Making Dutch Oven Bread is easier than you think, follow along as I detail this valuable self sufficiency and preparedness skill.
Dutch Oven Bread
I used my basic bread recipe for this one. I followed all the directions just as if I was making bread in a standard oven. Where I deviated is when the bread began it’s second rising I began to pre-heat my Camp Chef 12-Quart Dutch Oven
Ingredients
- 3 1/4 C. King Arthur Unbleached Bread Flour
- 1 Packet Active Dry Yeast
- 1 tsp. Kosher Salt
- 1 1/2 C. Warm Water
Directions For Making The Dough
- Combine all the ingredients and mix or knead into a soft dough
- Place into a greased metal bowl and let it rise for an hour, somewhere warm.
- After the rise punch it down a bit and form it into a ball. I like the “tuck it under” method to form a circular loaf. I just pull the dough from the center while tucking it under itself with my fingers.
- Cover the dough ball with a greased piece of plastic wrap.
- Start pre-heating the Dutch Oven.
- After a 30 minute give the dough ball a few slashes with a sharp knife and put it into the Dutch Oven.
Off To The Dutch Oven
I used my handy dandy charcoal chimney to get the coals going. I initially put 50 coals into the Charcoal Lighter Chimney
*** Since my initial attempts at Dutch Oven Bread, I’ve found that pre-heating the oven is THE most important part! Learn from my mistakes! ***
Keeping An Eye On It
I rotated the DO and the lid a 1/4 turn every 15 minutes. I checked the status of the coals and each time I turned the DO and lid.I added as needed. I had to put coals into the chimney a few times during the baking process. It took a bit longer than I anticipated, my regular bread baking takes about 35 minutes in a standard oven but in the DO it took the better part of 90 minutes. I may have to start adding more coals initially to get the temperature up a bit.
I popped the bread out when it hit 200 degrees as measured with a thermometer.
The YouTube Video
Here is a video I shot while baking my bread. Check it out and let me know what you think.
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Great little project, with great results. I’m going to add this to my to do list this weekend. Thanks for showing how it’s done.
Glad you liked it. This one was on my “goal list” for a while now.
This would be great to make when you go camping. My boys are in scouts so they go camping a lot. I think I’m going to add this to their to do list….:) Great video, Mike!! Thanks so much!
Thanks Jennifer! I’m glad you liked it. Baking in a Dutch Oven is tricky but rewarding once you get the hang of it. Let me know how your boys make out.
Beautiful bread! I make bread quite often, but haven’t made it in a dutch oven yet! I’m definitely going to give this a shot! Thank you VERY much for sharing the video, and I love you site!
It seems a little daunting at first but it is doable. Let me know how it works out and thanks for the checking out the site!
I’m glad to have these directions. I made a very nice meteorite last fall. Once we cut through the crusty black part that was so burnt that it was actually left with a silvery sheen……the middle was pretty tasty with some homemade soup. Ah, yes! Sustainability is always good for teaching you more from your mistakes. lol. At least that’s our motto around here. But we’re enjoying every minute of it.
Don’t be discouraged, I’ve baked a few doozies in my time!
In Australia its called Damper, Made by all campers, Its cheap and easy to make. You can use Beer as a liquid instead of water, you can’t taste it but it makes the bread rise more and lighter. I also put fruit in it as well for morning tea. That and billy tea a prefect break
Do you still use yeast if you are making it with beer?
Mike, Love getting your emails and seeing stuff like this cooking over a fire and using cast iron has become a hobby for me also. Thank you and look forward to more ideas and vids.
Rick
I can’t wait to try this out. I just got my cast iron dutch oven (Lodge) from Amazon, so this was the perfect time for you to post this. Thanks – Geek Prepper 😉
Glad you like it! Let us know how yours turns out.
I am not criticizing, just wondering why you use so many coals.
Thanks.
Nicely done, Mike! Making my mouth water. I’m messing around with trying this with a stainless steel bush pot. I’ve seen it done but got get out and try it.
I made my first batch of no-knead sourdough bread in my dutch oven last month. Because I live in a floating cabin I can’t (don’t want to) use anything that burns on my cabin deck, so I put the dutch oven in my propane range oven and it worked just fine. I also used the parchment paper in the bottom and it made getting the bread out very easy. – Margy
Parchment paper! I’ve made biscuits several times in my dutch oven, and always had a bit of a sticking problem, even when pre-greasing the pot. I’ll try this next time! Thanks for taking the time to share your
ideas and solutions.
I’m new here, but I’m definitely a fan now!
I’m finally getting into some Dutch oven cooking. Definitely going to be trying this – I love fresh baked bread! Did it have any yummy smoky smell?
Where did you get the cart your DO is in?
Love this, we camp a lot. Question, can you make the dough the night/day before?
Loved the video. Looks yummy. Please tell me where you got that nifty Dutch oven carrier with wheels. My back needs it:)
Thank you!