Crusty Italian Bread (Perfect Crust) Recipe
This Crusty Italian Bread recipe yields a perfectly golden and crunchy crust with a soft, airy interior. Using simple ingredients like flour, yeast, water, and salt, this traditional bread is ideal for sandwiches, dipping in olive oil, or alongside your favorite Italian dishes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Yield: 1 loaf (about 12 servings) 1x
- Category: Bread
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups (440g) all-purpose flour
- 2 1/4 teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
- 1 1/2 cups (360ml) warm water (about 110°F/43°C)
- 2 teaspoons salt
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a large mixing bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water and let it sit for about 5 minutes until it becomes foamy. Add the flour and salt gradually and mix until a shaggy dough forms. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 8-10 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
- Let rise: Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap. Allow the dough to rise in a warm place for approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
- Shape and second rise: Punch down the dough to release air, then shape it into a round or oval loaf. Place it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, cover it loosely and let it rise for another 30 to 45 minutes until puffed up.
- Bake until golden and crusty: Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). For a perfect crust, place a shallow pan of water on the bottom of the oven to create steam. Score the top of the loaf with a sharp knife, then bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the crust is deep golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. Let the bread cool on a wire rack before slicing.
Notes
- For a chewier crust, use bread flour instead of all-purpose flour.
- Adding steam during baking helps develop a crisp crust.
- If you don’t have active dry yeast, instant yeast can be used with slight adjustments to the liquid.
- Make sure water is warm, not hot, to activate yeast properly without killing it.
- Letting the bread cool completely before cutting preserves the texture and crumb.
Keywords: Crusty Italian bread, homemade bread, baking, yeast bread, crusty loaf
