No Knead Overnight Bread for Bread Baking Beginners

Is there anything better than fresh baked bread first thing in the morning? No. No there is not. My next question is, do you ever have time to bake a fresh loaf of bread first thing in the morning? I can easily answer that question too with a big N-O! Well, my answer to that question used to be no, until I found the recipe and technique for baking No Knead Overnight Bread for Bread Baking Beginners!

Just like the name implies, No Knead Overnight Bread does not require any rounds of kneading after the bread has risen and you can let it rise overnight and then pop it in the oven first thing in the morning while you are brewing your coffee. I have done this several times and it has quickly become one of my favorite Sunday morning traditions. I’ve also prepped the bread first thing in the morning and let it rise all day so that I can bake it fresh in the evening to have with dinner. No Knead Overnight Bread is delicious along side my Slow Cooker Meatballs in Marinara Sauce, Summer Squash and Goat Cheese Egg Pie, and Quick & Easy White Bean Salad with Feta.

I have very fittingly named this recipe No Knead Overnight Bread for Bread Baking Beginners because I am a bread baking beginner and I know for a fact, baking bread does not get much easier than this recipe. I will be completely honest with you, I am not a bread baking expert. That is why I love this recipe and baking technique so much. This recipe is incredibly easy and is perfect for anyone that is new to baking or worried that baking bread is easy to mess up so they don’t even want to try.

First of all, you only need four ingredients:

• Flour – both all-purpose flour or bread flour will work for this recipe
• Salt – I prefer regular table salt as opposed to sea salt, course Kosher salt or Himalayan pink salt
• Active Dry Yeast – bring your yeast to room temperature if you have been storing it in the fridge
• Water – the water must be warm/room temperature – not steaming hot or freezing cold

How to make No Knead Overnight Bread for Bread Baking Beginners

Step 1: In a large mixing bowl mix together the flour, salt and yeast.

Step 2: Mix the warm water into the dry ingredients until thoroughly combined. The mixture will be very sticky.

Step 3: Cover your bowl with plastic wrap. Spray the inside of the plastic wrap with cooking spray before covering the bowl. This will ensure that when the bread rises, it does not stick to the plastic wrap. Place your bowl in a warm, draft-free location to let rise. I put mine in my microwave. The oven or a kitchen drawer are also good locations.

Step 4: Let the dough rise for 8-24 hours. Letting the dough rise overnight is my preferred amount of time.

Step 5: After the dough has risen, it’s time to bake the bread. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Place a cast iron Dutch oven pan with a lid (like this one) in the oven to warm up in your preheating oven. While the oven is preheating, lightly flour your work surface (kitchen counter, parchment paper or a silicone pastry mat). Peel the risen bread from the sides of the mixing bowl and dump it onto your lightly floured work surface. If the dough is extra sticky you can (very lightly) sprinkle extra flour on the top of the dough.

Step 6: Using your hands, work the dough into a ball and work some of the flour from your work surface into the dough ball so that it is no longer sticky.

Step 7: After your oven is preheated, remove the Dutch oven from the oven and line the Dutch oven with parchment paper. Place your ball of dough into the Dutch Oven and place the lid on top. Put the Dutch oven back into the oven and bake for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove the lid and bake for an additional 20 minutes. Next, remove the bread from the oven, carefully lift it out of the Dutch oven and let it cool on your kitchen counter. This bread is very, very crusty. That’s how it is supposed to be!

How long will the bread keep?

No Knead Overnight Bread is best when eaten shortly after it is finished baking. It will keep for 3-4 days on the kitchen counter though as long as it is wrapped in plastic wrap or in a zip lock bag.

Serve your No Knead Overnight Bread with these excellent dishes!

• Quick & Easy White Bean Salad with Feta
• Slow Cooker Meatballs in Marinara Sauce
• Summer Squash and Goat Cheese Egg Pie
• Pretzel Crusted Chicken Breast with Warm Blue Cheese Sauce

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