Description
Rustic Slow Cooker Bread is a simple, convenient homemade bread recipe that eliminates the need for a loaf pan, dough rising time, and oven use by utilizing a crockpot. This easy bread is soft with a rustic crust and perfect for slicing, ideal for those who want fresh bread with minimal effort and equipment.
Ingredients
Yeast Mixture
- 1 packet active dry yeast (2¼ teaspoons)
- 1 tablespoon granulated white sugar
- 1 ½ cups lukewarm water (around 95°F)
Dough
- 3 ½ cups all purpose flour, plus more for kneading (up to ½ cup additional)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Prepare Slow Cooker: Line a 6 quart slow cooker with parchment paper and set aside to prevent the bread from sticking during cooking.
- Activate Yeast: In a large bowl, combine the active dry yeast, sugar, and lukewarm water. Stir gently and let it sit for 10 minutes until the yeast activates and begins to foam.
- Mix Dough: Add the all-purpose flour, olive oil, honey, and salt to the yeast mixture. Stir until the ingredients come together into a dough.
- Knead Dough: Lightly flour a clean surface and turn the dough out onto it. Knead, adding extra flour as needed (up to ½ cup) until the dough is smooth but still slightly sticky.
- Shape Dough: Form the dough into a ball and place it into the parchment-lined slow cooker.
- Cook Bread: Cover the slow cooker and cook on HIGH for 2 hours, allowing the bread to fully bake in the crockpot.
- Cool and Serve: Carefully lift the bread out using the parchment paper and let it cool completely before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Place a tea towel or double layer of paper towel between the crockpot and lid to catch moisture and prevent condensation from dripping onto the bread.
- The dough should be slightly sticky; add up to ½ cup additional flour while kneading if needed for better handling.
- For a golden brown crust, lightly broil the baked loaf for a few minutes after removing from the slow cooker.
- Add fresh herbs, cheese, or sesame seeds into the dough or sprinkle on top for flavor variations.
- A sprinkle of sea salt on top of the loaf before cooking adds a delicious finishing touch.
- Store leftover bread in an airtight container at room temperature; it stays fresh up to 3 days.
- Cooking times may vary depending on your slow cooker model; adjust accordingly for best results.
