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Easy French Bread Recipe

Easy French Bread Recipe

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  • Author: Hannah
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 55 minutes
  • Yield: 10 Slices 1x
  • Category: Bread
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: French

Description

This Easy French Bread Recipe yields a delicious, crusty loaf with a soft interior. Perfect for sandwiches, dipping in soup, or enjoying on its own!

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 0.5 tablespoon yeast – (I love using Red Star for consistent results.)
  • 0.5 tablespoon white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1.25 cups warm water
  • 3 to 3.25 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions

  1. Activate the Yeast: Using a large standing mixer, combine the yeast, sugar, and warm water (warmed between 100-110 degrees F). Take a spatula, and stir it around a couple of times. Then let it sit for about 15 minutes so that the yeast activates. You should see a bubbly mixture when it’s ready.
  2. Add Flour: Start by adding the salt and about four cups of flour to the mixer. Let the mixer run, and occasionally scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula. Gradually add more flour until you get a nice dough consistency. It should be slightly sticky, but easy to handle.   
  3. First Rise: Grease a large bowl with canola or olive oil. Remove the dough from the mixer, and form it into a ball, punching it down so that it becomes smooth. Then place it in the bowl seam side down and cover it with a clean dishtowel. Place the bowl in a warm corner of your kitchen and let rise until approximately doubled in size.
  4. Form Loaves: Once the bread rises, it’s time to form the dough into desired shapes. Prepare bread pans or jelly roll pans with baking spray. Add a little oil to a pastry mat or a large flat surface (a cutting board works too), and form sections of dough into oblong shapes for large French bread, or into smaller shapes for buns or smaller loaves.
  5. Second Rise: Cover dough with clean dish towels and let it rise again, until almost doubled in size.
  6. Prepare for Baking: Use a sharp serrated edge knife (or a bread lame) to cut diagonal slits in the tops of the bread. Beat one large egg (with a splash of water), and using a pastry brush, spread a thin layer over the tops of bread/rolls. Add a sprinkle of kosher salt.
  7. Bake: Bake bread in a preheated 400 degree oven, until done, approximately 25 minutes. The bottoms should be slightly browned, and the tops a nice golden brown. Remove bread to a cooling rack.

Notes

  • Measuring: If you have a scale, measure the ingredients in grams, especially the water and flour, for best consistency.
  • Rising Time: Rising time will vary depending on the temperature and humidity of your kitchen.
  • Scoring: Use a very sharp knife or a bread lame to score the bread without deflating it.
  • Storing: This bread is best fresh the first day! It can be stored in airtight bags on the counter for 2-3 days.
  • Freezing: You can freeze this bread in freezer bags for up to three months.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 slice
  • Calories: 150kcal
  • Sugar: 2g
  • Sodium: 200mg
  • Fat: 2g
  • Saturated Fat: 0.5g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 1.5g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 30g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 4g
  • Cholesterol: 10mg

Find it online: https://cookesrecipes.com/easy-french-bread-recipe/