Homemade french bread
The BEST homemade french bread recipe made in 90 minutes. So easy to make and comes out golden and crispy on the outside, while remaining soft and chewy on the inside.
If you’re looking for an easy homemade french bread recipe, this is it! You’ll have 2 beautiful loaves in 90 minutes. The actual time you’ll be working will only be about 15 minutes, the rest of the time will be patiently waiting for the dough to rest/rise. This homemade french bread is golden and crispy on the outside, while remaining soft and slightly chewy on the inside. We love to serve it with a bowl of warm soup and the first time I made it my husband said “this bread is SO good, where did you get it?” He thought I picked it up from our local bakery. It is just that good and really so easy to make. You’ll never want to buy store bought french bread again.
MY OTHER RECIPES
I absolutely love making bread and rolls of all kinds. There’s something so satisfying about making them in your own kitchen. The smell is unbelievable. We love to serve this bread with softened butter, honey and/or jam. So so good. Bring on all the carbs this pregnancy, because it is all I’m craving!
How to make homemade french bread
Making the french bread dough the right consistency is one of the most important steps. The key is to kneading in flour a little at a time until the dough becomes soft not sticky. Here are a few other tips for making the perfect dough.
- if using a bread dough hook to knead the dough, knead the last couple of minutes by hand
- let the dough rest a minute during the mixing process (this allows the gluten to relax)
- let the dough rise in a warm spot by the window or on top of the stove
- place the dough on a lightly floured surface and then press down with your finger tips to remove any air pockets
- use a rolling pin to roll out the dough and any extra bubbles
- roll the dough into a loaf and then make sure to tuck the ends under and pinch all the seams together tightly to create a nice seal
- for a crispier/shinier crust brush 1 egg white (whisked) with a teaspoon of water before baking
For a softer and more flavorful crust, brush with melted butter right when the bread comes out of the oven.
Homemade french bread
So easy to make and comes out golden and crispy on the outside, while remaining soft and chewy on the inside.
Yield: 2 loaves
Prep Time: 60 - 75 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 90 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 cups warm water (about 110°F)
- 1 Tablespoon active dry yeast
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 5-6 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons table salt or fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
Directions:
In a small bowl, combine the warm water, yeast and sugar. Let sit for 5 minutes, or until it has begin to foam.
Place 2 cups of flour into a large mixing bowl with the salt. Stir in the yeast mixture and begin to knead by hand or using a dough hook and stand mixer. Add 1/2 cup of the remaining flour at a time until the dough is smooth but not sticky. Rub the olive oil around the dough ball and let rest for 15 minutes.
Turn the dough onto a floured surface and divide it in half. Roll one half into a rectangle. Starting from the long side, roll the dough into a cylinder. Turn both ends in and pinch the seams closed. Round and place onto a baking sheet. Repeat with the second dough ball. Let rise for 30-45 minutes. Make three diagonal cuts across the top of each loaf. Bake for 17-20 minutes or until the tops are golden brown.
Brush the top with melted butter if desired. Slice and enjoy! :)
For a crispier/shinier crust brush 1 egg white (whisked) with a teaspoon of water before baking.
I hope you try this recipe! Don’t be intimidated. If you’ve made homemade rolls before, you got this in your back pocket! This really is the best french bread recipe and my family begs for it weekly!
Enjoy!
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