Easy Date & Pecan Artisan Bread that anyone can make

Everyone from the seasoned baker to the complete bread newbie will love making this bread, it’s just so easy. With only a few key ingredients, you’ll be delighted how easy it is to make this delightful, chewy, flavor filled bread!

Bread is the ultimate comfort food for me, and what could be better on a cold day than a crisp piece of toasted bread, with plenty of butter and cup of hot tea. The dates in this bread give it just a hint of sweetness, and the pecans add a luxurious richness. Basically, it’s amazing and you must make it!

Watch me make this bread from start to finish! Yum!

Ingredients:

3 cups bread flour

¼ tsp. dry active yeast

1 ¼ tsp. salt

1 cup chopped dates

1 cup chopped pecans

1 ⅝ cups water

Note about ingredients:

As always, I encourage you to use the best flour that you can find! I love to use a really quality flour such as Bob’s Red Mill Artisan Bread Flour. Of course, with any flour you have, you can still make yummy bread. But definitely experiment and you’ll notice quite a difference when you splurge for the good stuff. It’s worth it!

Get the free printable recipe, it’s easier!

Easy Artisan Bread Recipe. No knead bread is delicious and perfect for beginning bakers. You can make artisan bread at home!

Instructions:

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, yeast, and salt, dates and pecans. Add the water and mix together with a wooden spoon until just combined. You will have a sticky, shaggy ball of dough. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature for 12-18 hours, and do not disturb!

After rising, the dough will be very sticky! Carefully dump it onto a well floured surface. Stretch the dough and fold it into thirds. Then turn the dough 90° and stretch it out again, and fold it into thirds. Gently shape the lump into a loaf with the ends tucked under, then slash the top. Allow the dough to rest 15 minutes.

Place the loaf on a pre-heated cast iron skillet or dutch oven. Put into a pre-heated 450° oven, and throw a few ice cubes into the bottom of the oven if desired (this helps the loaf and crust form best). Bake 35-40 minutes. Allow to cool before slicing!

Beautiful, isn’t it? The stretching and folding creates a lovely, marbled effect. It makes the most elegant toast, and would make a dazzlingly rich grilled cheese sandwich with some gouda cheese. Oh, the possibilities!

This bread can yield excellent results for minimal work, the yeast will do all the heavy lifting for you. You gotta try it! And let me know how it goes!