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Cozy Rustic Homemade Cottagecore Summer Bread

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A simple, rustic bread recipe perfect for summer picnics, featuring a golden crust and tender crumb with a subtle honey sweetness and optional herbs.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 1/2 cups (440 g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast (one packet)
  • 1 3/4 cups (420 ml) warm water (about 105°F/40°C)
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh herbs (optional, like rosemary or thyme)
  • Cornmeal or flour for dusting

Instructions

  1. In a large mixing bowl, stir together warm water and honey until combined. Sprinkle instant yeast over the top and let sit for about 5 minutes until bubbles or foam form.
  2. Whisk flour and sea salt together in a separate bowl to distribute salt evenly.
  3. Pour flour mixture into the yeast mixture. Add olive oil and optional chopped herbs. Stir with a dough scraper until a shaggy dough forms.
  4. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Dust with flour if sticky but keep dough slightly tacky.
  5. Shape dough into a ball and place in an oiled bowl. Cover with kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let rise in a warm spot for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until doubled in size.
  6. Gently deflate dough and transfer to a baking sheet dusted with cornmeal or flour. Shape into a rustic round or oval loaf. Let rest uncovered for 30 minutes.
  7. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Place an empty metal tray on the lowest rack to create steam.
  8. Score the loaf with shallow slashes using a sharp knife or bread lame. Pour 1 cup hot water into the metal tray to create steam and quickly close oven door.
  9. Bake for 25-30 minutes until crust is deeply golden and sounds hollow when tapped.
  10. Remove bread from oven and transfer to a cooling rack. Let cool completely before slicing.

Notes

Use instant yeast for quick activation without proofing. Keep dough slightly sticky for lighter crumb. Create steam in oven by pouring hot water into a tray for a crackly crust. Let bread cool completely before slicing to avoid gummy texture. Wrap cooled bread loosely in a kitchen towel if crust is too hard.

Nutrition

Keywords: rustic bread, summer bread, homemade bread, cottagecore bread, easy bread recipe, picnic bread, honey bread, olive oil bread

Find it online: https://tinastirs.com/cozy-rustic-homemade-cottagecore-summer-bread-recipe-easy-and-perfect/