Easy 4 Ingredient Whole Wheat Artisan Bread (with Step-by-Step Instructions!)

Using just four basic ingredients and minimal hands-on time, you can make freshly baked, whole wheat artisan bread right in the comfort of your own home!

Introduction

My whole family LOVES homemade yeasted bread!

Who doesn't?

It's fluffy, fresh and smells amazing!

I've shared quite a few easy vegan yeasted bread recipes on the blog, including this Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread and this Easy Italian Bread Recipe.

Today I'm adding another recipe to my blog's repertoire with this 4 ingredient Whole Wheat Artisan Bread.

Let me walk you through how to make it!

What is Artisan Bread?

There isn't an actual definition for artisan bread, at least that I'm aware of, but it basically is a loaf of bread that has a crusty exterior and a short shelf life.

It also typically requires a longer fermentation/rising time compared to other breads that are baked in a loaf pan.

My mom was the first one to introduce me to the simplicity and beauty of homemade artisan bread.

The recipe she showed me years ago was basically this exact recipe, but just using white flour. Today I'll show you how I make it using entirely whole wheat flour.

However, you can honestly use a mix of both white and wheat flour.

Ingredients You'll Need to Bake Whole Wheat Artisan Bread

Baking bread used to intimidate me so much, but it honestly couldn't be easier.

To make this whole wheat artisan bread, all you'll need are the following 4 ingredients:

• Whole wheat flour
• Salt
• Active dry yeast
• Water

I don't know about you, but I get so excited about bread made with minimal ingredients!

If you don't want to use all whole wheat flour, you can also do a mix of both white and whole wheat flour.

Equipment You'll Need to Make Artisan Bread at Home

You don't need much to make this artisan bread.

I personally don't even have everything that you're technically supposed to use to make artisan bread!

To make the dough you'll need the following:

• a large mixing bowl
• measuring cups and spoons
• a wooden spoon.

Once you've made the dough, you'll need to cover it with some plastic wrap. Then to bake the dough you'll need a dutch oven.

Good news! If you don't have a dutch oven like me, you can also use an oven-safe pot with a lid (one that can withstand 475F/250C degrees) or even two taller round cake pans stacked on each other.

That's the method I use and it works great!

How to make Whole Wheat Artisan Bread (with step-by-step instructions)

To make a loaf of artisan bread, you need to first make the dough.

How to make the dough

Step 1: In a large bowl whisk together the flour, salt and yeast until combined.

Step 2: Pour in the room temperature water.

Step 3: Use a wooden spoon to stir the mixture until a dough forms. I usually switch to using my hands to make sure all of the flour has been incorporated into the dough.

Step 4: Form the dough into a rough ball and leave it in the bowl you mix the dough in.

Step 5: Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature for at least 12 hours, even up to 18 hours, until it has risen.

PRO TIP: I usually like to make my dough in the evening, let it rise overnight and bake it the next morning.

Step 6: Towards the end of the rising time, preheat your oven to 475°F / 250°C and place a dutch oven with the lid on inside the oven to preheat as well. Once the oven is hot, carefully remove the dutch oven and remove the lid.

Step 7: Using floured hands, remove the risen dough from the bowl and shape it into a rough ball. Place it on a piece of parchment paper and carefully set it inside of the hot dutch oven. Cover the pot and place it in the oven.

Step 8: Bake the bread covered for 30 minutes.

Step 9: Remove the lid and let the bread bake another 15 minutes or until crusty and golden on top.

Step 10: After removing the bread from the oven, carefully remove it from the pot and allow it to cool on a wire rack.

Step 11: Slice and enjoy!

Best ways to eat artisan bread

Artisan bread, especially this whole wheat version, is heartier and denser than your traditional sandwich loaf.

For those reasons, we love to pair a slice or two with soup.

It also makes for great open face toasts or as a base for bruschetta.

I find it's not the greatest bread to use for sandwiches as using two slices may overpower your sandwich fillings and make a sandwich hard to eat.

How to store artisan bread

Artisan bread tastes best the day you bake it.

However, unless you have a large family, I doubt you'll get through a whole loaf in one day.

I personally just store any leftovers in a sealed container or bag in the fridge for a couple days.

You can also slice it, wrap it and freeze it for later use. If freezing this bread, just remove the amount of slices you need and toast them in a toaster, straight from frozen.

Other Easy Vegan Bread Recipes

• No-Knead Whole Wheat Vegan Sandwich Bread
• Whole Wheat No-Yeast No-Rise Pizza Dough
• Easy Vegan Pizza Bread
• Vegan Irish Soda Bread (Soda Farls!)
• Traditional Irish Brown Bread (Egg and Dairy Free!)
• Lightened-Up Whole Wheat Tortillas