An easy no knead bread can be fresh milled with hard red wheat berries or made with regular unbleached flour. I’m not sure where this recipe originated, but I adapted it from two Youtubers, Jennie Can Cook and The Frugal Fit Mom.
Although this recipe, and the way I make it, is with fresh-milled wheat, you can use regular unbleached organic flour. I purchased five pounds of Simple Truth Organic Unbleached flour for a Teaching and Tasting Monday night and the bread turned out very nice.
I chose this route because I had used that same flour for many years and wanted this process to be doable for the average person. And purchasing and working with wheat berries, requires an investment of time and money. Plus, you need a grain mill to grind it for flour.
So, $5.99 for an organic bag of flour makes more sense for the purpose of a teaching and tasting. I made two loaves of bread and 60 tortillas. That is a pretty good deal! There are no pesticides or fertilizers on this bread, and it’s not bleached.
You may think, “Why is this important?” And I’d have to respond, “We don’t know what the bleach and preservatives do to our gut bacteria or our overall health.” The 100% whole grain bread I use for my class as a demonstration of preservative power is still free of mold after ten months.
Bread on a shelf lasting 10 months without mold scares me for all of us. The good news is we don’t have to participate in the deception any longer. We can splurge a little on the flour and create our own artisan masterpieces. We may find in the process; we don’t have a gluten sensitivity after all.
Maybe it is just a mono-diglyceride, sterol sulfate, ammonium sensitivity. By the way, I’ve read flour will go rancid 30 days after opening if it is not refrigerated. So, remember that when buying and storing your flour.
I personally like to take it a step further and use fresh wheat berries, griding them up in a grain mill and using them right away. The leftover flour can be stored in the freezer 6 months or the refrigerator 1 week.
Benefits of Baking Easy No Knead Bread
Well obviously, a big benefit is, it’s easy and it’s free of pesticides. You mix four ingredients, cover with plastic and let it set a minimum of three hours or a maximum of 24 hours. The countertop is fine, and there is no need for it to rise in a warm place. Timing of how long it sets depends on you and your schedule. I’ve waited 3 and it’s fine, I’ve waited 6 and it’s perfect. I didn’t have the patience to wait 24, so I don’t know how it tastes.
Other benefits for the fresh-milled grain include a decent amount of protein, a wonderful amount of selenium, vitamin E, B vitamins, zinc, magnesium, and manganese.
Devotion
God’s perfect plan for the seed-bearing plant to nourish and sustain our bodies is present in the things He made.
And God said, “Behold I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food.”
Genesis 1:29 ESV
It’s always exciting to me to see the love of God in the gifts he gives us throughout creation. Every plant yielding seed on the face of the earth is mind boggling. The kiwi alone can have up to a thousand seeds! The mustard seed that Jesus talks about in Mark chapter 4 is so small yet grows into a towering tree to house and feed the birds.
It is a parable describing how the kingdom of God starts very small with Jesus and twelve disciples yet spreads across the globe. Every tribe, nation, and language will see and hear of his great love. His power to work miracles in our lives and sow seeds of righteousness is also pretty impressive. 2 Corinthians 9:10 says,
He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.
Yes! God’s great love is working through us and in us as we enjoy the fruits of every plant bearing seed and the greatest seed of all. . . His Word. The powerful Word that transforms lives, fuels loving service, and explodes into peaceful contentment beyond this world’s understanding.
It too, is a gift like the seeds in the very first garden that keep on giving, century after century. I don’t know about you, but the similarities of physical and spiritual provision bring out humility and adoration in me when I witness such thoughtful planning.
Four Easy No Knead Bread Recipes
So, as we look at the wheat seed my friend, and you and I can take full advantage and have plenty to share with others. One 5-pound bag of flour makes 4 loaves of bread! We would normally spend $8 to $10 on one loaf.
Another fantastic part of this versatile recipe is you can use any of the recipes above to make English muffins, too!
1.
Easy No Knead Bread, Fresh Milled
Ingredients
- 3 Cups Fresh Milled Hard White Wheat Flour
- 1 1/2 Teaspoons Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Yeast
- 1 3/4 Cups Warm Water
Instructions
- Combine the flour, salt, and yeast in a medium mixing bowl
- Add the water and stir well to incorporate the liquid.
