Crusty No Knead Einkorn Bread (Dutch Oven)

Learn how easy it is to make this crusty no knead einkorn bread recipe in the dutch oven today! Just 3 simple ingredients transform into a delicious, crusty loaf of wholesome einkorn bread. If this is your first time baking bread you’ll impress yourself with this easy-to-make, fancy bread made with einkorn flour!

Bread made with einkorn flour

Making homemade bread couldn’t be easier with this no knead recipe. We’re using einkorn flour today, friends!

Are you new to the ancient grain einkorn? 

Read What Is Einkorn and learn all about this amazing ancient grain that hasn’t been changed.

I’ll share a few things below that you’ll want to know about einkorn wheat, but if you’d like a more detailed dive into this perfect healthy flour, be sure to check out the blog post about it.

Einkorn is an old heirloom wheat variety.

It is grown mostly in European countries and this ancient grain is prized because of the lower levels of gluten and that it still holds a non-GMO status.

The plant has tighter tusks and smaller berries than traditional wheat and can withstand growing in tough conditions.

Einkorn flour is not gluten-free, however, it has a weak gluten structure than modern wheat varieties which makes it easier to digest for those with gluten sensitivities. Einkorn lacks the gluten proteins that often trigger gluten sensitivity.

People with celiac disease or an extreme allergy to gluten should still avoid einkorn because it does contain gluten.

Making einkorn bread at home

I’ve been making homemade bread for years now and am such a fan. It’s actually EASY!

It tastes better because it is super fresh.

You can control the ingredients. 

You impress those around you.

Why not give homemade bread a try?

This crusty einkorn bread recipe is based on my crusty no knead dutch oven bread. The original recipe uses white flour, but here we swap in einkorn flour. 

That recipe has served me for many, many years and still works every time. 

I wanted to make the original recipe slightly healthier, so I’ve been using einkorn flour. We love this loaf just as much as the original!

Why use einkorn flour?

Einkorn flour is perfect for no knead recipes because makes a more sticky dough than traditional all purpose flour or whole wheat flour bread. 

Because of its weaker gluten structure, it does well with less mixing. Because einkorn does not have as much gluten as modern-day wheat can be easier to digest.

Einkorn flour is higher in protein and lower in carbohydrates than white flour and also naturally contains essential nutrients.

Baking with einkorn flour

Baking with einkorn flour can sound trickier because the dough becomes more sticky, but it’s truly not! 

Simply follow the steps in the recipe and you’ll find the dough comes together really easily.

In fact, I prefer the no-knead method because it is less work and I love the texture of this bread. It is not dense bread and such a simple recipe!

What you’ll need for no knead einkorn bread

• all purpose einkorn flour
• sea salt
• active dry yeast
• water

How to make no knead einkorn bread

Scroll down to view the recipe card below for the full ingredients list, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions.

1. Mix the einkorn flour, sea salt, and yeast together in a large bowl. Combine water until fully mixed.
2. Cover the dough with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap and allow it to sit in the mixing bowl for a minimum of 3 hours up to 12 hours at room temperature or in a warm place for the dough to rise.
3. When it’s time to bake, place the dutch oven in the oven and turn the heat to 450 to heat the dutch oven. You’re going to let it heat up for 1 hour.
4. After 30 minutes of heating, take a spoon and scrape around the edges of the dough to deflate slightly, and let the dough rest for 30 minutes. 
5. After the dutch oven has heated for 1 hour, and the dough has rested for 30 minutes after scraping down the edges, carefully remove the heated dutch oven from the oven, take the lid off and pour the dough into the pan. Place the lid on and bake for 25 minutes.
6. After 25 minutes, remove the lid and allow the bread to bake and crusty up for 5 more minutes.
7. When done baking, remove the loaf from the dutch oven and place it on a wire rack to cool.

Watch me make this recipe!

Watch below, or head over to YouTube to watch me make this recipe!

What size dutch oven works best for einkorn bread?

For this loaf, a 2.5-3-quart oval dutch oven works best (updated to a smaller size as it works better!)

If you use a larger round dutch oven, just know your loaf may be a little flatter and the cooking time could be a little less by using a larger pot.

Can you make einkorn sandwich bread?

Yes! Instead of using a dutch oven, line a loaf pan with parchment paper and use that.

You can use 1 bread pan for a larger loaf, or use 2 smaller bread pans for 2 loaves. You’ll get real bread that works great for sandwiches, toasted with peanut butter, and french toast with maple syrup!

For sandwich bread, the bake time will be similar – around 25-30 minutes.

You can use a thermometer to check the internal temperature of the bread. Look for 200 degrees F to know when it’s done!

Can you use quick rise yeast?

In the recipe, it calls for active dry yeast. 

But what if you only have quick-rise yeast? Not a problem! 

The einkorn bread recipe rise time is very forgiving. 

You can use quick-rise yeast and just know that your dough will rise quicker. I’ve used the same amount of quick rise yeast and my minimum time simply decreases to 2 hours. 

You’ll get a quicker initial rise and then you can still have your dough sit out longer.

The beauty of this easy einkorn bread recipe is that you don’t have to monitor it super closely.

Can you substitute whole wheat einkorn flour?

Whole wheat einkorn flour is next on my list to try, but I don’t see why not! 

Once I try it I will come back and update you here. If you do try making no knead einkorn bread with whole wheat einkorn flour, please leave a comment down below and report how it went and the next time I try it I will also come and update it here!

Can you freeze einkorn flour bread?

Yup! 

Allow the bread to fully cool, then place in an airtight bag. 

Label and add the date and freeze for up to 6 months.

To defrost the bread, simply place the loaf on the counter for a few hours. 

You can warm it again in the oven at 350 for 5-10 minutes.

This recipe can be doubled or tripled (if you use multiple pans) and is fantastic to plan ahead for freezing.

Bake once, and enjoy multiple times!

Looking for another einkorn recipe? Try one of these!

• Whole wheat einkorn bread
• Pumpkin einkorn bread
• Sausage and kale pizza with einkorn crust
• Mini einkorn pizza bites
• No sugar banana cake

Happy Baking! If you try this no knead einkorn bread recipe, I’d love it if you left a star rating and comment below letting me know how it turned out!

XO

Heather

Originally published March 2020. Updated June 2022.