hot Dutch oven. Lift the dough with the parchment paper and place inside. Cover with lid and bake for 30 minutes.
08 - Remove the lid and bake for an additional 12–15 minutes until the crust achieves a deep golden brown color.
09 - Remove bread from Dutch oven and cool on a wire rack for at least 20 minutes before slicing to allow the crumb to set.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The crust gets impossibly crispy while staying tender inside, creating that perfect bakery texture at home
- This dough is incredibly forgiving, making it ideal for anyone intimidated by bread baking
02 -
- A properly preheated Dutch oven creates steam that gives you that professional crackly crust
- The dough should feel sticky and shaggy, adding more flour will make the bread dense and dry
03 -
- Roast your garlic beforehand for a sweeter, mellow flavor that permeates every bite
- Cornmeal on the parchment prevents sticking and adds a subtle crunch to the bottom crust