Bread Cloche

Ceramic Bread Cloche

Bake splendid round loaves at home- crusty, golden, and worthy of any bakery. The Emile Henry ceramic bread cloche turns your oven into a true bread oven, giving you rustic boules and sourdough rounds with a deep, crackling crust and a light, open crumb. It's a design that's earned its place on the counter and, like all Emile Henry ceramics, it's made in France since 1850.

Why it bakes a better loaf

Great bread is made by steam. Fired from refractory Burgundy clay with the same properties as a traditional stone bread oven, the domed cloche traps the moisture rising from your dough and holds it as steam through the early bake- then lets it evaporate so the loaf sets tender and finishes crisp. The generous dome gives a round loaf room to spring and bloom, for the dramatic, artisan-style crust that a home oven alone can't build.

The ceramic alternative to a cast iron Dutch oven

Most artisan bread recipes tell you to bake in a heavy Dutch oven. The Emile Henry Bread Cloche does everything that a cast iron pot does for bread, and improves on it. There's no seasoning to maintain and no bare iron to rust. The glazed ceramic is naturally non-reactive, so it never reacts with tangy sourdough or a wet, acidic dough. It's much lighter to lift in and out of a hot oven, the surface releases cleanly, and when you're done it goes straight in the dishwasher.

Features

• Crackling artisan crust- the domed ceramic traps and balances humidity, drying the surface just enough for a deep, crisp, golden crust.
• Light, open crumb- steady steam bakes the interior airy and tender, loaf after loaf.
• Room to rise- the tall dome lets round boules and sourdough spring freely without touching the lid.
• Effortless to use- flour the base, place your shaped dough, cover, and bake. No baker's experience required; holds a 3½–4 cup flour recipe.
• Modern or traditional- a clean, sculptural silhouette that suits any kitchen and doubles as a striking serving piece.
• Easy to clean- the glazed exterior is dishwasher safe and, like all Emile Henry ceramics, built to last for years.
• Recipe book included- tested recipes and tips to get you a beautiful loaf the first time.
• Made in France- crafted in Burgundy from Emile Henry's signature refractory clay.

How it works

1. Prepare and shape your dough into a round, following the included recipes or your own.
2. Lightly flour the base, set the dough on the platter, and cover with the domed lid.
3. Bake, removing the lid near the end if you'd like a deeper golden crust.

View Emile Henry's Bread 101 

Click here to download our Bread Baking Recipe Booklet