No-knead trail mix bread is a wonderfully satisfying artisan bread that’s chock full of healthy dried fruit and nuts. This easy bread recipe rises on the counter overnight, for a light chewy loaf without any work. You’re going to love it!
No-knead bread – trail mix style!
The no knead method makes homemade bread a whole lot more doable and takes so much of the stress out of making bread from scratch. This one will have your personality stamped all over it because you’ll use the contents of your pantry to customize it to your taste. I used golden raisins and cranberries but you could just as easily use dried cherries, apricots, figs, or currants. As for the nuts, you could get exotic with pistachio, cashew, or hazelnuts. Note: Trader Joes has the best assortment around. You can even use a readymade blend if you like. Just measure out 2 cups and you’re good to go.
what you’ll need:
- bread flour ~ this flour is higher in protein and gluten which makes a light chewy bread.
- all purpose flour ~ mixing all purpose flour with the bread flour results in the perfect protein content.
- salt ~ salt regulates the activity of the yeast, and adds flavor to the bread.
- yeast ~ I use instant yeast, but regular active yeast will work too.
- water ~ cool water for this recipe.
- dried cranberries and golden raisins ~ they add flavor, texture, and sweetness. They plump up nicely during the long rise.
- walnuts and pecans ~ for flavor and crunch.
To each her own, in cooking as in all things…but for me, it’s a no brainer to add in lots of yummy inclusions to a homemade bread dough. I mean, why not?? It only makes the final bread that much more delicious and fun to eat. Every slice is gorgeous, and the toast? Be prepared to be wowed.
this bread recipe rises overnight on the counter
How cool is that, the dough rises on the counter all night while you sleep. You don’t need to find a warm spot for rising, room temperature is best. The beauty of an overnight rise is that you can bake it up the next day with little to no effort. You’re essentially dividing the work (and cleanup) over two days, so it’s not overwhelming at all. You’ll love it.
how does the no knead method work?
The no knead method was popularized by New York baker Jim Lahey. Most bread recipes rely on a kneading stage, which develops and stretches the gluten strands in the dough, creating an elastic dough and a light, chewy bread. The no knead method relies on a longer time for the bread to rise and ferment, and in that time the gluten strands form on their own. It’s a mix it and forget it style of bread making that actually works!
instant yeast vs. active dry yeast: what’s the difference?
You’ll notice this recipe calls for instant yeast. It’s my favorite kind to use because it consistently produces a high rise. Active dry yeast is usually sold in small jars and needs to be kept in the fridge once opened.
- First of all, know that you can use either one, interchangeably, in your recipes that call for yeast.
- Simply put, active yeast is yeast that needs to be ‘activated’ before it will grow (stirring it into warm water first until it starts to foam up.) Instant yeast is ready to roll right out of the packet (just pour the granules right into your flour.)
- To substitute active dry yeast for instant yeast, you’ll want to use a little more than the recipe calls for. Multiply the amount given in the recipe by 1.25.
- To substitute instant yeast for active dry yeast, you’ll want to use a little less than the recipe calls for. Multiply the amount given in the recipe by 0.75.
should you try this bread? YES!
I highly recommend this recipe. It makes a nice big loaf with tons of character. You all know how I love a great toasting bread, and this one delivers. Slice it thick, toast it, and slather with butter. If it’s too thick for your toaster, slide it under the broiler!
The crust is just the way I like it ~ crisp but not too thick or hard. It’s easy to slice, too.
I love how the work (and mess) is spread out over two days, this makes it a really relaxing recipe. And it’s such fun to wake up to a big bowl of risen dough on the counter. If you live in a cold climate, or are baking in winter, this recipe is ideal because you don’t need to hunt down a warm spot for it to rise.
craving more homemade bread?
- Easy Dutch Oven Bread
- Muesli Toasting Bread
- Buckwheat Honey and Caraway Rolls
- Rosemary and Olive No Knead Focaccia
No Knead Trail Mix Bread
Equipment
- a very large mixing bowl
- parchment paper
- Dutch oven, approximately 10 inches diameter
Ingredients
- 390 grams bread flour (this is approximately 3 1/4 cups)
- 113 grams all purpose flour (this is a scant cup)
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 packet instant yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
- 1 3/4 cups cool water
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 cup golden raisins
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Instructions
- Note: read through the recipe first to familiarlize yourself with the steps. In a very large bowl whisk together the flours, salt, and yeast.