- Cover with plastic wrap and let sit a minimum of three hours on the countertop. No need to place in a warm spot. You can let it sit longer 6, 8, 10, or 24 hours.
- After letting it set the desired time, remove the plastic and place the sticky dough onto a lightly floured surface. Shape the dough lightly with your floured fingers, cover with a towel and let sit 30 minutes.
- Heat oven to 450 degrees while your dough is resting. You can place bread pans or whatever crock you have in the oven while it heats.
- After 30 minutes, I transfer the dough onto parchment paper and place it in the heated pan. Bake covered 30 minutes, then uncover and bake 15 minutes more.
- Cool completely before slicing. Store in a zip lock bag in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Notes
Nutrition
Easy No Knead Bread— Taken up Several Taste Notches!
There are fun ways to add to this basic recipe and create your own flavor sensations. The following additions below will be just as easy and maybe even more delicious than the two above!
No Knead Cinnamon Raisin
This is not my favorite choice for fiber or protein, but I am trying to make it as easy as possible for the MetS Busters group I am coaching. I’d use a whole grain bread in place of the unbleached white flour to add more fiber and protein. But as an alternative to store-bought bread with hazardous chemicals and preservatives, it is the better choice.
You make it, you know what’s in it.
You can also remove 1/2 cup of the flour in this recipe and use the ground flaxseed instead. Adding the chia seeds for more protein and fiber works too.
2.
Easy No Knead Cinnamon Raisin Bread
Ingredients
- 3 Cups Unbleached Organic Flour
- 1 Tsp Salt
- 2 Tsp Cinnamon
- 1 Tsp Yeast
- 1 Tbsp Sugar
- 1 1/2 Cups Warm Water
- 1/2 Cup Raisins
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, yeast, cinnamon, and sugar. Mix well with a whisk add the raisins and warm water.
- Mix well until all the flour and water are combined into a soft dough
- Cover with plastic and let it sit on the counter all night or while you are at work (6-8-10-or 12 hours)
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees
- Get your loaf pan or crock ready and line it with parchment paper.
- Place the dough in the loaf pan and cover with another loaf pan. Bake covered 30 minutes.
- Remove cover and bake another 15 minutes.
- The paper will allow you to remove it from the pan in a couple of minutes. Let it cool well before slicing and store any leftovers in the refrigerator. When ready to use a slice, toast or heat in the microwave 10 seconds to soften.
Nutrition
Easy No Knead Garlic & Cheddar Bread
Here is another version of the no knead bread that is healthier than a store-bought biscuit mix of cheddar and garlic. You’ll be impressed with the price and the ingredients when you calculate making 4 loaves of artisan bread for roughly $6!
No, it’s not the greatest as far healthy is concerned. However, when making healthier choices we want to avoid extremes. It does not have hydrogenated oils, trans fats, or harmful preservatives like the box brand offers.
In my book, that is always a win! Plus, I’m not eating the entire loaf or eating it every day.
3.
Easy No Knead Garlic & Cheddar Bread
Ingredients
- 3 Cups Unbleached Organic Flour
- 1 Tsp Salt
- 1 Tsp Garlic Powder
- 1 Tsp Yeast
- 1 Cup Cheddar Cheese 1-1/4 cups
- 1 tsp Parsley Optional
- 1 1/2 Cups Warm Water
Instructions
- Whisk the flour, salt, garlic powder, and dried parsley well. Add the remaining ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. If needed use your damp hands to incorporate all the flour and water.
- Cover with plastic and let sit 6 or 8 or 10 or 12 hours while you sleep or go to work. Shortest time 6 hours longest time 24.
- When ready to bake. Preheat oven to 450 degrees
- Place parchment paper in a loaf pan and place your prepared dough into the loaf pan. Cover with another pan and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove the lid after 30 minutes and bake another 15 uncovered.
- Use the parchment paper to remove it from the loaf pan after a few minutes, but let it rest until cooled completely before slicing. It will become crumbly if you don't.
- Store Leftovers in the refrigerator
Nutrition
However you decide to make your easy no knead bread with the following recipes, I hope you enjoy it as much as me and my family do! It is worth the little bit of time and very little effort. I am here for you if you need coaching or want to book a speaker for your next event.
I want to help you simplify health God’s way. So, have fun making the bread your own way! I’d also love to hear your ideas and variations, if you care to share them!
Take care, and remember. . . What God puts in the garden is good!
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