Best Crusty Buttermilk Bread Recipes

CRUSTY BUTTERMILK BREAD

Steps:

• Proof yeast in the warm water.
• Place margarine and buttermilk in a small saucepan and heat until margarine is melted, or microwave until melted. Cool to luke warm.
• Place sugar, salt, baking soda, buttermilk mixture and yeast in large mixing bowl.
• Add flour a little at a time, mixing until not sticky.
• Turn onto a lightly floured surface sprinkle some flour on top of the dough; knead for several minutes, the more you knead, the more it will rise!
• Place in a greased bowl, and turn once. Cover with a cloth and allow to rise in a warm place until double in size, around an hour to and hour and a half.
• Punch down the dough and place in a loaf pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray and floured. Spray the top with cooking spray, and allow to rise 40 minutes.
• Bake in a pre-heated 375°F oven for 10 minutes, then turn around and do it for 10 more. Turn down heat to 350°F and bake for about 7-12 minutes more. The loaf is done when evenly browned and hollow sounding when thumped.

FAVORITE BUTTERMILK BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add buttermilk, butter, honey, salt, baking soda, wheat germ and 4 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Gradually stir in enough remaining flour to make a soft dough. , Turn onto a heavily floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch dough down. Turn onto a floured surface; divide into thirds. Divide each portion into thirds; shape each into a 12-in. rope. Braid three ropes; pinch ends to seal and tuck under. Place in a greased 9x5-in. loaf pan. Repeat with remaining dough. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes. , Preheat oven to 350°. Bake 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool.

SIMPLE CRUSTY BREAD

Steps:

• In a large bowl or plastic container, mix yeast and salt into 3 cups lukewarm water (about 100 degrees). Stir in flour, mixing until there are no dry patches. Dough will be quite loose. Cover, but not with an airtight lid. Let dough rise at room temperature 2 hours (or up to 5 hours).
• Bake at this point or refrigerate, covered, for as long as two weeks. When ready to bake, sprinkle a little flour on dough and cut off a grapefruit-size piece with serrated knife. Turn dough in hands to lightly stretch surface, creating a rounded top and a lumpy bottom. Put dough on pizza peel sprinkled with cornmeal; let rest 40 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough or refrigerate it.
• Place broiler pan on bottom of oven. Place baking stone on middle rack and turn oven to 450 degrees; heat stone at that temperature for 20 minutes.
• Dust dough with flour, slash top with serrated or very sharp knife three times. Slide onto stone. Pour one cup hot water into broiler pan and shut oven quickly to trap steam. Bake until well browned, about 30 minutes. Cool completely.