Bake Bread in a Cast Iron Pot – Tips & Dutch Oven Recipes

Is there anything better than enjoying a long, stress-free breakfast with freshly baked bread? We don't think so! Although the ingredients for bread are not very expensive, the costs can quickly add up if you buy freshly baked bread from a bakery. That's why it's a good idea to bake your own bread! There are many different ways to bake bread, and baking bread in a cast iron pot is one option. But how exactly do you bake bread in a cast iron pot instead of on a baking sheet?

Using a cast iron pot to bake bread has become increasingly popular over the years because the cast iron pot acts like a mini oven. By preheating the cast iron pot, heat is created that gives the bread a fluffy soft inside and a crispy crust – homemade bread just like from a bakery. Here we share our best recipes and tips for succeeding with the perfect pot bread.

Can you use a cast iron pot in the oven?

A cast iron pot has many more functions than just making a stew. It works just as well on the stove as in the oven and can therefore be used for both cooking and baking bread or other treats. At Dorre, you will find cast iron pots for all types of cooking, such as an enameled cast iron pot perfect for baking bread, or a large cast iron pot for those who want to cook for many.

3 recipes for easy-to-bake cast iron breads

Simple cast iron bread with dry yeast

Do you find it difficult to make good bread? This recipe for bread in a cast iron pot with dry yeast is easy to bake and is a perfect breakfast bread for both luxurious weekend breakfasts and when you want to impress your guests.

You need:

8 dl wheat flour
1.5 tsp salt
1 tsp dry yeast
4 dl cold water

How to do it:

1. Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl with a spoon or ladle. Add water and mix until the dough is sticky.
2. Cover the bowl with plastic and let it stand at room temperature for 12-18 hours.
3. Preheat the oven to 225 degrees and place a cast iron pot with the lid on in the oven.
4. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and fold it towards the middle. Place the bread in a bowl lined with baking paper with the seam down. Let rise under a kitchen towel for 30 minutes.
5. Sift wheat flour over the bread and optionally make one or more cuts with a sharp knife.
6. Take the pot out of the oven and carefully lift the dough with the baking paper into the cast iron pot. Put the lid on and bake in the lower part of the oven for 30-35 minutes.
7. Remove the lid and bake for another 10-15 minutes if you want the bread to have a well-baked crust.
8. Take the pot out of the oven, lift the bread with the baking paper, and place it on a rack to cool slightly before slicing.

Bread in cast iron pot with fresh yeast

If you want a really moist bread, this recipe is for you! This bread turns out just like the luxurious loaves you buy at a bakery with a fluffy inside and a crispy crust. Plus, it's easy to make!

You need:

6 dl wheat flour
25 g yeast
1 tbsp honey
3 dl lukewarm water (37 degrees)
salt

How to do it:

1. Dissolve the yeast in lukewarm water in a bowl and mix in salt and honey.
2. Add the flour little by little and mix until the dough releases from the sides. Sprinkle flour on top and let rise for 2 hours or until the dough has doubled in size.
3. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface. Sprinkle a little flour and fold in the edges before placing the dough back in a floured bowl with the seam side down.
4. Let rise under a cloth for about 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 230 degrees and place a cast iron pot in the oven with the lid on.
5. Take out the pot and pour in some neutral oil. Turn the dough out of the bowl onto a floured surface and place it in the cast iron pot with the seam side up. Put the lid on and bake in the oven with the lid on for 30 minutes.
6. Remove the lid and let the bread bake for another 15 minutes until it has a nice color.
7. Carefully lift the bread out of the pot and let cool before slicing.

Sourdough bread in cast iron pot

Are you looking for a tasty recipe to bake with your sourdough? This sourdough bread is a perfect breakfast bread that will keep you full or as a side to your meal. Here we go through how to bake sourdough bread in a cast iron pot.

You need: 

Sourdough
3.5 dl water
10 dl wheat flour
3 tsp salt

How to do it:

1. Mix sourdough, water, wheat flour, and salt in a bowl. Mix into a dough and cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and let rise for 3-6 hours at room temperature.
2. When the dough has risen, turn it out onto a floured surface and shape by folding the edges towards the middle and then turn the dough upside down.
3. Flour the top of the dough, place a kitchen towel in a colander, and place the dough with the smooth side down. Cover the dough with the towel and let rise for another 1-3 hours.
4. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees and place the cast iron pot with the lid on inside. When the oven is hot, take out the pot, place a baking paper inside, and turn the dough into the cast iron pot. Make a few cuts in the dough with a sharp knife or scissors. Bake in the oven with the lid on for 25 minutes and another 25 minutes with the lid off to get a nice crust.
5. Take the bread out of the oven and carefully turn it out of the pot to cool before slicing and enjoying.

Do you want fresh bread often but don't want to make a new dough every time? Read more about how to start your own sourdough and how to take care of it here.

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