Simple Country Bread

Grain-Free Country Bread

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No need to knead! This simple cassava flour country bread is easy to prepare and can be made into numerous different forms from baguettes, to a round loaf, and even as a Bundt for party subs! Making this bread truly captures all the nostalgia and joy that bread baking has to offer, and we know this one is gonna be a staple at your house like it is at ours!

Ingredients  

• ¼ cup very warm water + ½ cup warm water, divided
• 1 Tablespoon maple syrup or honey
• 1 packet (2 ¼ tsp.) active dry yeast (we recommend Red Star Brand)
• 1 ½ cups Otto’s Naturals – Cassava Flour (fluff with a whisk before measuring)
• 3 eggs, room temperature
• ¼ cup olive oil or butter
• 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions   

1. In a bowl dissolve the maple syrup or honey into ¼ cup very warm water. (The goal is for the water to still be warm, but not hot, to the touch after the sweetener has been dissolved. Start with very warm or hot water since your sweetener will cool it down.) When your temperature is around 110°F, sprinkle yeast on top and mix in. Allow to sit until it gets nice and frothy on top and doubles in size. This can take 5-20 minutes depending on the yeast batch. Warm water will make it develop much, much faster, but HOT water will kill it so make sure you've hit that optimal temp. before adding your yeast.
2. While the yeast mixture is "proofing," combine cassava flour and salt in a large mixing bowl.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk your eggs and olive oil together with a fork. (If using butter, you can cut that into the dry ingredients instead.)
4. When your yeast is ready, add it, the egg mixture, and the remaining ½ cup of water to the dry ingredients and mix well. Let stand 5 minutes to firm up a bit. You will end up with something between a batter and a dough.
5. Pour into an oiled and floured baguette or Bundt pan. Shape gently with a spatula till it fits the parameters of your pan adequately. Heavily flour the top (this prevents the top from burning before the inside is adequately baked). For baguettes, put shallow slits down the length of the loaf - this creates spots for the loaf to expand and split.
   Note: No need for the slits if using a Bundt pan as the loaf will get flipped over anyways.
6. Cover with a towel and let rise in the pan for 35 minutes (The slits you made will start to visually separate, but don't expect too much rising. It will rise more in the oven. Allowing the loaf to double in size will actually cause it to fall while baking. No kneading or second rise is necessary either with this easy loaf!)
7. Bake in a preheated oven at 400°F for about 30-35 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack before slicing.

Note: We have tried this in a regular loaf pan, and unfortunately it doesn't work well. For optimum results you need something that creates a loaf with narrow baguette-like circumference.