- Stir in the cool water to make a sticky, shaggy dough,
- Using clean hands, fold in all the fruit and nuts. Make sure you get them completely incorporated and evenly distributed.
- Cover the dough with plastic cling wrap and put on the counter overnight, or up to 18 hours! Do not put the dough in a warm place, put it right on the counter. Note: be sure to use cling wrap or other airtight wrap because you don't want the surface of your dough to dry out.
- The dough will have become quite puffed and bubbly by the next morning.
- Remove the dough to a lightly floured surface and form it into a nice rounded loaf and place in the center of a large piece of parchment paper (mine is 12×16)
- Place the paper and loaf inside a Dutch oven (my pot is about 10" in diameter.) Cover the pan and let rise in a warm spot for 2 hours. Note: it will puff slightly but it won't rise really high.
- After the bread has risen, make three shallow slashes across the top of the bread with a lame or a very sharp knife. This allows the bread to expand while baking. Put the cover on and place in a COLD oven.
- Set the temperature to 450F and immediately set the timer for 50 minutes. After the timer goes off, remove the lid and bake another 10 minutes, until the internal temperature is 205F, give or take. Note: if you like to make bread be sure you've got an instant read thermometor handy, it allows you to know for sure when your bread is done.
- Remove the bread from the pan and let cool on a rack. You can dive right in while it's warm, or let it cool completely, that's your call.
Notes
Nutrition
what’s the baking instruction (temperature & baking time) if i use a baking dish instead of a Dutch oven?
It would be the same, if you’re using a baking dish of relatively the same size.
Can I not put this dough in a Instant Pot on Yogurt setting to proof
I haven’t done it that way but you certainly can try.
Our homes are not warm enough to let it stand on the counter for 18 hours, thus the Instant Pot
This recipe looks fantastic and I’d like to make it…however I don’t have a Dutch oven. Could I use something else ?
Yes, for sure. You can use another pot, or even just bake it on a baking sheet.
I am looking forward to making this exciting trail mix bread soon could you please clarify why cool water and not WARM WATER? THANKS,FOR THE DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS.
This looks wonderful. I need to get in fresh baking supplies but I’ll be making this soon
Just made my 3rd loaf of this awesome yummy delicious bread. Have you ever mixed the fruit and nuts into the dry ingredients then add water?
I’ve mixed the nuts and raisins in the dry mix and then added the water and it works just fine. I live the idea of baking in cold oven. I’m going to try the cold oven method with my other bread recipes.
I made this bread exactly as the recipe indicated and it turned out great. It was very easy and tasted fantastic. The texture was perfect. It seemed like the craisins plumped up a bit and were very tasty. Not too sweet but perfectly sweet. I loved the idea of placing the bread in a cold Dutch oven then turning on the oven. I’ve made a couple other no knead recipes where you heat up the Dutch oven but it’s more difficult to put the bread in and the bottom got too dark and hard. Try this recipe – you’ll love it.
Glad you loved it Mary, have you tried it toasted yet??
Oh yes!! It’s so delicious! ?
I made this to serve to company with a cream cheese, cranberry pecan spread. Everyone was so impressed. Easy to make and very tasty.
I’ve been wanting to make a seeded bread with fruit. I thought this would be interesting so I tried it. I’m not sure what I did but it didn’t rise and I had to cook it much longer than instructed. I bake bread twice a week so it’s not my yeast or oven. I was pretty skeptical about the method. It wasn’t quite what I was looking for but I thought I could tweak it to add seeds instead of nuts.. Very crusty and nice texture inside. I will probably try again with sourdough starter. Thank you for the recipe. My fault for not following it. LOL
I can just taste this yummy bread. Can I use just all purpose flour??? I don’t want to buy bread flour because I don’t make bread, but this looks to good not to make. I have buckwheat and almond flour can I sub one of these?? Looking forward to your answer. Thanks Sue.
Yes, you can just use all purpose flour, no problem. Hope you enjoy it!
I love this bread and have made several variations of it! It never fails me. I gift it often because it is that special and beautiful to present.
I made the trail mix bread it was delicious, I would like to make again what can I do to have a softer crust also my cranberries turn my bread a strange color I loved the bread.
Thank You Sue
Brenda Praytor
You might try brushing melted butter over your crust just as it comes out of the oven, and covering with a damp (not wet) towel as it cools.